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■■■■I 

3  1833  03341  9513 


Gc    977.201     P98we 

Weik,    Jesse   William,     1857- 

1  930. 
Weik's   history    of    Putnam 

Cotintv.     Indiana 


WEIK'S  HISTORY 


OF 


PUTNAM  COUNTY 

INDIANA 


By  JESSE  W.  WEIK,  A.M. 

Author  of  "  Life  of  Lincoln,"  Etc. 


ILLUSTRATED 


1910: 

B.  F.  BOWEN  &  COMPANY,  PUBLISHERS 
LXDLWAPOLIS,  INDL-^NA 


Mien  County  Public  Library 
900  Webster  Street 


1474541 


PREFACE. 

All  life  and  achievement  is  evolution;  present  wisdom  comes  from  past 
experience,  and  present  commercial  prosperity  has  come  only  from  past  ex- 
ertion and  sacrifice.  The  deeds  and  motives  of  the  men  that  have  gone  be- 
fore have  been  instrumental  in  shaping  the  destinies  of  later  communities 
and  states.  The  development  of  a  new  country  was  at  once  a  task  and  a  privi- 
lege. It  required  great  courage,  sacrifice  and  privation.  Compare  the  present 
conditions  of  the  residents  of  Putnam  county,  Indiana,  with  what  they  were 
one  hundred  years  ago.  From  a  trackless  wilderness  and  virgin  prairie  it 
has  come  to  be  a  center  of  prosperity  and  civilization,  with  millions  of  wealth, 
systems  of  intersecting  railways,  grand  educational  institutions,  numerous  in- 
dustries and  immense  agricultural  productions.  Can  any  thinking  person  be 
insensible  to  the  fascination  of  the  study  which  discloses  the  incentives,  hopes, 
aspirations  and  efforts  of  the  early  pioneers  who  so  firmly  laid  the  foundation 
upon  which  has  been  reared  the  magnificent  prosperity  of  later  days.  To 
perpetuate  the  story  of  these  people  and  to  trace  and  record  the  social,  political 
and  industrial  progress  of  the  community  from  its  first  inception  is  the  func- 
tion of  the  local  historian.  A  sincere  purpose  to  preserve  facts  and  personal 
memoirs  that  are  deserving  of  perpetuation,  and  which  unite  the  present  to 
the  past,  is  the  motive  for  the  present  publication.  The  historical  chapters, 
from  the  able  pen  of  Jesse  W.  Weik,  compose  a  valuable  collection  and  will 
prove  not  only  of  interest  to  the  present  generation,  but  of  inestimable  worth 
to  future  historians,  being  the  result  of  patient  toil  and  earnest  research.  In 
this  labor.  Mr.  Weik  has  conscientiously  endeavored  to  make  his  work  au- 
thentic, and  this  fact,  together  with  his  recognized  literary  ability,  gives  a 
definite  value  to  the  history. 

In  placing  this  History  of  Putnam  County  before  the  citizens,  the  pub- 
lishers can  conscientiously  claim  that  they  have  carried  out  the  plan  as  outlined 
in  the  prospectus.  Every  biographical  sketch  in  the  work  has  been  submitted 
to  the  party  interested,  for  correction,  and  therefore  any  error  of  fact,  if  there 
be  any,  is  solely  due  to  the  person  for  whom  the  sketch  was  prepared.  We  ex- 
press gratitude  to  those  who  gave  this  work  their  support  and  encouragement, 
and  trust  that  our  efforts  to  please  will  fully  meet  with  their  approbation. 

Respectfully, 

THE  PUBLISHERS. 


V- 


TABLE  OF  CONTENTS. 


CHAPTER  I— BEGINNING  OF  INDIANA  HISTORY  AND   FORMATION  OF  PUT- 
NAM COUNTY    17 

Treaty  of  Greenville — Encrc)achments  of  the  White  Man — Treaty  of  Fort 
Wayne— Treaty  of  St.  Mary's— Early  County  Lines — Legislative  Enactments — 
Re-Arrangement  of  Boundary'  Lines — Location  of  County  Seat — Early  Sur- 
veys and  First  Land  Entries — Topography  of  Putnam  County — Professor 
Collett's  Description — Mineral  Peculiarities. 


CHAPTER  II— ORGANIZATION  OF  THE  COUNTY. 


Original  Townships — Present  CiviJ  Townships — First  Settlements — County- 
seat  Commissioners — Ephraim  Dukes — Sale  of  Town  Lots — Early  Merchants- 
William  H.  Thornburgh— Little  Use  lor  Currency — Early-day  Values— Com- 
mercial Customs— Facts  of  Interest — Early  Events — The  First  Gun— Taverns 
and  Public  Houses. 

CHAPTER  III— COURTS,  COURT  HOUSES  AND  THE  BAR 52 

County  Machinery  Set  in  Motion — The  First  Court — Early  Court  Kecords— 
Characters  of  Early  Offenses — Judges  of  the  -Putnam  Courts — Lawyer?  of 
Putnam  County  Bar — County  Clerks — County  Auditors — Sheriffs — County 
Treasurers — Recorders — Surveyors — County  Commissioners — The  First  Court 
House — Erection  of  a  Jail — First  Poor  Farm — A  New  Court  House  Needed — 
The  Present  Court  House. 


CHAPTER  IV— EARLY  SETTLERS  AND  INCIDENTS. 


An  Interesting  Reminiscence — Thomas  Jackson — The  Spirit  of  the  Pioneers — 
Claim  Clubs — Social  Conditions — A  Valuable  Reminiscence — A  Charivari — The 
First  Oyster  Supper. 

CHAPTER  V— EDUCATION  IN  PUTNAM  COUNTY Si 

Early  Attention  to  Schools— County  Seminary — First  School  Board— Troubles 
of  a  School  Director— Early  Statistics— Schools  Keep  Pace  with  the  Times 
— School  Statistics— Early  High  Schools  and  Academies— Asbury  (now  De- 
Pauw)  University — Laying  the  Corner  Stone — Presidents  of  the  University — 
Departments — Benefactions  of  W.  C.  DePauw — Alumnae  Statistics — Board  of 
Trustees — The  Faculty — Officers  of  the  Faculty. 

CHAPTER  VI— CHURCH  HISTORY— RELIGIOUS  SOCIETIES 106 

Reuben  Clearwaters,  the  F'irst  Preacher  in  Putnam  County — Organization  of 
Baptist  Church— The  Presbyterian  Church— Methodism  in  Putnam  County- 
Early  Presbyterian  Efforts— The  Christian  Church — Baptist  Organization — 
Catholic  Church  of  St.  Paul  the  Apostle— Other  Churches— The  First  Sunday 
School — Myra  Jewett. 


lO  CONTENTS. 

CHAPTER  VII— FRATERNAL  SOCIETIES  AND  CLUjaS 123 

Free  and  Accepted  Masons — Royal  Arch  Maajons — Knights  Templar — Inde- 
pendent Order  of  Odd  Fellows — Knights  of  Pythias — Modern  Woodmen  of 
America — Fraternal  Order  of  Eagles — Order  of  Ben  Hur — Benevolent  and  Pro- 
tective Order  of  Elks — Literary  and  Social  Organizations — Grand  Army  of  the 
Republic.  ' 

CHAPTER  VIII— BANKS  AND  BANKING 131 

Captain  Thornburgh's  Safe  a  Popular  Depository  in  the  Early  Days — The  Ex- 
change Bank— Farmers  Bank — The  Putnaffi  County  Bank — First  National 
Bank — Central  National  Bank — Central  Trust  Company — Bainbridge  Bank — 
Other  Banks  in  the  County. 

CHAPTER  IX— JOURNALISM  IN  PUTNAM  COUNTY 133 

The  Hoosier.  later  The  Plow  Boy — The  Temperance  Advocate,  the  First  Tem- 
perance Paper  Published  in  the  WesV — The  Visitor — Indiana  Patriot — Weekly 
Herald— Putnam  County  C/IroJ^it7-— Interesting  Contents  of  Early  News- 
papers  Early   Mails — The  Argus — Putnam   County  Sentinel — Putnam   County 

Republican  Banner— The  Star-Press— The  Democrat. 

CHAPTER  X— INCIDENTS  OF  EARLY  HISTORY   ■ 139 

The  Tide  of  Emigration — The  Story  of  an  Old  Settler— Catching  a  Penitent 
Thief- Gander  Pulling— Clearing  Land— Story  of  a  Maryland  Traveler— The 
Origin  of  Blue  Grass— Early  Importation  of  Cattle — Early  Agricultural  Fairs- 
Putnam  County  Agricultural  Society— Value  of  Lands  and  Crops. 

CHAPTER  XI— THE  TOWNSHIPS  OF  PUTNAM  COUNTY 151 

Jackson  Township— Maysville— Franklin  Township — Carpentersville— Fin- 
castle— Roachdale — Russell  Township — Russellville — Clinton  Township — 
Portland  Mills— Morton— Clinton  Falls— Monroe  Township— Bainbridge — 
Floyd  Township — Groveland — Marion  Township — Fillmore— Greencastle  Town- 
ship—Greencastle—Limedale— Madison  Township— Brunerstown-Oakalla- 
Washington  Township — Manhattan — Pleasant  Garden — Reelsville — Warren 
Township— Putnamville — Cloverdale  Township— Cloverdale— Jefferson  Town- 
ship—Mount Meridian— Belle  Union— Mill  Creek  Township— Lists  of  all  Post- 
masters Who  Have  Served  in  Putnam  County. 

CHAPTER  XII— PUTNAM'S  MILITARY  RECORD 194 

The  Putnam  Blues— Putnam  Yellow  Jackets— Putnam  County  Soldiers  in  the 
Mexican  War- the  Slavery  Question— Decision  of  the  Court— The  Under- 
ground Railroad— Early  Colored  People  in  the  County— The  Civil  War- 
Strong  Union  Sentiment— First  Putnam  County  Soldiers  in  Service— Care  for 
Soldiers'  Families— Enlistments  from  Putnam  County— Relief  Measures— Op- 
position to  the  War— Knights  of  the  Golden  Circle— Relief  Statistics— Sol- 
diers' Monument— Spanish-American  War— Graves  of  Revolutionary  Soldiers— 
An  Interesting  Paper. 


CONTEXTS. 


II 

CHAPTER  XIIX-NOTED  MURDER  TRIALS    ,,^ 

First  Murder  and  First  Suicide-Fatal  Quarrel  Rises  from  Trifling  Incident- 


Murder  of  Abraham  Rhinearson-William  Thompson's  Confession-The  First 
Execution-The  Atrocious  Mullinix  Murder-Trial  and  Execution  of  the 
Murderer— Murder  of  Tilghman  H.  Hanna  and  Wife— A  Noted  Trial. 

CHAPTER  XIV— CITY  OP  GREENCASTLE 


233 

Incorporation  and  First  OfEcers-From  Town  to  City-Coming  of  the  Rail 
roads-Increase  of  Trad<^-First  Telegraph  Line-An  Enterprising  Spirit- 
Commercial  Activity-Street  Railway  Constructed-Greencastle  Iron  and 
Na.I  Company-Distinguished  CiUzens-Casualties-Memorable  Tornado  of 
lS6i — Disastrous  Fire  of  1S74. 


INDEX. 


A 

Ader,  David    477 

Ader,  Xathan  W 527 

Akers,    Henry    S 461 

Akers,   Mrs.  Virginia  C 460 

Allee,   Francis   M 579 

Allee,  Herbert  S 388 

Allee,  John   580 

Allee,  William   H 496 

Allen,  Arch   519 

Allen    Brothers    612 

Allen.  Edward   759 

Allen,  Hiram  C 613 

Allen,  James  L 612 

Allen,   Joseph    P 613 

Ames,   George  W 754 

Anderson.   Dorsey  Leakin 672 

Arnold,   Charles   J 663 

Athey,  Lawrence  H 647 

Ayler,  Amos  Evans   312 

B 

Badger.    Oliver    P 755 

Bainbridge   Bank    499' 

Barnaby,  Charles  Howard 277 

Barnaby,   Howard    27S 

Baumunk,  .John  A 356 

Bence,   George   Worth 256 

Bence,   John   A 320 

Besser,  Bates   503 

Besser,  William   Tell 503 

Bioknell,  Henry   423 

Bittles.    Raser    288 

Black,  George  William 573 

Blaydes.   John   W 748 

Blaydes,   Shelby  H 701 

Boswell,  Jacob   407 

Boswell.  William  406 

Bowman,  John  M 314 

Branham.    William    G 319 

Branneman.  John   678 

Bridges,  Charles  B 684 

Bridges,    Charles   Boles 723 

Bridges,  John  L 685 

Bridges.  Moses  Dillon  655 

Broadstreet,  Quinton   259 

Brookshire,   Drake    464 

Brookshire,  Thomas  D 464 


Brown,   Samuel   Preston 720 

Brown,   Thompson    635 

Brown,   Williamson    721 

Browning,  John   C 416 

Brumfield,  Frank   M    750 

Brumiield,    James    B 747 

Bryan,    Alexander    S 645 

Buis,    James    G 523 

Burkett,  Benton  C 680 

Burris,  John  Breckenridge 688 

turris,   William   S 336 

G 

Cammack,   James    506 

Cammack,    James    0 506 

Cannon,  John   F 456 

Carver,    Benjamin   D 656 

Carver,  James  W 656 

Chandler,  John  Scady 368 

Chandler,   Scady    368 

Cline,    Evan    334 

Cotfman,  David    442 

Coffman,    George    B 441 

Cohn.  Abe   433 

Cole,   James   Washington 607 

CoUings,   John    H 434 

CoUiver,    Richard    Thomson 405 

Conn,   Wellman    D 409 

Cook.   John    422 

Cooper,    Archibald    399 

Cooper,    Henry    C 714 

Cooper,   Marion   Edgar 398 

Corwin,  Benjamin  F 275 

Craft.   Daniel    653 

Cromwell,  Joseph  Willard 302 

Cross,   Joseph    B '. 455 

Croxton,  James  W 632 

Cully,  John  Francis  450 

D 

Darnall,    Henry    Clay    346 

Darnall,   Samuel    444 

DeMotte,  John  Brew^er 782 

Denman,   William   L 272 

Dills,   William    553 

Donehew,  Abel  Benton 734 

Dowling.    John    Sibley 603 

Duncan,  Estes    466 

Duncan,  Lloyd   T 467 


14 


E 

Ellis,  Oscar  Wesley 432 

Evans,  Ezra  B 280 

Evans,  Hesekiah   694 

Evans,    James    695 

Evans,   Samuel  Parker 281 

Evans,  Simpson  Fletcher 703 

Evens,    Arthur   L 271 

F 

Farmer,  Alcany   586 

Farmer,    James    H 515 

Farmer,  Thomas   Benton 514 

Farrow,   Alexander   Shore 247 

Fee,  James  Francis 620 

Flint.  Alfred  E 381 

Florer,   William   Jefferson 682 

Fordice,  James  C 731 

G 

Gardner,  John  W.,  Jr 736 

Gill,    Willis    E 627 

Gillespie,    Thomas    263 

Gough,  Willard    729 

Graham,   Aaron    A 732 

Guilliams,   Fred   L : 715 

H 

Hamilton.  James  L 480 

Hamilton,  John   H 430 

Hanks,    Alvin    B 557 

Hanks,   John   W 543 

Hanna-,   Andrew   B 505 

Hanna,    George    W 640 

Hansen,   Jonathan    376 

Hazelett,  Richard   M 599 

Hazelett,  Samuel  A 397 

Heine,  Mrs.  Mary   713 

Hibbitt.    Edward    R 578 

Hillis,    Abram    589 

Hillis,    Henry   Harrison 644 

Hillis,   ,John  L 589 

Hirt,   Alfred   413 

Hodge,    George    W 306 

Hodge,  William  Woodson    306 

Horn,  Jesse  Thomas  525 

Hostetter,   David   B 752 

Houck,    Oavid    509 

Houck.   James   Edgar    675 

Houck,    Jonathan    509 

Houck,    Jonathan    387 

Houck,   Oliver   Nelson    380 

Houck,    William   Milf ord 448 


Hubbard,    Jesse    Lee 352 

Hubbard,   Perry   L 608 

Hubbard,   William    353 

Huffman,    Douglas    300 

Huffman,    Edmond 301 

Huffman,  Edmund    337 

Huffman,   Greeley   Richard 651 

Huffman,   Ivan    548 

Huffman,    Jack    337 

Huffman,  Jacob,  Jr 551 

Huffman,   Jacob,    Sr 553 

Huffman,   John    540 

Huffman,   John   Andrew 520 

Hughes.    George    W 529 

Hughes,   James    P 528 

Hurst,  Clement  C 322 

Hurst,    Everett    M 290 

Hurst,  Martin   C 460 

Hurst,  William    291 

Hutcheson,  Philip   513 

Hutcheson,    Walter    R 512 

I 

Irwin,   Smiley    639 

Irwin,    Winfield    Scott 638 

J 

Jent,   Aaron    537 

Jones,   Jesse   M 550 

Jones,   Oscar   L 474 

K 

King,   Charles   W 571 

Knauer,  Israel   521 

Knoll.    David    451 

Knoll,    John    452 

L 

Lammers,  Frank  Henry 756 

Lane,  Alec  A 624 

Lane,  Higgins   418 

Lane.  Oscar  F 393 

Landes,  Charles  W 296 

Landes,  Christian   574 

Layne,    Theodore    McG 642 

Leatherman.  Frederick   567 

Leatherman.   John    568 

Lewis,  Henry  Clay 760 

Lewis,   Israel   Gregg 309 

Lewis,  William  Yates 308 

Lewman,   Joseph   A 458 

Lockridge,    Albert   C 719 

Lockridge,   Albert   O >. 780 


IS 


Lockridge,    Alexander    H 261 

Lockridge.  Andrew  M T6S 

Lockridge.    Simpson   Farrow 254 

Lueteke.    Charles    28-1 

Lynch,  Edmund  Burk   605 

Lyon.    Francis    Marion 2S2 

lie 

McCoy,  Jesse  Ernest   591 

McGan,   Thomas   J 71S 

McGaughey,    Arthur    0 7i)7 

McGaughey,  Charles  0 710 

McGaughey,   Edward   W 706 

McGaughey,  Edward  W.,  Jr 713 

McGaughey.    Frank    744 

McGaughey,    Thomas    C 714 

McGaughey,   Walter  \V 601 

McHaffie,  Andrew   4S3 

McHafBe,   Melville   F 4S4 

McKeehan,  Thomas   J 536 

M 

Martin,  Benjamin   426 

Martin,  Henry  Bascom 776 

Martin,   Russell   E 426 

Masten,    Fred     584 

Masten,   Matthias    424 

Masten,    Reuben     584 

Matson,    Courtland    Gushing 250 

Maze.    David    Robert 298 

Meek,    John    H 666 

Michael.  John  Samuel   354 

Miller.    Jasper    N 304 

Modlin,  William  B 702 

Moffett,    Charles    M 500 

Moffett,   Daniel   V 544 

Moffett,    F.   P 500 

Moler,  Joseph  326 

Moler.   Levi    Shelby 421 

Moreland.   Ira    693 

Morris,    Albert   F 576 

Morris,  Thomas  Hart  576 

Moser,   David    383 

Moser,    William    A 366 

X 

Nelson.    Franklin   P 741 

Nelson,    James    B 740 

New,    Y.    N 700 

Xewgent,    Edward    384 

Xewgent,    Edward.    Sr 385 

Xewgent,   John   S 367 

Newgenr.   Lewis    375 


Newgent,  Thomas   511 

Newgent,   William   Wallace 739 

Nichols,    John    Henry    541 

O 

O'Brien.  James  F 400 

O'Brien,    John    400 

O'Daniel,    John   W 344 

O'Hair,    Bascom    762 

Osborn.  John  Willson 439 

Overstreet,   Orsa    Fred 619 

Overstreet,   Willis   G 618 

Owen,   A.   J 351 

Owsley,  James  M 689 

Ozment,    Ruf us    E 745 

P 

Parker,   Benjamin   A 371 

Parker.    Hugh    H 370 

I*arker,   William   H 371 

Peck,  Charles  T 411 

Pickens,    Warren    332 

Pickett,   Charles   Milton 355 

Pickett,  David    365 

Plummer,  James  H 625 

Plummer,   Jacob  Callendar 664 

Poynter,  Jesse  A 621 

Poynter,  Samuel   622 

Prichard,  Walter  K 629 

Proctor,  Enoch  J.  1 54g 

Q 

Quinn,   James   Edward 404 

R 

Raines.    Cornelius   G 634 

Raines,  George  Ennis   633 

Rand,  Mrs.   Sarah  M 712 

Randel.  Mrs.  Catherine  567 

Randel,  James  Lafayette 264 

Reddish,   Otto  L 733 

Reed,  David  E.  P 728 

Reeds,   James   M ■. 500 

Reeves,   George   Taylor    35g 

Reeves,   Oscar   Lee 742 

Reeves.   Stacey  L 353 

Rightsell,   George    648 

Rightsell.    James    A 373 

Rightsell,    Samuel    64S 

Rissler   Family    343 

Rissler,  Moses  B 349 

Rissler,    Morton    L 35Q 

Rissler.    William    343 


i6 


Robe,    John    W '^-S 

Rockwell,   Andrew   J a9 ' 

Rockwell,   Charles   A 597 

Rogers   Family    614 

Rogers.   Jacob   C 560 

Rogers,  James   Harvey 614 

Rogers,   Joseph   Lee 615 

Rogers,   Melvin    61.d 

Rogers,   William,   Jr 593 

S 

Scott,   James   William 592 

Seckman,  Lorenzo  D 362 

Seller,    John    F 340 

Seller,   Luna  W 340 

Sellers,    John   Crawford -i'^ 

Sellers,  John   L ■* '  2 

Shake,    Clarence    Arthur -t-t7 

Shaw,   Oliver   J 392 

Shoemaker,  Daniel  Evans 517 

Shonkwiler,    Daniel    330 

Shonkwiler,   John    F 330 

Sinclair,    Gilbert •.  •   531 

Sinclair,    Isaac    P 293 

Sinclair,   Isaac   S 292 

Skelton,   David  D 630 

Skelton.    David    J 324 

Skelton,  William    324 

Smith.  Harry  M 29o 

Smith,  Oliver  Hampton   389 

Smythe,  Ebenezer  Watson 310 

Smvthe,  Gonsalvo  Cordova   ' '  ■^ 

Sparks,   James   H '^'^ 

Starr,    George    W ''"'^^ 

Stevenson,    Alexander    Campbell 696 

Stewart.    Aaron    B 690 

Stoner,   Lycurgus    -^^^ 

Stoner,   Peter    '^'^ 

Stoner,  Peter   Simpson   582 

Stoner.    William    Payne ^'-^^ 

Stroube,   Frank   M 1*1 

Stroube.   John   W ^^•■' 

Stroube,   Oliver    ^^*^ 

Sutherlin.  W.   M • *'^ 

T 

Taylor,    George    W ■^I^'^ 

Taylor.  Mary  J ■*"•' 

Taylor,    Minnetta    ■*"* 


Thomas.    Elzeaphus    342 

Thomas,  Joseph  A 342 

Thomas,  Oscar   494 

Thomas,    William     66S 

Thornburgh,   William   H 38 

Tilden,  Francis  Calvin 268 

Torr,    James    H 566 

Torr,    Joseph    D 670 

Torr,  William  L 533 

Troxell,  Andrew  Marshall 459 

Trusedel,    James   M 676 

Tustison.    Orville    M 508 

V 

Vanlandingham,    James    501 

Vermilion,    Isaiah   535 

Vermilion.   James    Everett    564 

Vermillion.   Isaiah    287 

Vestal.    Samuel    267 

Vestal,   William  B 266 

W 

Walker.  John   Mills 390 

Wallace,    David    361 

Wallace.    Elijah    469 

Wallace.   John  W 469 

Walls,   Benjamin  F 687 

Walls,    Edward   McG 410 

Wain,  Elijah  Cooper 538 

Weik.   Louis    704 

West,  Joseph    691 

Williamson,    Delano    E 764 

Williamson,   John   M 659 

Williamson,   William   H 659 

Wilson,  John 359 

Wimmer,   William   P 462 

Wood,   Xelson  Franklin    556 

Wood,   William    554 

Wright,   Amos    616 

Wright,   Ezekiel    616 

Wright,    Perry    Wilson 570 

Y 
Young.    Madison    "22 

Z 

Zaring,    Daniel    771 

Zaring.  Lewis  A 751 


HISTORICAL 


CHAPTER  I. 

BEGIXXING  OF  INDIANA  HISTORY  AND   FORMATION   OF   PUTNAM    COUNTY. 

The  treaty  of  Greenville,  which  was  intended  to  "'put  an  end  to  a 
destructive  war,  settle  all  controversies  and  to  restore  harmony  and  friendly 
intercourse  between  the  United  States  and  Indian  tribes,"  may,  strictly  speak- 
ing, be  considered  the  beginning  of  Indiana  history.  It  was  e.xecuted  at 
Greenville.  Ohio,  August  3,  1795,  the  contracting  parties  being  Gen.  Anthony 
Wayne  on  the  part  of  the  United  States  and  ninety  "sachems  and  war  chiefs" 
representing  the  Wyandot,  Delaware,  Shawnee,  Ottawa,  Chippewa,  Potta- 
watomie, Miami,  Eel  River,  Wea,  Kickapoo,  Piankeshaw  and  Kaskaskia 
tribes  of  Indians.  By  virtue  of  this  primitive  and  solemn  compact  the 
United  States  relinquished  to  the  Indians  all  title  to  the  lands  now  included 
within  the  limits  of  the  state  of  Indiana  with  the  following  exceptions : 

"First — The  tract  of  one  hundred  and  fifty  thousand  acres  near  the 
rapids  of  the  Ohio  which  has  been  assigned  to  General  Clark  for  the  use 
of  himself  and  his  warriors.  Second — The  post  of  Vincennes  on  the  river 
Wabash  and  the  lands  adjacent  of  which  the  Indian  title  has  been  e.xtin- 
guished.  Third — One  piece  six  miles  square  at  or  near  the  confluence  of 
the  rivers  St.  Mary  and  St.  Joseph  where  Fort  Wayne  stands  or  near  it. 
Fourth — One  piece  two  miles  square  on  the  Wabash  river  at  the  end  of  the 
portage  from  the  Miami  of  the  lake  and  about  eight  miles  westward  from 
Fort  Wayne.  Fifth^One  piece  si.x  miles  square  at  the  Ouiatenon  or  old 
Wea  towns  on  the  Wabash  river." 

It  may  not  be  without  interest  to  note  that  the  consideration  or  induce- 
ment offered  the  Indians  to  sign  the  treaty  was  an  agreement  on  the  part 
of  the  United  States  to  make  "every  year  forever"'  to  each  of  the  first  seven 
named  tribes  a  payment,  "in  useful  goods  suited  to  the  circumstances  of  the 
Indians."  of  the  value  of  one  thousand  dollars  and  half  that  sum  to  each  of 
the  remaining  five. 

But  notwithstanding  the  solemn  covenants,  the  rosy  promises  and  the 
liberal  allotment  of  useful  goods  "every  year  forever."  set  forth  in  this 
(2) 


X8  WEIK  S    HISTORY    OF 

Stately  worded  compact,  it  was  not  foreordained  that  the  rich  and  promising 
lands  included  within  the  boundaries  of  the  Indiana  Territory  should  long 
remain  the  undisturbed  possession  of  the  red  man.  The  appetite  of  his 
white  brother  for  more  territory  was  not  to  be  so  easily  appeased.  In  1801 
William  Henry  Harrison  became  the  governor  of  Indiana  and,  being  invested 
by  the  government  at  Washington  with  the  power  to  negotiate  treaties  with 
the  Indians,  entered  on  a  policy  which  clearly  foreshadowed  the  early  e.x- 
tension  of  the  white  man's  dominion  in  eveiy  direction.  The  new  governor 
was  a  man  of  wide  resources;  able  and  adroit,  his  methods  in  dealing  with 
the  Indians  being  both  pacific  and  hannonious,  he  was  eminently  successful 
in  every  undertaking.  Gradually  the  red  man  was  induced  to  part  with  his 
holdings.  Within  three  years  Harrison  had  concluded  eight  treaties  by 
means  of  which  the  white  man  came  into  possession  of  almost  fifty  thousand 
square  miles  of  new  territory.  Before  the  close  of  the  year  1805  the  Indians 
had  relinquished  their  title  to  the  lands  which  bordered  the  Ohio  from  the 
mouth  of  the  Wabash  to  the  mouth  of  the  Miami.  Inch  by  inch  the  white 
man  was  forcing  his  way. 

At  Fort  Wayne  on  September  30,  1809,  Harrison  concluded  a  treaty 
with  the  Delaware,  Pottawatomie,  Miami  and  Eel  River  tribes  by  virtue  of 
which  the  United  States  for  a  "consideration  of  a  permanent  annuity  of 
five  hundred  dollars  each  to  the  Delawares,  Pottawatomies  and  Miamis  and 
two  hundred  and  fifty  dollars  to  the  Eel  River  tribe,  purchased  from  the 
Indians  a  section  of  territory  lying  on  the  southwest  side  of  a  line  beginning 
at  the  mouth  of  Raccoon  creek  on  the  Wabash  river  and  extending  in  a 
southeasterly  direction  to  a  point  near  the  present  city  of  Seymour  in  Jackson 
county,  the  whole  comprising  an  area  of  almost  three  million  acres. 

Here  for  the  first  time  we  come  upon  the  soil  of  what  is  now  Putnam 
county.  The  line  established  by  the  Fort  Wayne  treaty,  and  now  known 
as  the  Indian  boundary  line,  cuts  off  a  small  segment  in  the  southwest 
corner  of  the  county  comprising  an  area  of  about  twenty  square  miles. 
Above  that  line  the  country,  as  represented  in  the  maps  of  that  day,  was  an 
"unexplored  region"  and,  later,  was  designated  as  the  "New  Purchase." 

After  the  admission  of  Indiana  to  the  Union.  Jonathan  Jennings,  the 
newlv  chosen  governor,  Lewis  Cass  and  Benjamin  Parke,  acting  as  com- 
missioners of  the  United  States,  negotiated  a  treaty  with  the  Miami  Indians 
at  St.  Mary's,  Ohio.  It  was  signed  October  6,  1818.  and  provided  for  the 
relinquishment  to  the  United  States,  with  a  few  minor  reservations,  of  the 
Indian  title  to  all  the  territory  south  and  east  of  the  Wabash.  Treaties  were 
also  at  the  same  time,  concluded  with  the  Wea.  Pottawatomie  and  Delaware 
tribes. 


PUTNAM    COUNTY,    INDIANA.  I9 

The  treaties  of  Fort  Wayne  and  St.  Mary's,  therefore,  took  from  the 
Indian  his  title  to  the  lands  now  included  within  the  limits  of  Putnam  county 
and  in  due  time  he  quietly  "folded  his  tent"  and  silently  withdrew  from  the 
magnificent  forests  and  inviting  soil  of  central  Indiana.  The  tribes  repre- 
sented in  the  treaties  named  and  whose  dominion  extended,  really,  from  the 
Scioto  to  the  mouth  of  the  Wabash  and  from  the  Ohio  to  Lake"  Michigan 
mustered  at  least  eight  thousand  warriors.  In  the  earlier  struggles  for  pos- 
session of  the  country  between  the  French  and  English  these  Indians  had 
favored  the  latter,  but,  though  not  lacking  in  bravery,  they  were  not  warlike 
or  aggressive.  Being  more  or  less  inclined  to  deal  peaceably  with  the  white 
man,  they  listened  readily  to  the  latter's  blandishing  overtures,  faithfully 
believed  his  alluring  promises  and,  in  time,  having  bartered  away  their  lands, 
were  gradually  transported  to  reservations  set  apart  for  them  in  the  bound- 
less and  undeveloped  regions  beyond  the  Mississippi. 

The  treaty  of  Fort  Wayne  had  brought  to  the  new  territory  an  influx 
of  hardy  pioneers  in  quest  of  the  lands  which  the  United  States,  with  a 
view  to  encouraging  the  country's  settlement,  was  offering  on  such  liberal 
and' acceptable  temis.  The  land  office  was  located  at  V'incennes,  but  as,  until 
1818,  the  lands  offered  for  sale  there  lay  south  of  the  Indian  boundary, 
which  line  traversed  Putnam  county  at  an  angle  in  the  extreme  southwest 
corner,  the  entries  in  the  little  section  thus  cut  off  were  necessarily  limited 
both  in  size  and  number.  The  treaty  of  St.  Mary's,  however,  released  the 
rest  of  the  territory  south  and  east  of  the  Wabash  so  that  after  1820  entries 
of  land  in  Putnam  county  were  made  at  Terre  Haute  where  the  new  land 
office  was  located. 

EARLY  COUNTY  LINES. 

In  her  early  territorial  days  Indiana  seems  to  have  had  but  one  county 
in  that  part  of  her  domain  in  which  the  white  man  had  thus  far  made  any 
settlement,  and  that  was  called  the  county  of  Knox.  From  the  best  sources 
of  information  now  obtainable  the  northern  boundary  of  Knox  county  at 
that  time  seems  to  have  been  the  present  north  line  of  the  following  counties : 
Parke,  Putnam,  Monroe,  Jackson,  Jennings,  Fayette  and  Union.  Later  it 
was  reduced  by  the  formation  of  Clark  and  Dearborn  counties,  and  this 
process  of  reduction  continued  until  about  forty  counties  were  formed  out 
of  the  original  area.  The  region  north  of  Knox,  and  for  many  years  known 
as  the  "New  Purchase,"  consisted  originally  of  two  counties,  Wabash  and 
Delaware,  which  were  formed  January  22,  1820.    They  were  likewise  reduced 


20  WEIK  S    HISTORY    OF 

in  area  until  the  result  of  the  gradual  subdivisions  was  twenty-seven  of  our 
present  counties  in  the  northern  and  central  parts  of  the  state. 

Indiana  was  admitted  to  the  Union  April  19,  181 6.  Before  the  close 
of  that  year  Knox  county  had  been  reduced  by  the  cutting  off,  from  its 
original  limits,  of  the  counties  of  Daviess  and  Sullivan — the  one  being 
formed  on  December  24th  and  the  other  December  30th.  Within  two  years 
these  counties  were  also  found  to  be  too  large  and  the  process  of  gradual 
reduction  continued.  Vigo  county,  on  January  21,  181 8,  was  formed  out 
of  territory  cut  off  from  Sulhvan  county;  and  Owen,  on  December  21st  in 
the  same  year,  from  territory  out  of  both  Sullivan  and  Daviess  counties. 
Finally,  and  before  the  close  of  the  year  182 1,  both  Vigo  and  Owen  were 
lessened  in  area  by  the  formation  of  our  own  beloved  county  of  Putnam. 

Who  actually  recommended  or  first  suggested  the  name  of  our  county 
we  shall  probably  never  know,  but,  whoever  he  may  have  been,  no  name 
could  have  been  chosen  more  illustrious,  more  honorable,  more  worthy  to 
be  commemorated.  Israel  Putnam  needs  no  monument  to  perpetuate  his 
virtues.  He  is  enshrined  in  the  heart  of  every  true  and  thoughtful  American. 
His  name  and  memory  are  redolent  of  deeds  of  self-sacrifice  and  the  most 
exalted  patriotism.  No  scene  in  history  is  more  vivid  or  capable  of  arousing 
the  inspiration  of  the  youth  of  our  land  than  the  picture  of  the  brave  and 
determined  Connecticut  farmer  who,  on  that  memorable  April  day  in  1775, 
left  his  plow  in  the  furrow,  gathered  up  his  flint-lock  and  powder-horn  and 
straightway  set  out  to  join  the  Minute  Men  of  Lexington  and  Concord. 

The  first  official  step  looking  to  the  creation  or  formation  of  the  county 
was  an  act  of  the  Legislature  which  was  approved  December  21,  1821.  The 
manuscript  of  the  original  act,  musty  and  discolored  with  age  and  bearing 
the  neat  and  immaculate  signature  of  Jonathan  Jennings,  the  governor,  still 
reposes  in  the  archives  of  the  county  in  the  court  house.  As  published  it 
may  be  found  on  page  65  of  the  printed  "Laws  of  the  Sixth  Session."  It 
reads  as  follows : 

"An  Act  for  the  formation  of  a  new  county  out  of  Owen  and  Vigo 
counties  and  north  of  Owen. 

"Section  i.  Be  it  enacted  by  the  General  Assembly  of  the  state  of 
Indiana.  That  from  and  after  the  first  Monday  of  April  next,  all  that  part 
of  the  counties  of  Vigo  and  Owen,  and  of  the  county  north  of  Owen,  con- 
tained in  the  following  bounds,  shall  form  and  constitute  a  separate  county, 
to-wit:  Beginning  in  the  center  of  range  7  west,  on  the  line  dividing  town- 
ships 10  and  II  north,  thence  east  fifteen  miles  to  the  line  dividing  ranges 
4  and  5  west,  thence  north  twelve  miles,   to  the  line  dividing  townships 


PUTNAM    COUNTY,    INDIANA.  21 

12  and  13  north,  thence  east  three  miles,  thence  north  twelve  miles  to  the 
line  dividing  townships  14  and  15,  thence  west  fifteen  miles  to  the  line 
dividing  ranges  6  and  7  west,  thence  south  six  miles,  thence  west  three 
miles,  thence  south  eighteen  miles  to  the  beginning. 

"Sec.  2.  The  said  new  county  shall  be  known  and  designated  by  the 
name  of  Putnam,  and  shall  enjoy  all  the  rights  and  privileges  and  jurisdic- 
tions which  to  separate  and  independent  counties  do  or  may  properly  apper- 
tain or  belong. 

"Sec.  3.  John  Bartholomew,  of  Owen  county,  Aaron  Redus,  of  Wash- 
ington county,  Jonathan  Wells,  of  Sullivan  county,  John  Allen,  of  Daviess 
county,  and  Peter  Allen,  of  Vigo  county,  are  hereby  appointed  commissioners 
agreeably  to  the  act  entitled,  'An  act  for  the  fixing  of  the  seats  of  justice  in 
all  new  counties  hereinafter  to  be  laid  off.'  The  commissioners  above  named 
shall  convene  at  the  house  of  James  Athey,  in  the  said  county  of  Putnam, 
on  the  first  Monday  in  May  next  and  shall  immediately  proceed  to  discharge 
the  duties  assigned  to  them  by  law.  It  is  hereby  made  the  duty  of  the  sheriff 
of  Owen  county,  to  notify  the  said  commissioners,  either  in  person  or  by 
written  notification,  of  their  appointment  on  or  before  the  fifteenth  of  April 
next,  and  the  said  sheriff  of  Owen  county  shall  receive  from  the  said  county 
of  Putnam  so  much  as  the  county  commissioners  shall  deem  just  and  reason- 
able, who  are  hereby  authorized  to  allow  the  same  out  of  any  monies  in  the 
county  treasury,  in  the  same  manner  other  allowances  are  paid. 

"Sec.  4.  That  the  circuit  court  of  the  county  of  Putnam  shall  meet 
and  be  holden  at  the  house  of  James  Athey,  in  the  said  county  of  Putnam, 
until  suitable  accommodations  can  be  had  at  the  seat  of  justice  and  so  soon 
as  the  courts  of  said  county  are  satisfied  that  suitable  accommodations  can 
be  had  at  the  county  seat,  they  shall  adjourn  their  courts  thereto,  after  which 
time  the  courts  of  the  county  of  Putnam  shall  be  holden  at  the  county  seat 
of  Putnam  county  established  as  the  law  directs.  Provided,  however,  that 
the  circuit  court  shall  have  authority  to  remove  the  court  from  the  house  of 
Tames  Athey  to  any  other  place,  previous  to  the  completion  of  the  public 
buildings,  should  the  said  court  deem  it  expedient. 

"Sec.  5.  That  the  agent  who  shall  be  appointed  to  superintend  the 
sales  of  lots  at  the  county  seat  of  the  county  of  Putnam  shall  reserve  ten 
per  centum  out  of  the  proceeds  thereof,  and  also  ten  per  centum  out  of  the 
proceeds  of  all  donations  made  to  the  county,  and  pay  the  same  over  to 
such  person  or  persons  as  may  be  appointed  by  law  to  receive  the  same,  for 
the  use  of  a  county  library  for  the  said  county  of  Putnam,  w'hich  he  shall 
pay  over  at  such  time  or  times  and  place  as  may  be  directed  by  law. 


22  WEIK  S    HISTORY   OF 

"Sec.  6.  The  board  of  county  commissioners  of  the  said  county  of 
Putnam  shall  within  twelve  months  after  the  permanent  seat  of  justice  shall 
have  been  selected  proceed  to  erect  the  necessary  public  buildings  thereon. 

"Sec.  7.  And  be  it  further  enacted,  that  such  parts  of  the  county  of 
Putnam  as  previous  to  the  passage  of  this  act  belonged  to  the  counties  of 
Vigo  and  Owen,  shall  be  considered  as  attached  respectively  to  the  counties 
from  which  they  were  taken,  for  the  purpose  of  electing  a  representative  and 
senator  to  the  General  Assembly  of  the  state. 

"Sec.  8.  That  the  powers,  privileges  and  authorities  that  are  granted 
to  the  qualified  voters  of  the  county  of  Dtibois  and  others  named  in  the 
act  entitled,  'An  act  incorporating  a  county  library  in  the  counties  therein 
named,  approved  January  the  twenty-eighth,  one  thousand  eight  hundred  and 
eighteen,'  to  organize,  conduct  and  support  a  county  library,  are  hereby 
granted  to  the  qualified  voters  of  the  county  of  Putnam  and  the  same  power 
and  authority  therein  granted  to,  and  the  same  duties  therein  required  of, 
the  several  officers  and  the  person  or  persons  elected  by  the  qualified  voters 
of  Dubois  county  and  other  counties  in  the  said  act  named,  for  carrying  into 
effect  the  provisions  of  the  act  entitled,  'An  act  to  incorporate  a  county 
library  in  the  county  of  Ehabois,  and  other  counties  therein  named,'  according 
to  the  true  intent  and  meaning  thereof,  are  hereby  extended  to  and  required  ■ 
of  the  officers  and  other  persons  elected  by  the  qualified  voters  of  the  county 
of  Putnam. 

"This  act  to  take  effect,  and  be  in  force,  from  and  after  its  passage. 

"Samuel  Milroy, 
"Speaker  of  the  House  of  Representatives. 
"R.\TLiFF  Boon. 
"President  of  the  Senate. 

"Approved  December  31,  1821. 

"Jonathan  Jennings." 

re-arrangement  of  boundary  lines. 

Within  a  year  following  the  formation  of  the  county,  as  specified  above, 
it  became  necessary  to  re-arrange  its  boundary  lines.  One  portion  of  the  new 
county  was  to  be  restored  to  Vigo  and  another  to  Owen  county.  The  original 
act  fixing  the  boundary  lines  was  therefore  repealed  and  a  new  one,  which 
may  be  found  on  page  five  of  the  published  "Laws  of  the  Seventh  Session." 
was  approved  and  went  into  effect  December  21,  1822.  As  passed  it  reads 
as  follows : 

"An  act  to  amend  an  act,  entitled  'An  act  for  the  formation  of  a  now 


PUTNAM    COUNTY,    INDIANA.  23 

county,   out  of  Owen  and  Vigo  counties,   and   north   of   Owen,"   approved 
December  31,  1821,  and  for  other  purposes. 

"Section  i.  Be  it  enacted  by  the  General  Assembly  of  the  state  of 
Indiana,  That  the  following  boundaries,  to-wit :  Beginning  in  the  center  of 
town  12  north,  on  the  range  line  dividing  ranges  6  and  7  west,  thence 
east  twenty-four  miles,  to  the  line  dividing  ranges  2  and  3,  thence  north 
with  said  line,  twenty-seven  miles  to  the  line  dividing  townships  16  and  17, 
thence  west  with  said  line  twenty- four  miles,  to  the  line  dividing  ranges  6 
and  7,  thence  south  twenty-seven  miles,  to  the  place  of  beginning,  shall  con- 
stitute and  form  the  boundaries  of  the  county  of  Putnam;  and  that  the  first 
section  of  the  act  to  which  this  is  an  amendment  be  and  the  same  is  hereby 
repealed. 

"Sec.  2.  That  all  that  part  of  the  present  county  of  Putnam  contained 
within  the  following  boundary,  to-wit :  Beginning  in  the  center  of  town 
12  north,  on  the  line  dividing  ranges  6  and  7  west,  thence  east  twelve  miles 
to  the  line  dividing  ranges  4  and  5.  thence  south  nine  miles  to  the  line 
dividing  towns  10  and  11,  thence  west  twelve  miles  with  said  line,  to  the  line 
dividing  ranges  6  and  7,  thence  north  nine  miles,  to  the  place  of  beginning, 
shall  be  attached  to,  constitute,  and  form  a  part  of  the  county  of  Owen, 
and  that  all  that  part  of  the  county  of  Vigo  which  was  attached  to  the 
county  of  Putnam  by  the  act  to  which  this  is  an  amendment,  and  which 
is  not  included  within  the  boundaries  of  said  Putnam  county  as  designated 
by  this  act,  be  and  the  same  is  hereby  attached  to  and  shall  hereafter  con- 
stitute and  form  a  part  of  the  said  county  of  Vigo. 

"Sec.  3.  That  all  suits,  pleas,  plaints,  actions  and  proceedings,  which 
may  have  been  commenced,  instituted  and  pending  within  the  said  countv 
of  Putnam  previous  to  the  taking  effect  of  this  act.  shall  be  prosecuted  and 
carried  on  to  final  effect  in  the  sam.e  manner  as  if  this  act  had  not  been 
passed.  And  the  state  and  county  tax  which  may  be  due  in  that  part  of  the 
county  of  Putnam  by  this  act  attached  to  the  counties  of  Owen  and  Vigo, 
shall  be  collected  and  paid  in  the  same  manner  and  by  the  same  officers  as 
if  this  act  had  not  been  passed. 

"Sec.  4.  This  act  to  take  effect  and  be  in  force  from  and  after  its 
passage. 

"G.  W.  Johnston, 
"Speaker  of  the  House  of  Representatives. 
"Ratliff  Boon, 
"President  of  the  Senate. 
"Approved.  December  21.   1822. 

"WiLLiA.M  Hendricks." 


24  WEIK  S    HISTORY    OF 

LOCATION'  OF  COUNTY  SEAT. 

It  will  be  observed  on  reading  the  original  act  for  the  formation  of 
Putnam  county  that  five  commissioners  were  designated  to  "fix  the  seat 
of  justice"  in  the  new  county  and  that  they  were  to  convene  for  that  purpose 
at  the  house  of  James  Athey  on  the  first  Monday  in  May  following  the 
passage  of  the  act.  The  home  of  Athey  was  a  log  cabin, — probably  the  first 
one  erected  in  the  county, — which  stood  on  the  land  lying  at  the  confluence 
of  Walnut,  Deer  and  Mill  creeks  and  commonly  known  as  the  Forks  of  Eel. 

For  some  reason  the  commissioners  failed  to  perform  their  duty  and, 
although  the  first  court  was  in  due  time  held  in  Athey's  house,  no  steps  were 
taken  to  select  a  permanent  seat  of  government.  Why  the  matter  was  left 
undone  the  records  fail  to  disclose.  Certain  it  is  that  on  January  7,  1823, 
the  Legislature  passed  another  law  designating  five  new  commissioners  to 
"locate  the  seat  of  justice  in  the  county  of  Putnam."  The  new  act,  reciting 
the  failure  of  the  first  commissioners  to  perform  their  duty,  directs  the  com- 
missioners last  appointed  to  meet  at  the  home  of  John  Butcher  on  the  second 
Monday  in  April,  1823,  and  "proceed  to  discharge  the  duties  assigned  to 
them  by  law."     The  act  as  passed  reads  as  follows : 

"An  act  authorizing  the  location  of  the  seat  of  justice  in  the  county 
of  Putnam. 

■  "Whereas,  it  has  been  represented  to  this  General  Assembly,  that  the 
commissioners  heretofore  appointed  to  locate  the  seat  of  justice  in  the  county 
Putnam,  pursuant  to  the  provisions  of  the  act  entitled.  '.\n  act  for  the  forma- 
tion of  a  new  county  out  of  Owen  and  Vigo  counties,  and  north  of  Owen,' 
approved  December  31,  1821,  failed  to  perform  the  duty  assigned  them  by 
said  act,  for  remedy  whereof: 

"Be  it  enacted  bv  the  General  Assembly  of  the  state. of  Indiana,  That 
Jacob  Bell  of  the  county  of  Parke,  Abraham  Buskirk  and  Daniel  Anderson, 
of  the  county  of  Monroe,  Jacob  Cutler,  of  the  county  of  Morgan,  and  James 
Wasson.  of  the  county  of  Sullivan,  be  and  they  are  hereby  appointed  com- 
missioners, agreeable  to  the  act,  entitled  'An  act  for  the  fixing  of  the  seats 
of  justice  in  all  new  counties  hereafter  to  be  laid  off.'  The  commissioners 
above  named  shall  convene  at  the  house  of  John  Butcher,  in  the  said  county 
of  Putnam,  on  the  second  ^Monday  in  April  next,  and  shall  immediately,  or 
as  soon  thereafter  as  may  be  convenient,  proceed  to  discharge  the  duties 
assigned  them  by  law:  and  it  is  hereby  made  the  duty  of  the  sheriff  of  the 
said  county  of  Putnam,  to  notify  the  said  commissioners  of  their  appoint- 
ment, either  in  person  or  bv  written  notification,  on  or  before  the  fifteentli 


PUTNAM    COUNTY,    INDIANA.  2$ 

day  of  March  next,  and  the  said  sheriff  shall  receive  from  the  said  county 
of  Putnam  so  much  as  the  county  commissioners  of  said  county  shall  deem 
just  and  reasonable,  who  are  hereby  authorized  to  allow  the  same,  out  of 
any  monies  in  the  county  treasury,  to  be  paid  in  the  same  manner  other 
allowances  are  paid.  The  said  commissioners,  and  all  other  proceedings  had 
under  this  act,  shall  be  regulated  and  governed,  in  all  respects  not  provided 
for  by  this  act,  pursuant  to  the  provisions  of  the  acts  referred  to  in  this  act. 
"This  act  to  take  effect  from  its  passage. 

"G.  W.  Johnston, 
"Speaker  of  the  House  of  Representatives. 
"Ratliff  Boon, 
"President  of  the  Senate. 
"Approved,  January  7,  1823.  r 

"William  Hendricks." 

The  home  of  John  Butcher  was  a  log  cabin  on  an  eminence  overlooking 
Big  Walnut  creek  a  short  distance  northwest  of  Greencastle.  Just  why  the 
newly  appointed  commissioners  were  directed  to  meet  there  rather  than  at 
the  Forks  of  Eel,  where  the  settlement  of  the  county  began,  it  is  difficult  to 
understand,  unless  it  was  the  result  of  an  effort  of  the  settlers  in  and  around 
Greencastle  to  impress  the  commissioners  with  the  desirability  and  advantage 
of  locating  the  new  "seat  of  justice"  in  the  center  of  the  county. 

EARLY    SURVEYS    AND    FIRST    LAND    ENTRIES. 

Between  1805  and  1820  the  territory  included  within  the  limits  of 
Putnam  county  had  been  surveyed  and  divided  into  sections,  townships  and 
ranges  by  the  surveyors  employed  by  the  United  States.  An  examination  of 
the  records  of  the  general  land  office  at  Washington  shows  that  the  land 
in  Washington  township  south  of  the  Indian  boundary  line  was  surveyed 
and  the  proper  boundaries  marked  by  John  McDonald,  the  government  sur- 
veyor, in  1814;  the  western  part  of  Cloverdale  by  A.  Holmes  in  1815; 
Jefferson,  east  Cloverdale  and  Mill  Creek  by  John  Milroy  in  1819;  Marion. 
Floyd,  Jackson  and  Franklin  by  Allen  Wright  in  1819  and  the  remaining 
townships  in  1819  and  1820  by  John  Collett.  The  records  of  the  general 
land  office  further  show  that  "entries  in  Putnam  county  were  made  in 
Vincennes  to  1820,  in  Terre  Haute  from  September  24,  1820,  to  1823,  after 
which  they  were  made  in  Crawfordsville  until  April  7.  1853." 

But  the  survevor  was  not  far  in  advance  of  the  settler,  for  in  December. 


26  WEIKS    HISTORY    OF 

1818,  John  M.  Coleman  secured  the  title  to  the  first  piece  of  land  that  ever 
became  the  property  of  a  white  man  in  Putnam  county.  It  was  the  west 
half  of  the  northwest  quarter  of  section  10,  township  12,  range  5  west,  and 
was  entered  by  Mr.  Coleman  at  the  Vincennes  office.  It  adjoined  the  land 
entered  about  the  same  time  by  James  Athey,  in  whose  house  the  first  court 
was  held  and  in  which  the  commissioners,  designated  in  the  bill  admitting  the 
county,  were  directed  to  meet  and  failed  to  do  so.  Both  farms  lie  near  the 
Forks  of  Eel  in  what  is  now  Washington  township.  The  first  tract  entered 
above  the  Indian  boundary  line  and  within  the  limits  of  what  was  then 
known  as  "Harrison's  Purchase"'  was  the  west  half  of  the  northwest  quarter 
of  section  18,  township  16,  range  5  west,  and  belonged  to  Felix  Clodfelter. 
It  lies  in  Russell  township  and  was  entered  at  the  Terre  Haute  office,  Octo- 
ber 12,  1820.  Entries  were  now  being  rapidly  made  and  the  quest  for  land 
continued  unabated  for  several  years  so  that  by  1840  all  the  most  desirable 
territory  had  practically  been  taken  up.  The  last  certificate  of  entry  of 
government  land  in  the  county  was  issued  at  the  Indianapolis  office  October 
10,  1854.  The  purchaser  was  Solon  Turman  and  the  entry  included  a  small 
tract  in  what  is  now  Cloverdale  township,  being  described  as  a  part  of  section 
7,  township  12  north,  range  4  west. 

TOPOGR.^PHY   OF    PUTN.\M    COUNTY. 

Putnam  county  contains  an  area  of  four  hundred  and  eighty-six  square 
miles,  or  three  hundred  eleven  thousand  and  forty  acres,  and  is  bounded 
on  the  north  by  Montgomery,  on  the  east  by  Hendricks  and  Morgan,  on  the 
south  by  Owen  and  Clay,  and  on  the  west  by  Clay  and  Parke  counties.  The 
surface  of  the  land  in  the  northeastern  parts  is  level  and  in  some  cases 
slightly  undulating,  but  in  the  center  and  southwest  it  is  somewhat  rolling  and, 
in  the  neighborhood  of  the  streams,  more  precipitous  and  hilly.  From  a 
table  of  altitudes  furnished  by  the  principal  railroads  traversing  the  county 
it  is  shown  that  the  highest  point  between  the  Ohio  river  at  New  Albany 
and  Michigan  City  on  the  Monon  railroad  is  one  mile  north  of  Bainbridge, 
being  nine  hundred  and  fifty-five  feet  above  the  sea  level,  and  on  the  Van- 
dalia  railroad  near  the  east  line  of  the  county  the  altitude  reached  is  eight 
hundred  and  ninety-seven,  being  but  nine  feet  lower  than  at  Clayton,  the 
highest  point  on  the  road  between  the  Wabash  river  and  Indianapolis. 

"The  entire  surface  of  the  county,"  writes  one  of  the  earlier  historians, 
"was  originally  covered  with  a  dense  forest  of  valuable  timber.  The  beauty 
of  these  woods  could  scarcely  be  surpassed   in   the  worid.   The  trees   were 


Caramack,  Photographe 
THE  STONER   ROAD  ON  LITTLE  WALNUT  CREEK 


PUTNAM    COUNTY,    INDIANA.  T.'J 

tall,  straight  and  symmetrical  and  were  of  great  variety.  Here  grew  side 
by  side  the  majestic  poplar,  walnut  and  oak,  the  sturdy  sugar  maple  and  the 
beech,  in  company  with  the  tall,  lithe  hickory.  The  different  kinds  were  not 
evenly  dispersed  over  the  ground,  nor  yet  scattered  at  random.  In  one  local- 
ity one  kind  prevailed,  whilst  in  other  localities  other  kinds  were  more 
numerous.  The  ridges  and  the  dry  limestone  land  generally  produced  the 
sugar  maple,  interspersed  with  clumps  of  poplar  and  black  walnut.  The 
cold,  wet  lands  were  covered  with  the  beech,  hickory  and  red  oak,  while  the 
bluffs  along  the  margins  of  the  creeks  were  crowned  with  the  huge  trunks 
and  spreading  tops  of  the  white  oak.  Besides  those  named,  there  was  a 
great  variety  of  other  kinds  of  timber  less  valuable  for  purposes  of  manu- 
facture and  commerce,  but  enhancing  the  grandeur  of  the  solitude  that 
reigned  in  the  midst  of  their  shades.  The  place  of  fruit  trees  was  supplied 
by  the  wild  plum  and  the  black  haw,  with  an  occasional  wild  crab  and 
persimmon.  Some  of  these  ancient  monarchs  of  the  woods,  maple,  poplar 
and  oak — guardians  of  a  thousand  years — may  still  be  seen  around  the  rim 
of  the  farm  lands,  like  sentries  of  the  ages  as  they  fly. 

"The  water-shed  of  the  county  is  to  the  southwest.  It  is  traversed 
by  Walnut  fork  of  Eel  river,  from  northeast  to  southwest,  which  has  for 
its  principal  tributaries,  on  the  west  Little  Walnut,  on  the  east  Warford's 
branch  and  Deer  creek.  The  northwest  portion  of  the  county  is  drained  by 
Raccoon  creek,  while  the  southeast  portion  finds  its  drainage  in  Mill  creek. 
The  county  is  thus  divided  into  three  geographical  sections,  but  they  are  so 
similar  in  their  general  features  that  it  is  unnecessary  to  treat  of  them 
separately.  Each  of  these  streams  draws  supplies  from  almost  innumerable 
smaller  streams,  which  form  a  complete  net-work  of  branches  throughout 
the  extent  of  the  county,  furnishing  to  it  a  complete  system  of  drainage 
for  almost  every  part. 

"The  surface  of  the  county  in  the  eastern  portion  is  level  or  gently  undu- 
lating, affording  vast  fields  for  tillage  and  for  meadows.  The  flat  lands  on 
the  divide  between  the  headwaters  of  Walnut  and  those  of  the  tributaries  of 
Sugar  creek,  lying  principally  within  Boone  county,  extend  into  the  extreme 
northeast  corner  of  Putnam,  sometimes  requiring  artificial  drainage  to  render 
the  land  productive.  The  northern  and  northwestern  portions  of  the  county 
are  rolling,  affording  some  of  the  finest  pasturage  to  be  found  even  in  that 
remarkable  belt  of  pasture  lands  lying  along  the  fortieth  parallel  of  north 
latitude.  The  hills  along  Little  Walnut,  Walnut  and  lower  Deer  creek  at 
times  rise  into  lofty  cliffs,  while  the  valleys  along  these  streams  and  at  the 
mouths  of  their  tributaries  furnish  as  fine  fields  for  grain  as  those  of  the 
best  river  bottoms." 


28  weik's  history  of 

But,  notwithstanding  her  stately  forests  and  her  rich  and  promising 
farm  lands,  a  great  part  of  the  wealth  of  the  county  lies  beneath  the  soil. 
The  early  settlers  were  too  busy  clearing  the  forests  to  delve  into  the  earth 
and  it  is  only  within  recent  years,  since  the  men  of  science  have  begun  their 
investigations,  that  we  have  come  to  realize  the  value  of  the  stone  and  min- 
erals stored  in  such  colossal  proportions  beneath  our  feet.  A  history  of  the 
county  would  be  decidedly  incomplete  which  fails  to  note  or  enumerate  this 
important  item  of  our  natural  resources.  The  liberty  will  be  taken,  there- 
fore, to  quote  freely  from  what  a  very  eminent  scientific  authority,  the  late 
Prof.  John  Collett,  chief  of  the  bureau  of  statistics  and  geology  of  Indiana, 
has  to  say  of  our  county  in  this  regard.  In  a  report  made  to  the  governor 
in  1880,  referring  to  the  "Geology  of  Putnam  County,"  he  says: 

"The  surface  of  the  county  is  agreeably  diversified,  combining  in  a  high 
degree  the  useful  and  agreeable,  as  rocky  scenery,  with  romantic  views  of 
plain  and  woodland,  rich  in  interest  to  the  economist,  all  uniting  to  tell  a 
long  story,  recorded  on  rock  and  plain,  of  the  earth's  past,  laden  with  prom- 
ises of  the  future.  Soils  and  surface  deposits  are  formed  by  the  disintegra- 
tion and  destruction  of  rocks.  If  derived  from  local  rocks  or  a  single  bed 
they  are  generally  thin  or  obdurate,  and  the  character  of  the  productions — 
even  of  a  people — may  be  declared  from  their  geological  deposits.  On  the 
other  hand,  a  region  having  a  soil  derived  from  the  greatest  number  of  strata 
is,  as  a  rule,  productive  and  desirable.  The  soils  of  Putnam  county,  although 
principally  composed  of  the  local  rocks  which  give  character  to  the  different 
parts,  are  also  enriched  by  materials  imported  from  the  paleozoic  strata  and 
thoroughly  crushed,  mingled  and  incorporated  by  the  mighty  forces  of  the 
glacial  age;  the  soil,  therefore,  is  superior  or  equal  to  the  best. 

"The  alluvial  deposits  or  creek  and  river  bottoms  which  belt  the  water 
courses  are  due  to  causes  now  in  action.  This  material  is  derived  from 
the  adjoining  banks,  enriched  by  the  wear  of  rolling  pebbles  and  grinding 
sand  and  is  cast  out  by  overflows  upon  the  flood  plains  of  the  streams. 
Rich  in  mineral  plant  food,  it  always  contains  a  large  amount  of  soluble 
organic  matter,  constituting  a  valuable  and  productive  farm  or  garden  land. 
Each  bottom  field  is  a  gold  mine,  for  its  productions  will  bring  gold  or  its 
equivalent  with  less  labor  than  ordinary  pursuits  or  mines. 

"These  deposits  are  characteristic  of  an  epoch  which  occurred  subsequent 
to  the  glacial.  The  arctic  coldness  had  subsided.  A  great  body  or  sea  of 
fresh  water  covered  most  of  the  southern  half  of  the  state  with  gulfs,  1)33^5 
and  lagoon  arms  which  reached  north  in  the  line  of  the  ice  thrusts.  A  warm, 
almost  tropical  climate  prevailed,  giving  life  and  sustenance  to  the  monster 


PUTNAM     COUNTY,    INDIANA.  2g 

animals  now  extinct,  including  the  American  elephant,  whose  remains  have 
been  found  at  several  stations  in  the  county.  This  deposit,  an  almost 
impalpable  sand  and  clay,  was  slowly  formed  at  the  bottom  of  a  quiet, 
waveless  lake,  filling  up  the  lowest  inequalities  in  the  surface,  for  the  lake 
water  did  not  cover  the  high  lands.  Good  examples  are  seen  in  the  level 
plain  adjoining  Mill  creek,  in  the  southeast  parts  and  in  the  railway  cuts  at 
and  west  of  Oakalla  station.  Loess  loams  produce  sweet  fruits,  and  being 
free  from  pebbles  are  well  suited  for  the  manufacture  of  bricks. 

"To  the  strange  phenomena  of  the  glacial  epoch  we  are  indebted  largely 
for  results  which  make  this  soil  and  surface  configuration  so  desirable — a 
more  than  "Xew  Kentucky."  A  grand  river  of  ice,  with  its  sources  among  the 
snowy  heights  of  distant  mountains,  laden  with  materials  which  border  the 
St.  Lawrence  and  lakes  Ontario  and  Erie,  pushed  its  ice  foot  beyond  the 
western  shore  of  Lake  Erie  and  sent  volumes  of  water  through  deep-cut 
sluiceways  across  the  state  from  north  eighty  degrees  east  to  the  opposite 
course  west,  bringing  with  it,  as  indications  of  its  origin,  nuggets  of  Cham- 
plain  iron  ore  and  'biscuit  stones'  of  Medina  sandstone,  etc.  Evidences  of 
this  violent  water  flow  are  seen  in  the  ancient  bed  one  hundred  and  nine 
feet  below  the  present  channel  of  Eel  river  in  Clay  county.  In  Putnam 
county  the  same  developments  are  met  in  sinking  wells  near  the  southern 
boundary.  At  the  fork  of  Croy's  creek,  four  miles  west  of  Reelsville, 
A.  O.  Hough  put  down  a  bore  for  coal  about  1865,  finding  the  bottom 
rock  one  hundred  and  twenty  feet  below  the  present  water  bed.  It  seems  pos- 
sible that  the  ancient  Walnut  creek  flowed  south  eighty  degrees  west  or 
nearly  west  by  Otter  creek  from  Oakalla  to  the  Wabash  in  a  channel  now 
deeply  hid  but  which  future  developments  may  discover. 

"From  causes  now  unknown  the  source  of  the  ice  river  was  afterwards 
changed  to  the  northern  center  of  the  continent.  This  glacier  moved  south 
in  two  divisions,  one  excavating  the  basins  of  Lake  Michigan  and  the  other 
of  Huron  and  St.  Clair,  the  first  crossing  the  state  from  north  to  south 
eight  degrees  to  ten  degrees  east.  The  latter  was  very  nearly  due  south. 
Combined,  they  are  wider  than  the  state  of  Indiana  from  east  to  west  and. 
at  a  point  of  obstruction  in  Brown  county,  the  ice  was  about  four  hundred 
feet  deep.  It  bore  upon  its  surface  and  in  its  icy  bosom  immense  quantities 
of  angular  rocks,  bowlders,  gravel,  sand  and  earth  from  northern  regions, 
which,  crushed  and  powdered,  were  mingled  with  the  debris  of  local  rocks 
planed  away  and  ground  up  in  the  mill  of  nature.  The  result  was  that 
irregularities  were  cut  down,  ancient  river  channels  and  sluiceways  of  o'reat 
depth  were  filled  up  and  the  underlying  rocks  covered  with  a  gray  compact 
l)e<l  of  clay.  sand,  gravel  and  rock,  termed  the  bowlder  or  glacial  drift. 


30 


WEIK  S    HISTORY    OF 


"Interesting  specimens  of  glacial  grooves,  stride  and  planishing  are  seen 
in  the  'Rock  Cut'  north  of  Maple  Grove  station,  on  the  Louisville,  New 
Albany  &  Chicago  railroad,  and  on  W.  B.  Williams'  farm,  section  28,  town- 
ship 13,  range  4,  two  miles  south  of  Putnamville.  At  the  first  locality  the 
glacier,  in  its  southward  movement,  filled  the  valley  of  the  adjoining  stream 
to  the  east,  and  was  heaped  against  and  ground  down  the  sloping  sides  and 
banks  of  the  valley.  The  planished  surfaces,  grooves  and  strice  are  distinct 
and  perfect  as  of  yesterday.  At  the  second  locality  (Williams'  farm)  the 
ice  flowing  from  the  north  was  obstructed  by  a  high  hill  of  conglomerate 
sand  rock,  against  which  it  steadily  advanced  with  resistless  force  until  it 
mounted  the  hill,  leaving  many  planished  surfaces,  with  scars  and  well 
preserved  grooves  on  the  summit. 

"The  coal  measures  are  the  most  recent  rocks  exposed  and  comprise 
the  southwestern  parts  of  the  county.  Beginning  at  Portland  Mills,  they 
generally  form  the  surface  rock  west  of  Little  and  Big  Walnut  creeks;  south 
of  Reelsville,  they  broaden  to  the  east  to  near  Cloverdale,  and  thence  south- 
west by  Doe  creek  to  the  southern  boundary  period. 

"The  conglomerate  coal  occurs  at  intervals  all  over  the  district.  At  a 
few  stations  it  attains  a  thickness,  in  small  pockets,  of  two  or  three  feet,  but 
such  pockets  or  pools  are  limited  in  width  to  a  few  yards  or  rods.  As  a  rule 
the  seam  is  barren  or  only  one  or  two  inches  thick  and  will  not  exceed  an 
average  of  four  inches.  The  product  is  at  the  same  time  sulphurous  and 
inferior.  In  the  vicinity  of  Morton  a  depression  in  the  underlying  rocks 
gives  an  eastern  extension  of  the  coal  measure  rocks,  and  many  beautifully 
preserved  'ferns'  and  trunks  of  plants  indicate  the  horizon  of  coal,  the  super- 
imposed sand  rock  having  been  chiefly  eroded.  Other  outcrops  of  coal  occur 
north  and  northwest  of  Reelsville;  generally  thin  and  unworked.  These 
coals  are  only  opened  for  local  use  now  and  will  not  pay  to  work  except  by 
stripping;  but,  in  the  distant  future,  when  coal  may  possibly  become  scarce 
or  railway  transportation  exorbitant  seams  eighteen  inches  thick,  and  even 
less,  will  be  worked  as  such  seams  are  now  sometimes  worked  in  Europe. 

"During  the  petroleum  excitement  (about  1865)  a  prospecting  bore  was 
put  down  in  the  east  side  of  the  village  of  Reelsville,  commencing  eighteen 
feet  above  lovv'  water  in  Big  Walnut  creek.  There  resulted  a  strong  flow  of 
white  sulphur  water  highly  charged  with  sulphuretted  hydrogen  gas  and 
containing  chlorides  of  sodium  calcium  and  magnesium,  sulphites  of  the  same 
bases  with  traces  of  bromide  and  iodine,  etc.  It  had  a  pleasant  saline,  sulphur- 
ous taste  and  pungent  odor  and  was  found  to  have  great,  medicinal  efficacy 
in  cases  of  dyspepsia,  rheumatism  and  ague.     It  was  considered  a  specific 


PUTNAM    COUNTY,    INDIANA.  3I 

in  diseases  of  the  liver  and  kidneys  and,  although  the  outlet  was  covered  by 
the  flood  of  1875,  'ts  'magic  cures'  are  still  held  in  kind  remembrance  in  this 
vicinity. 

"Si.x  miles  .southwest  of  Qoverdale  on  the  northeast  quarter  of  section 
12,  town  12.  range  5,  is  a  very  considerable  outcrop  of  rich  band  and  kidney 
iron  ore  in  a  wild,  deep  ravine.  It  was  mined  in  i860  by  the  proprietor  and 
some  thirty  tons  sold  to  the  Knightsville  furnace.  It  was  found  to  be  an 
excellent  ore  to  mix  as  a  flux  with  the  Missouri  or  Lake  Superior  ore.  P.ut 
the  expense  of  mining  and  hauling  was  fully  equal  to  the  market  value  and 
the  enterprise  was  abandoned. 

"The  St.  Louis  beds  of  limestone  foiTn  the  surface  rocks  in  a  well 
marked  division  from  four  to  eight  miles  broad,  extending  from  the  extreme 
northwestern  to  the  southwestern  comers  of  the  county,  with  denuded  exten- 
sions in  the  valleys  of  the  Chester  and  coal  measure  beds.  These  strata  are 
known  as  the  'ca\'emous'  or  'concretionary'  limestones  of  the  western  states 
and  are  remarkable  in  the  southern  parts  of  this  state  for  caverns,  sunken 
valleys  and  subterranean  rivers.  South  and  east  of  Greencastle  many  funnel- 
shaped  sink-holes  which  receive  and  deliver  the  rainfall  to  hidden  streams, 
indicate  the  probability  of  small  caverns  yet  to  be  disco\ered  here.  The 
limestones  vary  much  in  quality.  Some  are  pure  carbonate ;  others  are 
silicious  or  aluminous  and  beds  of  shale,  clay  and  argillite  are  interpolated. 

"About  a  mile  east  of  Cloverdale  on  descending  from  the  limestone 
hills  a  level,  flat  clay  district  is  found  which  extends  east  beyond  Eel  river 
and  northeast  towards  Monrovia  in  Morgan  county.  This  area  has  been 
deeply  eroded  during  the  glacial  epoch,  removing  more  than  fifty  feet  of  St. 
Louis  limestone  and  along  the  eastern  side  of  the  county  exposing  rocks  of 
the  Keokuk  and  Knobstone  groups.  The  excavation  is  now  refilled  with 
lacustral  and  fluviatile  drift,  indicating  an  a'oandoned  river  bed  which  once 
connected  by  Indian  creek  with  White  river  valley. 

"Putnamville,  located  on  the  National  road,  is  famous  for  valuable 
quarries  of  paving  curb  and  step  stones.  From  it  have  been  shipped  large 
quantities  of  flags,  bridge,  dimension  and  rubble  stone.  The  product  has  been 
in  use.  severely  exposed  to  the  extreme  vicissitudes  of  our  variable  climate, 
including  changes  of  sixty  degrees  of  temperature  in  a  single  day,  for  over 
forty  years.  It  has  shown  capacity  to  resist  the  action  of  frost,  fire  and  ice. 
Samples,  taken  as  a  rule  from  the  exposed  parts  of  the  quarry  when  tlrst 
opened  in  1838-40,  may  be  seen  in  piers,  etc.,  of  the  bridges  and  culverts  on 
the  National  road  and  in  the  locks  of  the  canal,  the  steps  of  the  mother 
and  branch  Banks  of  State  at  Indianapolis  and  also  steps  of  the  Terre  Haxite 
House  at  Terre  Haute  and  of  the  old  university  building  at  Greencastle. 


32 


VVEIK  S    HISTORY    OF 


"Greencastle.  the  county  seat,  is  situated  on  the  high  rolHng  table  land 
one  mile  east  of  Walnut  fork  of  Eel  river.  Geologically,  it  rests  upon  the 
upper  ledges  of  the  St.  Louis  limestone.  The  conglomerate  sand  rock  of 
the  coal  measures  caps  the  summit  of  Forest  Hill  cemetery  just  south,  as 
also  the  hills  across  Walnut  just  west  of  the  city.  Similar  quarries  are 
found  at  several  points  about  town  affording  an  abundant  and  cheap  supply 
of  stone  which  meets  with  the  approval  of  the  architects  and  builders  of  the 

city. 

"Going  north  from  Greencastle,  many  outcrops  and  quarries  of  St.  Louis 
limestone  are  observable,  presenting  ledges  of  rock  so  similar  to  those  already 
given  that  repetition  is  unnecessary.  The  surface  outlook  is  characteristic  of 
this  limestone  and  is  plane  on  the  plateaus  or  gently  undulating,  moulded  into 
long  rolls  and  slopes  by  the  action  of  air  and  moisture  during  ages  of  time. 
The  soil  is  a  calcareous  loam  and  was  originally  clothed  with  a  stately  forest, 
composed  of  oak,  poplar,  ash,  walnut,  sugar,  etc.,  trees,  which  indicate  and 
characterize  the  soil  that  produces  them.  The  sharp  cuts  of  the  creeks  and 
brooks  where  rocky  exposures  are  seen  were  exceptional  scars  on  the  face 
of  nature  so  recent  as  to  lack  the  healing  and  smoothing  element  of  time. 

"From  an  elevation  high  enough  to  include  the  whole  county  from  east 
to  west  the  autumnal  foliage  would  present  north-south  lines  of  brilliant 
colors  strongly  marked  and  of  magic  splendor.  At  the  time  of  my  visit 
(October,  1880)  the  usual  summer  was  followed  by  a  warm,  dry  autumn, 
ripening  the  leaves  of  all  the  trees  to  full  maturity  before  touched  by  frost. 
The  eastern  or  Knobstone  division  of  the  county  showed  a  background  of 
the  pale  green  of  the  beech,  on  which  trembled  as  stars  in  the  sky  a  never- 
endint^  medley  of  orange,  straw,  red.  and  other  neutral  tints  of  their  com- 
panions, with  occasional  clumps  of  dogwood  and  maple  to  give  vivacity  to 
the  modest  scene.  In  the  western  or  coal  measure  district,  the  background 
was  the  russet  and  brown  of  the  oaks,  flecked  with  strong  blocks  and  lines 
of  vivid  colors.  In  the  central  or  St.  Louis  division  both  the  parts  merged 
and  mellowed,  their  contrasting  colors  uniting  to  crown  every  hill  and  deck 
everv  valley  with  a  foliage  that  has  never,  can  never  be  painted  or  described : 
in  which  the  scarlet,  crimson  and  orange  of  the  sugar  and  dogwood  contrast 
in  quivering  life  with  gold,  pink,  green  and  russet  of  the  elm,  beech,  oak, 
hickory,  poplar  and  minor  shrubs.  It  is  not  the  display  of  a  single  tree  or 
clump,  but  the  whole  woodland,  united  in  a  glorious  blaze  of  untiring  beauty. 
Soon  the  ground,  too.  is  spread  with  a  carpet  of  full  ripened  leaves  which  with 
everv  breath  of  air  is  stirred  into  an  ever-changing  kaleidoscope  of  colors,  the 
whole  forming  an  attraction  which  would  justify  a  long  journey  to  witness 
and  enjoy." 


TfflNqEr 
/Ve 

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A'9  6 

BflNqe 

A/OS 

R/j/vq£- 

R»Nq£- 
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TfflNqe- 

ToiVNSH'P 

17  North 

- 

Tomf A/SHIP 
IBNof^TH 

Town  SHIP 
15  NoffTH 

} 

Tow  A/ SHIP 

1^  North 

1       I         ;  Tow/v-iHip 
1    /J          1 

i     }                          \ 

! 

Township 

li.  North 

! 

i 
1 

Township 
U  North 

Putnam  County    16^/ 


Pfite^ENT  Sou/^CflF?l£  S 


RED   BY    ALEC  A   LANE 


CHAPTER  II. 


ORGAXIZATION  OF  THE  COUNTY. 


As  originally  organized,  Putnam  county  consisted  of  six  townships, 
named  Deer  Creek,  Hart,  Sparta,  Tipton.  Walnut  and  Washington.  To 
locate  them  or  fix  the  boundary  lines  which  separated  them  cannot  now  be 
done  for  the  reason  that  the  records  of  the  proceedings  of  the  county  com- 
missioners prior  to  1828,  where  such  information  would  properly  belong, 
have  long  since  disappeared  from  the  files  of  the  county  auditor's  ofiice. 
From  certain  documents  recently  found  in  the  clerk's  office,  however,  we 
are  safe  in  assuming  that  Tipton  township  was  in  the  centre  of  the  county 
and  included  the  town  of  Greencastle;  that  Deer  Creek  was  in  the  south 
part  of  the  county  and  adjacent  to  the  stream  which  bears  that  name,  and 
that  Washington  was  in  the  southwest  corner  and  covered  practically  the 
territory  now  included  within  the  limits  of  the  present  township  of  that  name. 
In  the  absence  of  the  necessary  records  the  location  of  the  three  other  town- 
ships must,  therefore,  be  left  somewhat  to  conjecture.  From  a  list  of  voters 
found  in  the  files  of  the  clerk's  office  entitled  "Returns  from  Hart  town- 
ship," it  appears  that  an  election  in  1823  was  held  at  the  home  of  Moses 
Hart  and  again  in  August,  1825,  another  election  at  Jacob  Beck's  mill  in  the 
same  tow-nship;  and  from  a  similar  return  of  voters  in  Sparta  we  learn  that 
the  August  election  in  1823  in  that  township  was  held  at  James  Kelso's 
mill.  As  for  Walnut  township,  the  only  item  of  record  thus  far  found  point- 
ing to  its  existence  as  a  township  is  an  indictment  in  the  clerk's  files  returned 
by  a  grand  jury  in  June,  1823,  which  charges  "Charles  Wright,  laborer,  of 
Walnut  township."  with  assault  and  battery  on  the  person  of  one  James 
Frazier.  Beyond  these  meagre  and  desultory  discoveries  it  is  practically 
impossible  at  this  late  day  to  secure  further  or  more  definite  information 
regarding  these  early  divisions  in  our  county's  political  geography. 

By  1828,  when  the  recorded  history  of  the  county's  government  begins, 
the  earlier  named  townships  had  faded  away  and  in  their  places  we  find  the 
following:  Clinton.  Greencastle.  Jackson.  Jefiferson.  Madison.  Marion,  Mon- 
roe and  Washington.  These  in  the  course  of  time  were  still  further  reduced 
in  area  by  the  formation  of  Russell,  Franklin,  Floyd,  Warren  and  Clover- 
dale,  the  last  named  not  coming  into  existence  till  1S46.     In  September,  i860. 


34 


WEIK  S    HISTORY    OF 


the  coniniissioners  of  I'utnani  county  annexed  about  fifteen  s(|uare  miles 
of  the  tem'torv  of  M()ri:;an  county  lying  northwest  of  Mill  creek,  their  action 
being  confimied  bv  the  Legislature  March  ir,  1861.  The  tract  thus  added 
to  Putnam  countv  was  organized  into  a  township  and  called  Mill  Creek. 

At  jjfesent.  therefore,  the  county  is  divided  into  fourteen  civil  town- 
ships. Jackson.  Franklin.  Russell.  Clinton.  Monroe,  Floyd.  Marion.  Green- 
castle  and  Madison  are  each  six  miles  square:  Washington  is  nine  miles  from 
north  to  south  and  six  from  east  to  west :  Warren  and  Jefferson  each  five 
miles  north  and  south  and  six  east  and  west ;  Cloverdale  four  north  and 
south  and  twelve  east  and  west.  Mill  Creek  is  somewhat  irregular  in  shape 
and  contain^  in  the  neighborhood  of  fifteen  square  miles.  The  entire  county 
embraces  an  area  of  almost  five  hundred  square  miles  and  is  the  twelfth  in 
size    in   the   state. 

FIRST  SETTLEMENTS. 

As  the  settlement  of  a  new  country  usually  follows  the  water  courses, 
it  will  be  readilv  understood  that  the  scene  of  the  earliest  activity  in  Putnam 
countv  was  at  the  h^orks  of  Eel.  Among  the  first  who  had  come  hither 
were  James  Athev  and  John  M.  Colman,.  who  entered  adjoining  tracts 
of  land  in  that  vicinity.  They  were  natives  of  Kentucky  and  had  emigrated 
from  Bour1)on  county  to  Fort  Harrison  near  Terre  Haute,  arriving  in  18 16. 
Two  vears  later,  after  a  journey  to  the  Vincennes  land-office,  they  set  out 
on  horseback  to  take  possession  of  their  newly  acquired  lands.  Earl\-  in  the 
spring  of  1818  Athey  cleared  a  portion  of  his  land  and  put  in  a  crop  of 
corn,  it  being  the  first  cultivation  by  a  white  man  of  the  soil  of  Putnam 
countv.  Colman  did  not  remain  very  long  and  in  time  returned  to  Vigo 
countv.  .\  little  later  Benjamin  Croy  came  and  still  later  Otwell  Thomas  and 
Reuben.  Ragan.  These  men  assisted  Athey  in  erecting  a  dwelling,  the  first 
structure  built  in  the  new  county.  Soon  after,  and  a  short  distance  north 
of  the  new  settlement  at  the  Forks.  Webster's  mill  was  built  on  the  banks 
of  Walnut,  being  the  first  piece  of  machinery  to  '"wake  the  echoes  of  the 
surrounding  solitude  with  its  monotonous  hum.'"  By  the  close  of  the  year 
four  families  had  settled  along  the  lower  edge  of  the  county. 

Settlement  in  wliat  was  then  known  as  the  Xew  Purchase,  being  above 
the  Indian  lioundary  line,  did  not  begin  so  early.  The  first  permanent  resi- 
dent wa>  lohn  Sigler.  who  came  with  his  family  from  Kentucky  in  March. 
i8_>i.  accompanied  by  Thomas  Johnson  and  located  on  land  which  is  now 
v.ithin  the  citv  limits  of  Greencastle.  In  May  following  came  John  John- 
.son.  wliri  settled  a  few  miles  southeast  of  the  same  place.  Before  the  close 
of  the  vear  the  new  colon v  was  increased  l)y  the  arrival  of  Jefferson  Thomas, 


1471541 

PL'TXAM     COUXTY,    INDIA.VA.  35 

Abraham  Coffman.  Samuel  Rugers.  Jubal  (also  kno\v!i  as  "■Jubilee")  Deweese, 
Isaac  Matkin,  Abraham  Lewis  and  the  Rev.  Reuben  Clearwaters,  the  first 
preacher,  in  all  probability,  who  ventured  to  penetrate  the  wilds  of  the  new 
county.  In  almost  every  instance  these  hardy  and  venturesome  pioneers 
came  from  Kentucky.  Among  those  who  made  a  settlement  in  the  more 
northern  part  of  the  county  was  James  Gordon,  whose  native  state  was 
North  Carolina,  but  who  had  lived  for  a  time  in  the  southeastern  part  of 
the  state,  in  the  strip  which  lay  between  the  mouths  of  the  Kentucky  and 
the  Miami-  rivers.  He  entered  a  tract  of  land  about  nine  miles  north  of 
Greencastle  on  which,  later,  a  part  of  the  town  of  Brainbridge  was  located.  His 
son  James,  who  was  seven  years  old  when  the  family  reached  Putnam  coun- 
ty, is  still  living  and,  although  in  his  ninety-si.xth  year,  is  able  to  recall  and 
relate  many  interesting  and  stirring  incidents  of  his  boyhood  in  the  wilder- 
ness. He  is  doubtless  the  only  person  now  living  who  was  here  when  the 
county  was  organized. 

Meanwhile  the  commissioners  designated  by  the  Legislature  for  that 
purpose  had  met,  as  required,  at  the  house  of  John  Butcher  and  agreed  upon 
a  location  for  the  seat  of  county  government.  The  site  chosen  was  a  hill  over- 
looking Walnut  creek  and  almost  in  the  exact  geographical  center  of  the 
county.  As  an  inducement  towards  the  location  there  and  in  consideration 
thereof,  Ephraim  Dukes  and  Rebecca  his  wife  conveyed  to  Amos  Robertson, 
designated  as  "agent  for  Putnam  county,"  seventy  acres  of  land  in  the  north- 
west quarter  of  section  21.  township  14  north,  range  4  west.  The  deed  was  exe- 
cuted September  2/,  1823,  and  recites  that  the  land  is  donated  in  considera- 
tion that  the  county  seat  is  located  at  the  "town  of  Greencastle."  The  tract 
thus  conveyed  includes  that  part  of  the  city  of  Greencastle  which  lies  be- 
tween Locust  and  Indiana  streets.  June  7,  1825,  Duke's  son-in-law,  John 
Wesley  Clark,  and  Elizabeth  his  wife,  for  the  same  consideration  mentioned 
in  Duke's  deed,  conveyed  to  John  Baird,  "agent  for  Putnam  county,"  eighty 
acres,  being  the  west  half  of  the  northwest  quarter  of  the  same  section  and 
adj(jining  the  tract  Dnkes  had  donated  two  years  before.  The  land  conveyed 
by  this  last  deed  comprises  that  part  of  the  city  of  Greenca.stle  which  lies 
between   Indiana  street  and  the  western  limits  on  Gillespie  street. 

The  original  town-site  consisted  of  one  hundred  and  fifty  acres,  divided 
into  two  hundred  and  fourteen  lots,  and  was  bounded  on  the  north  by  Liberty 
street ;  on  the  west  by  Gillespie  ;  on  the  south  by  Hill  and  on  the  east  bv  Locust. 

As  to  the  e.xtent  and  character  of  the  contest  over  the  location  of  the 
county  seat  it  is  impossible  to  secure  any  material  or  authentic  information. 
There  doubtless  was  some  rivalry  between  those  who  lived  or  were  interest- 


^6  WEIK  S    HISTORY    OF 

ed  in  the  region  about  Greencastle  and  the  people  at  the  Forks  of  Eel,  but 
how  spirited  the  competition  was  or  who  were  the  leaders  therein  the  records 
fail  to  disclose.  A  very  singular  entry  is  found  in  the  records  of  the  pro- 
ceedings of  the  county  commissioners'  court  dated  July  7,  1828.  It  reads  as 
follows : 

"Ordered  by  the  board  of  county  justices  that  John  Baird,  agent  of 
Putnam  countv,  refuse  payment  on  an  order,  issued  by  Arthur  ^IcGaughey, 
clerk  of  the  board  of  county  commissioners  and  now  clerk  of  this  board, 
payable  to  John  Allen  for  services  rendered  in  locating  the  seat  of  justice 
for  Putnam  county  at  the  town  of  Bedford." 

Naturally  the  people  of  this  generation  would  be  glad  to  learn  where 
"the  town  of  Bedford"  was,  but  alas  for  us,  a  careful  search  of  the  deed 
books,  the  plat  books  and  other  records  in  the  various  offices  in  the  court 
house  fails  to  reveal  the  slightest  hint  of  this  early  competitor  of  Greencastle 
for  countv  seat  honors.  Some  years  after  the  county  seat  question  had  been 
settled  in  favor  of  Greencastle,  and  after  the  National  road  had  been  con- 
structed, Putnamville,  then  a  busy  and  important  place  on  that  great  thor- 
oughfare, began  to  agitate  the  question  of  the  removal  of  the  seat  of  jus- 
tice from  Greencastle,  arguing  that  as  Putnamville  was  more  favorably 
located  as  to  the  great  highway  for  travel,  it  was  the  natural  and  logical 
location  for  the  county  seat.  An  irritating  rivalry  thus  grew  up  between 
the  two  towns  which  continued  for  years,  but  never  crystalized  into  any 
sort  of  organized  action. 

EPHRAIM  DUKES. 

In  this  connection  it  may  not  be  amiss  to  explain  that  the  writer,  in 
obedience  to  the  apparent  interest  manifested  in  the  career  of  Ephraim 
Dukes,  has  been  unremittingly  exhaustive  in  his  efforts  to  learn  the  latter's 
antecedents  as  well  as  his  later  history.  The  commonly  accepted  tradition 
that  Dukes  gave  Greencastle  its  name  after  the  town  in  Pennsylvania  by  that 
name,  where  he  originated,  has  not  thus  far  been  verified.  Extensive  cor- 
respondence with  old  settlers  in  Greencastle,  Pennsylvania,  and  also  in  Ship- 
pensburg,  where  the  Duke  family  is  somewhat  prominent  and  numerous,  fails 
to  shed  any  light  on  the  existence  or  origin  of  Ephraim.  The  family  there 
spell  their  name  without  the  final  s.  In  the  absence  of  any  more  definite 
information  than  has  thus  far  been  obtainable  there  can  be  no  good  reason 
to  reject  the  theory  that  Ephraim  Dukes  emigrated  hither  from  Kentucky. 
The  family  is  more  or  less  numerous  in  Virginia  and  near  the  close  of  the 
eighteenth  century  several  of  its  members  moved  into  Kentucky.  Inasmuch, 
therefore,  as  at  least  seventy-five  per  cent  of  the  early  settlers  who  came  to 


PUTNAM     COUNTY.    INDIANA.  37 

our  county  hailed  from  Kentucky,  it  is  not  improbable  that  Ephraim  Dukes 
originated  tliere  also.  His  later  history  is  equally  nebulous  and  uncertain. 
He  remained  in  Putnam  county  till  about  1835,  when,  in  company  with  the 
late  Gen.  Joseph  Orr,  he  removed  to  Laporte  county,  Indiana.  He  was  living 
there  in  July,  1836,  as  shown  by  a  deed  executed  by  him  at  that  time  and 
soon  after  forwarded  here  to  be  recorded.  Beyond  this  last  item  of  infor- 
mation it  has  been  impossible  to  find  any  trace  of  him.  General  Orr,  with 
whom  he  emigrated  to  Laporte  county,  was  a  well  known  character  and  con- 
tinued to  reside  there  till  his  death,  about  thirty  years  ago,  but  the  most 
persistent  and  thorough  inquiry  fails  to  elicit  any  information  as  to  Dukes. 
The  probability  is  that  his  stay  in  Laporte  county  was  brief  and  that  he 
eventually  moved  farther  westward,  leaving  scarcely  a  footprint  behind.  While 
still  a  resident  of  Putnam  he  filled  several  minor  places  of  the  grade  of 
constable  and  court  bailiff  and  was  finally  promoted  to  the  office  of  coroner. 
His  name  was  perpetuated  by  his  fellow-townsmen  in  one  of  the  principal 
streets  of  Greencastle  which  was  for  years  called  Ephraim,  after  him,  but 
which,  unfortunately,  was  recently  changed  to  the  more  fashionable  and 
euphonious  College  avenue. 

SALE  OF  TOWN   LOTS. 

In  the  year  following  the  organization  of  the  county  Greencastle  began 
to  show  some  signs  of  life.  Before  the  close  of  1822  Ephraim  Diikes  had 
erected  a  cabin  on  the  lot  at  the  corner  of  Washington  street  and  College 
avenue  where  Dr.  Ayler's  office  now  stands.  He  was  speedily  followed  by 
Silas  G.  Weeks,  who  occupied  the  lot  on  which  the  Donner  block,  at  the 
corner  of  \\'ashington  and  Vine  streets,  is  built  and  he.  in  turn,  by  Jubal 
Deweese.  \\ho  pitched  his  tent  about  midway  on  the  block  on  the  north  side 
of  the  court  house  square,  and  John  F.  Seller,  who  built  a  cabin  on  the  south 
side  of  the  same  square  and  near  the  corner  of  Washington  and  Indiana 
streets.  In  due  time,  following  the  settlement  of  the  county  seat  (piestion, 
came  the  ine\'itable  sale  of  town  lots.  It  may  not  be  without  interest  to  in- 
dicate the  values  at  that  time  of  real  estate  in  the  "business  district""  of  the 
city.  Lot  Xo.  iJi.  being  the  north  half  of  the  block  on  the  east  side  of  the 
court  house  square,  was  sold  to  David  Matlock,  for  seventy  dollars ;  No. 
122.  immediately  south,  went  to  Thomas  Deweese  for  one  hundred  dollars; 
Xo.  1 12.  the  east  half  of  the  block  on  the  south  side  of  the  public  square,  to 
John  Oatman  for  sixty-eight  dollars;  X'o.  loi.  immediately  west,  to  Samuel 
M.  Biggs  for  forty  dollars:  Xo.  91.  the  south  half  of  the  block  on  the 
west  side  of  the  public  sfpiare.  was  sold  to  James  Talbott  for  sixtv-one  dollars; 


38 


WEIK  S    HISTORY    OF 


No.  92,  immediately  north,  to  Joseph  Thornburg,  for  sixty  dollars.  On 
the  north  side  of  the  court  house  the  west  half,  being  lot  No.  100,  went 
to  Jubal  Deweese  for  eighty-seven  dollars  and  the  east  half  of  Lot  No. 
113  to  Joshua  H.  Lucas  for  sixty-one  dollars.  Lot  No.  120.  lying  beyond 
the  northeast  corner  of  the  court  house  square,  brought  eighty-three  dollars 
and  fiftv  cents,  being  sold  to  Samuel  Hunter;  Xo.  123,  at  the  southeast 
corner,  where  the  Southard  building  now  stands,  went  to  James  Trotter 
for  one  hundred  eleven  dollars;  No.  90,  at  the  southwest  corner,  now  owned 
by  James  F.  Hill,  was  sold  to  Isaac  Ash  for  forty-one  dollars  and  No.  93, 
at  the  northwest  corner,  now  occupied  by  the  Haspel  meat  market,  brought 
the  highest  price  of  all,  being  sold  to  Al^raham  Wooley  for  one  hundred 
and  fifty-eight  dollars.  Outlying  lots,  remote  from  the  square  set  aside  for 
the  court  house,  brought  only  nominal  prices,  none  exceeding  ten  dollars. 

EARLY    MERCH.'WTS. 

Several  cabins  had  been  built  in  and  around  Greencastle  before  it  wa- 
platted  into  lots,  but  the  first  building  in  the  business  part  was  erected  b\ 
Pleasant  S.  Wilson.  It  was  on  the  west  side  of  the  public  square.     .-Vcconl- 
ing  to  a  former  historian.  Joseph  Thornburg  had  sold  some  goods  in  a  small 
wav.  but  the  first  real  store,  so-called,  was  opened  up  in  a  building  on  the 
north  side  of  the  public  s(|uare  by   Gen.  Joseph  Orr.   who  had  first  come 
into  the  community  as  a  peddler.      Orr   was  a   very   progressive   man   and 
full  of  public  spirit.     His  title  of  General  came   from  his  connection   with 
the  militia.     He  continued  in  business  from  1823  till  1835.  when  he  removed 
to  LaPorte  county,  where  he  lived  until  his  death  in    1879.     .\nother  mer- 
chant equally  vigorous  and  enterprising  was  Lewis  H.  Sands,  who  opened 
a  store  on  the  lot  adjoining  Orr's  on  the  east.     It  is  said  that  he  brought 
his  stock  of  goods  in  a  one-horse  carry-all  from  Louisville.    He  continued  in 
business  for  many  years  and  died  in  May.  1861,  having  lived  to  see  Green- 
castle  develop  from  a  group  of  log  cabins  in  the  wilderness  to  one  of  the 
thriving  and  representative  county  seats  in  central  Indiana.     He  was  born 
in  Baltimore.  Januarv  r,  1805,  and  had  had  some  experience  trading  with  the 
Indians  at   Ft.    Harrison  and  along  the  Wabash  before  settling  in   Putnam 
county. 

WILLIAM    IL   THOR.\'BL-RGH. 

Before  passing  from  the  subject  of  the  early  merchants  of  Greencastle. 
although  not  in  proper  chronological  order,  we  venture  to  note  the  name 
of  William   H.   Thornburgh,   without  a  record  of  whose  career  no  history 


PLTNAM     COL'NTY,    IXDIAXA.  39 

(jt  Putnam  cuunt_\  could  be  called  complete.  Xo  man  ever  lived  uliu  labored 
more  zealously  and  accomplished  more  for  the  prosperity  and  well-being 
of  the  community  and  the  memory  of  no  other  person  identitieil  with  the 
de\e!opment  ^)f  the  county  is  more  deserving  of  perpetuation.  A  native  of 
Wasiiingtmi  county,  \'irginia.  where  he  was  bom  February  3.  1804,  he 
drifted  to  Putnam  county  in  the  fall  of  1824.  his  first  employment  here 
being  teaching  scIk^oI  for  a  brief  time  in  the  country  west  of  I ireencastle. 
Prior  to  his  reuKnal  to  Indiana  he  had.  although  cpiite  young,  been  captain 
nf  a  steamboat  plying  between  Xashville  and  Xew  Orleans.  After  the 
death  nf  hi.',  wife,  he  returned  to  the  river,  becoming  captain  of  a  steamer  in 
the  Liinis\ille  an<!  Xew  (Jrleans  trade,  but  in  1S30  he  was.  back  in  Green- 
castle  again  where  he  Sdon  went  into  the  mercantile  busuiess.  In  1835  he 
erected  a  bnck  building  on  the  corner  oi  Washington  and  Indiana  streets, 
the  first  of  it>  kind  in  the  town.  He  was  a  leading  and  niduential  member 
of  the  Methodist  church  and  took  an  actix'e  part  in  the  erection  of  the  church 
building  on  the  corner  of  Indiana  and  Poplar  street^,  to  which  he  contribut- 
ed b(jth  time  and  mi.mew  a>.  also,  he  did  at  a  later  date  for  the  erection 
of  Rol>ert>  Chapel.  Imleed.  theie  is  [jerhap>  no  ciun-ch  in  the  city  t<j  which 
he  did  not  c<jntribute.  In  1858  he  built  the  largest  edifice  in  town,  known 
a:-  the  ThornI)urgh  I)lock.  on  the  west  side  of  the  public  s<(uare.  which  was 
an  enterprise  of  wnnderful  magnitude,  foi'  that  day  and  well  wortiiv  the 
admiration  and  enconu'ums  it  called  forth.  He  also  built,  at  the  corner  of 
I'ranklin  and  Locust  streets,  a  residence  which  in  grandeur  anil  magnificent 
pro[)ortions  far  surpassed  anything  of  its  kind  in  the  county.  He  was  one  of 
the  original  stockholders  and  early  pr(.)moters  of  the  Terre  Haute  &  Richrnond 
(now  the  \'andalia)  railroad.  de\oting  much  time  in  seciu'ing  the  rei[uisito 
amount  of  >tock  in  his  count}-.  He  was  one  of  the  earliest  trustees  (jf  Asbury 
I'niversit}".  continuing  as  such  with  two  brief  intermissions  fn,m  1837  to 
i8r)o  and  acting  as  president  of  the  board  iuv  four  years.  On  e\ery  occa- 
sion he  lent  his  inlluence  and  energv  to  the  great  enterpi'ises  which  were 
to  be  for  the  public  good  and  such  as  would  de\'elop  the  industries  ant!  en- 
rich the  uhijle  countiy.  Possessing  the  first  money  .safe  in  the  county,  Cap- 
tain Thornburgh's  store  became,  in  effect,  a  bank  of  deposit,  where  S|jeculators, 
merchants  and  farmers  alike  found  a  secure  place  of  keeping  their  surplus 
funds.  "We  <jf  the  present  da_\-."  observes  <jne  who  knew  him  well,  "wirh 
our  banks  and  multiplied  facilities  of  communication,  cannot  estimate  tlie 
\alue  of  such  a  man  nor  can  we  fully  appreciate  the  amount  of  confidence 
which,  without  deposited  security,  C(nild  intrust  so  much  for  safe-keeping, 
a-^sured   of   its   [jronipt   return    when   demanded."    His  career  as   a   merchant 


40 


WEIK  S    HISTORY    OF 


covers  a  space  of  thirty-one  years — the  hfe  of  a  generation.  He  died  Octo- 
ber 26,  1876.  A  pubhc  meeting,  presided  over  by  the  mayor  of  Greencastle, 
was  held  at  the  court  house  to  arrange  for  his  funeral  and  appropriate  reso- 
lutions expressing  sorrow  for  his  death  and  respect  for  his  memory  were 
adopted. 

One  of  the  unfortunate  things  in  Captain  Thornburgh's  life,  after  his 
many  rears  of  commercial  success,  was  a  series  of  business  reverses  to  which 
he  was  forced  to  yield  early  in  1861.  He  suffered  so  keenly  from  chagrin 
and  remorse  that  he  issued  a  statement  to  the  public  through  the  columns  of  a 
local  paper,  which  has  in  it  so  much  of  real  pathos  and  evinces  a  spirit  of 
pride  and  honor  so  sensitive  and  so  unusual  in  these  latter  days  of  com- 
mercial indifference  to  public  opinion,  it  will  not  be  without  its  lesson  to 
reproduce  it  here.  Under  date  of  March  21.  1861.  in  the  Putnam  County 
Banner,  he  said ; 
'To  My  Friends  and  Fellow  Citizens : 

"It  becomes  my  painful  duty  to  appear  before  you  through  this  medium 
and  announce  to  you  that  circumstances  are  and  have  been  such  as  to  re- 
quire the  withdrawal  of  my  name  from  the  list  of  merchants.  I  have  been 
for  over  thirty  years  among  you  in  that  capacity,  during  which  time  I  have 
enjoyed  the  patronage  of  many  among  you  and  the  confidence  embracing  a 
wide  range,  which  confidence  it  was  my  pleasure  so  to  demean  myself  as 
to  in  some  measure  justly  merit.  I  have  during  that  time  passed  through 
manv  financial  storms  and  had  successfully  weathered  them  all  till  now  by 
a  train  of  circumstances  known  to  most  of  you  through  the  advice  of  able 
financiers  and  men  of  unquestioned  veracity  and  wealth  I  have  taken  the 
course  now  known  to  most  of  you — that  of  retirement  from  the  busy  bustle 
of  that  long-cherished  occupation  which  it  has  been  my  pleasure  to  pursue. 
In  taking  this,  mv  leave,  it  is  not  without  the  deepest  feelings  of  obligation 
to  mv  creditors  and  numerous  customers  who,  on  the  one  hand,  freely  sought 
mv  custom  and  sold  me  goods  at  fair  prices  and  dealt  with  me  so  kindly, 
which  naturallv  engendered  high  social  feelings,  which  I  have  always  prized 
so  highlv  and  which  were  so  reciprocal.  To  such  I  shall  ever  feel  the  deepest 
weight  of  obligation  as  long  as  life  endures.  To  my  patrons  and  friends 
here  accejit  this  humble  tribute  of  gratitude  to  you  for  your  liberal  and 
confiding  jiatronage.  During  the  last  thirty  years  we  have  greeted  each 
otlier  and  enjoved  manv  pleasant  hours  which  I  shall  ever  kindly  remember. 

"In  ta'sing  mv  leave  of  vou  as  a  merchant,  please  receive  my  thanks 
for  vour  patronage  and  confidence  and  I  hope  in  my  future  I  shall  do  noth- 
ing to  counteract  the  g<ji.)d  (tpiniun  you  have  been  pleased  to  feel  and  express. 


PCTNAM     COLNTY,    INDIANA.  41 

Life  is  one  changing  scene  and  its  revolutions  I  have,  with  many  before 
nie.  felt  and  feel  its  heavy  shaft,  but  amid  all  its  storms  will  try  to  pass 
the  waves  as  to  ultimately  outride  them  all  and  seek  my  final  port  in  safety, 

"Most  respectfully, 

■■\V.  H,  Thornburgh." 

The  fact  that  our  pioneer  merchants  demonstrated  such  enterprise  and 
brought  hither,  so  early,  such  liberal  assortments  of  goods  indicates  a  rapidly 
growing  population.  We  may  naturally,  therefore,  expect  to  find  among  them 
the  representatives  of  the  various  trades,  occupations  and  professions  that 
are  essential  to  the  success  of  any  community.  The  first  physician  to  ar- 
ri\e  on  the  scene  was  Dr,  Enos  Lowe.  He  reached  the  new  settlement  about 
1823  and  served  the  people  for  many  miles  around.  Three  years  later  Dr. 
L.  M.  Knight  and  Dr.  A.  C.  Stevenson,  both  Kentuckians,  joined  the  com- 
munity and  engaged  in  the  practice  of  their  profession.  The  first  blacksmith 
was  Jesse  Twigg  and  the  first  cabinet  shop  was  opened  by  John  S.  Jennings, 
who  strayed  into  the  town  from  Tennessee,  William  K.  Cooper  was  the 
first  saddler  and  Reuben  Clearwaters  the  first  preacher — a  Methodist.  An 
important  industry  of  that  day  was  milling.  To  prepare  the  grain  for  food 
required  mills.  We  have  already  seen  that  two  mills  had  been  erected  in  the 
neighborhood  of  the  Forks,— Webster's  and  Croy's — but  very  soon  after, 
in  fact  by  the  spring  of  1822,  James  Trotter  had  a  grist  and  saw-mill  in 
operation  a  short  distance  north  of  Greencastle  on  Walnut  creek.  During  that 
same  year  and  the  year  following  other  mills  farther  north  in  the  country 
were  erected,  whose  names,  Fiddler's,  Swank's,  Beck's.  Kelso's  and  Suther- 
lin's,  will  suggest  to  the  early  residents  their  proper  location.  Already  the 
hum  of  their  primitive  machinery  could  be  heard  echoing  through  the  hills 
and  along  the  banks  of  Deer,  Mill,  Little  and  Big  Walnut,  Ramp,  Raccoon 
and  all  the  other  creeks  in  the  county. 

In  Greencastle.  on  the  comer  of  Water  and  Washington  streets,  Gen. 
John  Standeford,  about  the  year  182'').  set  up  a  wool-carding  machine,  pro- 
pelled bv  horse  pi^wer.  and  for  years  carded  the  wool  in  this  and  even  in  some 
of  the  adjoining  counties.  The  machinery  was  bought  in  Louisville  and 
hauled  through  to  Greencastle  in  a  wagon.  The  factor}-  had  a  capacity  of  about 
one  hundred  and  fift\-  rolls  per  day  and  yielded  its  owner  profitable  returns. 
Weaving  was  d(jiie  on  hand  looms  by  the  women  at  home.  It  is  said  by  Gil- 
lum  Ridpath.  who  was  bom  in  Marion  township,  that  "the  first  fly-shuttle 
lonni  in  the  county  and.  in  all  probability,  the  first  between  the  Wabash  and 
White  rivers,  was  invented  and  built  by  John  Heavin,  in  Montgomery  coun- 
ty,  Virginia,   and    was   brought   to   Putnam   county   in   the   year    1S27." 


42 


WEIK  S    HISTORY    OF 


LITTLE    USE    FOR    CURRENCY. 


Owing  u>  the  limited  amount  in  circulation,  but  little  money  was  used 
in  local  business.  Much  of  the  trading  was  the  exchange  of  one  commodity 
for  another.  At  a  meeting  of  the  I'utnam  County  Historical  Society,  several 
years  ago,  the  late  J.  R.  M.  Allen  related  his  first  commercial  experience  in 
Greenca.stle.  He  had  just  set  up  as  a  tailor  and  was  making  a  purchase  at 
the  store  of  James  Talbott,  a  merchant  of  several  years'  standing,  offermg 
currency  in  payment  for  the  goods  he  bought.  Mr.  Talbott,  noting  that  he 
was  new  to  the  customs  of  the  place,  adniunished  him  ihat  UK^ney  was  un- 
necessary in  local  business;  that  people  in  the  new  community,  especially 
business  men  in  dealing  among  themselves,  made  their  exchanges  in  gO(ids. 
"Xow."  said  Talbott,  "I  shall  need  something  in  your  line  pretty  soon  and 
when  I  do  I  shall  expect  you  to  accept  in  payment  such  goods  as  you  ma\ 
see  fit  to  purchase  of  me.  In  that  way  we  can  cany  tm  our  transactions 
until  some  future  time  uhen  a  settlement  is  desirable  and  then  the  net 
balance  due  can,  if  necessan.-,  be  paid  in  money.""  .Mr.  .Mien,  realizing  that 
such  was  the  custom  of  the  community,  was  forced  to  comply.  He  related 
that  for  years  he  and  Talbott  continued  thus  to  carry  on  business  between 
them  without  in  all  that  time  coming  to  a  settlement.  iMually  wiien  Talbott's 
health  began  to  give  way  and  he  realized  that  he  must  gi\e  up  all  business, 
he  called  on  Mr.  .Allen  with  his  Iwjoks  to  make  the  long-deferred  final  set- 
tlement. "It  took  a  brief  time  to  add  up  the  figures,"  related  .\llen.  "There 
was  not  a  word  of  disagreement  between  us.  The  entire  interview  was  not 
only  satisfactory,  but  pleasant,  and  when  the  balance  wa--  struck  it  took  les- 
than  three  dollars  in  money  to  pay   it." 

E.\RLY-n.\V    V.\LUES. 

It  is  more  or  less  refreshing  in  these  days  of  so-called  commercial  and 
industrial  prosperity  at  e.xtravagant  prices  to  read  the  values  our  forefathers 
put  upon  their  labor  and  domestic  products.  Following  are  C(>{)ies  of  tw<i 
documents  found  in  the  records  of  the  county  clerk's  office  which  are  inter- 
esting, not  only  as  illustrating  comparative  values  of  every-day  commodities, 
but  the  character  of  items  of  exchange  between  neighbors.  Tlie  first  i)a])er 
was  filed  in   1824;  the  other  in  1827: 

"William  McBride  Dr.  to  John  PTazer 

"to  the  half  of  a  Hog S2.0C 

"to  52  lbs  Bacon 4- '  '^^ 

"to  work  bv  l.izey  a  nursing  your  wife i.OO 


PUTNAM    COUNTY,    INDIANA.  43 

"to  w easing i.oo 

"to  3  deer  skins 2.00 

"to  I  gallon  &  5  pints  whisky 0.87 

"to  ( ioing  to  greencastle 0.75 

"to   Medison    '. 0.37 

"to  J  Juggs o.-^ 

"to  2  Cushiils  corn 0.50 

"to  0  tins  full  of  salt o.  iS 

"to  \\agg(:in  tonge  &  Houns.  ■. 300 

"t(:)  hijrse  a  going  arends i.OO 

"t(3  \'ennison  Hams 2.00 

"to  Lizey  a  washing 0.37 

"to  haling  i^ork  from  huffnians O-SO 

"ti '  [  shott  pouch 0.25 

"to  1   peck  Sweat  pertatose 0.25" 

"george  Howlet  Debtor  tn  Darnal)a>  frakes 

"to  one  Cub  bare 3.00 

"to  washing  3  months  in  1S24  at  3  ^hilling^  a  ni(.)nth  4.50 

"to  hording  for  3  two  months  in  1824 6.00 

"to  \\c;rk  fifteen  days  in   1824 7-5c) 

"to  flaxseed  i   Bushal  in  1825 i.OO 

"to  work  8  dax's  in  1825 4.00 

"to  three  Bushals  of  corn  at  janies  in   1824 0.75 

"to  Corn  (jne  barrel  at  my  H(.)us 1.75 

"to  sawing  (3ne  Dav  at  the  cros  Cut  Saw 0.50 

"to  three  i)ints  of  Whisky  in  1826 o.  18 

■'to  fisick  7  Doases  at  tweTit\-fi\e  cents  a  Doase.  .  .  1.75 

"to  hi^ghunting  One  Day 0.50" 

COMMERCIAL    CI'STOMS. 

An  idea  of  commercial  conditions  in  dreencastle  and  the  primitive  meth- 
ods <ji  business  then  in  vogue  may  be  obtained  from  a  document  prepared  tcj 
be  read  before  the  I'utnam  Count}-  Historical  Societ)'  se\eral  years  ago  b\- 
James  'ra}lor,  one  of  the  old-time  merchants  then  living,  whose  business  ca- 
reer extended  oxer  a  long  and  interesting  period  of  the  county's  historv. 
Among  other  things  he  said:  "As  far  back  as  1838  the  following  drv  goods 
merchants  were  in  business  in  ( ireencastle :  W.  H.  Thornburgh.  William 
r.ee.  Allison  iS:   R.ibinson.  David  Kagan.   M.  T.   13ridges.   W.    [.   Rider.   L.    H. 


44  WEIK  S    HISTORY    OF 

Sands.  Josepli  Lucas,  Isaac  Ash.  Standeford,  Sigler  &  Co.,  Proctor,  Daggy  & 
Landes.  Reese  Hardest}',  Silas  Jones,  James  Talbott,  Thomas  E.  Tal- 
bott,  W.  K.  Cooper.  George  \V.  Thompson  and  Granville  Holland.  Thus, 
it  will  Ije  seen  that  at  the  time  there  were  twenty  dry  goods  houses  in  Green- 
castle.  Or  they  might  more  properly  be  termed  general  stores,  for  in  those 
days  what  was  tenned  a  dry  goods  merchant  supplied  the  people  with  all 
their  wants.  An  active,  energetic  salesman,  when  business  was  brisk,  would 
be  able  to  furnish  in  the  course  of  one  day  to  a  customer  or  customers  a  silk 
dress  pattern,  a  bolt  of  muslin,  a  lady's  bonnet,  fashionably  trimmed,  a  pair 
of  boots,  a  suit  of  clothes,  a  silk  hat.  sugar,  coffee,  spice,  pepper,  a  shovel,  a 
spade,  a  tin  bucket,  a  coffee-pot,  a  grindstone,  ten  pounds  of  sausage,  fifty 
pounds  of  home-made  soap  and  a  quarter  of  beef. 

"Beginning  with  the  year  1850.  many  have  been  engaged  in  the  dry 
goods  business  who  have  since  retired  from  the  field,  some  of  whom  are  as 
follows :  D.  L.  Southard,  C.  W.  Talburt,  McC.  Hartley,  Lucien  Lemon, 
with  his  four-horse  store.  Miller  &  Jones,  Stevenson  &  Gillespie,  G.  H.  Wil- 
liamson. L  Hawkins,  Sloan  &  Fordyce.  Alfred  Hays,  A.  L.  Morrison,  G.  W. 
Corwin.  Theodore  Bowman.  Paris  &  Turner,  Joseph  Crow,  L.  H.  Sands, 
Thomburgh  &  Robinson,  Taylor  &  Ames  and  T.  W.  Williamson.  From 
1838  up  to  about  1854  the  number  of  dry  goods  stores  in  the  city  continued 
about  the  same,  when  they  were  met  by  competition  by  the  introduction  of 
familv  groceries,  hardware  stores,  boot  and  shoe  establishments,  notion 
houses  with  fancv  goods  and  millinery  establishments,  until  dry  goods  stores 
have  reducetl  to  the  number  of  five  or  six. 

"In  former  vears  a  man  engaged  in  the  dry  goods  business  did  not  lie  on 
fiowerv  beds  of  ease  bv  any  means.  ?klany  supposed  that  where  a  number  of 
salesmen  were  engaged  in  selling  the  goods  the  proprietor  had  nothing  else 
to  do  but  lie  upon  the  counter  and  rest  his  head  on  a  bolt  of  muslin.  That, 
however,  is  a  great  mistake.  To  succeed  in  the  business  requires  a  constant 
laborious  struggle;  and  even  then  success  seldom  follows. 

"It  would  be  a  difficult  matter  to  describe  the  manner  of  conducting 
business  in  the  earlier  years  without  giving  in  part  my  own  experience,  as  I 
could  know  but  little  about  the  private  affairs  of  others;  and  in  order  to  do 
that  I  shall  begin  with  the  firm  of  Taylor  &  Beasley.  They  bought  a  stock 
of  goods  on  a  credit  of  six  months'  time  with  the  privilege  of  twelve  by 
paving  interest  after  the  expiration  of  the  first  six  months.  After  receiving 
the  goods,  thev  had  no  place  to  store  them  and  they  bought,  also  on  credit, 
an  old  frame  dwelling  on  the  south  side  of  the  public  square  that  had  a 
fifteen-foot  square  room  in  it.  that  had  been  used  for  a  tin  shop.     A  few 


PUTNAM    COUNTY,    INDIANA.  45 

boards  were  hastily  put  up  for  shelves  and  thereupon  the  goods  were  placed. 
It  looked  very  discouraging  even  in  those  days  to  commence  a  business  with 
a  display  that  w  as  made  in  such  a  room.  Indeed  the  prospect  for  trade  looked 
so  discouraging  that  in  a  very  few  months  Mr.  Beasley  retired  from  the  busi- 
ness and  went  north  to  his  farm,  leaving  the  burden  of  the  debts  which  had 
been  contracted  wholly  upon  myself,  with  nothing  with  which  to  liquidate 
them  except  the  goods;  but  by  a  little  indulgence  from  my  creditors  I  man- 
aged to  pull  through.  In  referring  to  my  own  extreme  effort  to  make  a 
success  of  the  business.  I  have  no  doubt  that  I  am  but  one  of  many  others 
who  might  gi\e  a  similar  experience.  I  worried  along  for  a  time  and  ex- 
changed goods  for  lumber  and  work,  both  of  which  at  that  time  were  cheap, 
and  had  two  rooms  fitted  up  in  the  old  frame,  each  thirteen  l)v  thirtv-five 
feet :  and  they  w  ere  ipiite  respectable  for  that  day.  I  rented  one  of  them 
soon  after  and  occupied  the  other  for  a  short  time  for  dry  goods.  I  also 
rented  the  upper  room;  and  the  rents  \\hich  I  received  for  about  twentv- 
fi\e  years  on  those  three  rooms  paid  at  least  forty  per  cent  on  the  original 
investment  in  the  property.  I  think  the  general  custom  was  in  those  davs  for 
the  retailer  to  buy  his  goods  on  six  or  twelve  months"  time  and  the  custom 
was  to  sell  them  on  credit  from  one  Christmas  to  another:  but  goods  were 
then  sold  by  wholesale  and  retail  merchants  at  much  better  profits  than  thev 
are  at  present.  There  were  three  flouring  mills  tliat  furnished  me  with  flour 
to  sell  on  commission,  which  was  quite  a  help  to  my  business;  for  I  furnished 
nearly  all  the  flour  consumed  in  the  city  for  several  years,  selling  from  a 
hundred  to  a  hundred  and  fifty  barrels  per  month,  at  prices  ranging  from 
three  dollars  up  to  fifteen  dollars  per  barrel.  When  the  Monon  railroad  was 
being  constructed  through  Greencastle  an  Irishman  had  a  contract  for  a  sec- 
tion between  this  city  and  Bainbridge.  I  furnished  him  and  his  workmen 
dry  goods,  flour  and  other  provisions  on  credit,  to  the  amount  of  a  thousand 
dollars.  When  pa\--day  came  around  he  had  no  money  to  pav  me.  but  had  rail- 
road stock,  and  it  being  all  I  could  get  I  had  to  take  that  or  nothing.  I  felt 
that  I  was  ruined;  but  fortunately  for  nie,  a  few  days  after  getting  the  stock 
a  gentleman  called  at  the  store  and  stated  that  he  understood  I  had  some 
railroad  stock  for  sale.  T  said  I  had.  and  sold  it  to  him  for  a  thousand  dol- 
lars in  cash.  Whether  he  sacrificed  his  thousand  dollars  or  not  I  never  knew ; 
but  I  do  know  that  in  a  \ery  short  time  afterwards  the  stock  was  entirelv 
worthless. 

"It  is  but  little  wonder  that  so  many  merchants  in  fomier  years  failed 
to  make  their  business  successful.  Both  merchant  and  customer  had  a  hard 
struggle.  It  was  fre(|uently  the  case  that  a  customer  would  run  a  bill  from 
one  Christmas  t(;)  another  and  then  execute  his  note  to  run  another  vear.  not 


46  weik's  history  of 

necessarily  from  any  dishonest  moti\-e.  but  because  it  was  impossible  lor  him 
to  get  the  money.  Dr\-  goods  were  exceedingly  high  compared  with  present 
prices,  and  the  products  of  the  farm  very  low.  Staple  goods  such  as  shirting, 
sheeting  and  prints  were  worth  from  twenty-tive  to  thirty-seven  and  one-half 
cents  per  yard  and  other  goods  were  proportionately  high.  The  average 
price  of  eggs  the  vear  round  was  about  three  cents  a  dozen;  that  of  butter 
six  and  one-fourth  cents:  bacon,  two  and  one-half  to  three  cents  a  pound.  I 
well  remember,  when  a  boy.  of  taking  from  my  father's  farm  thirty  bushels 
of  thrashed  oats  ten  miles  to  the  county  seat.  I  made  an  extra  effort  to  sell 
it  for  monev,  but  utterly  failed  and  finally,  through  sympathy  for  me,  a  mer- 
chant offered  me  ten  cents  a  bushel  if  I  would  take  the  pay  in  goods.  I  ac- 
cepted his  offer  and  exchanged  the  load  for  a  three-dollar  hat,  which  I  could 
now  buy  at  half  the  price  or  less." 

F.\CTS   OF   INTEREST. 

Owing  to  the  brief  and  fragmentary  records  that  have,  thus  far.  been 
preserved,  it  will  be  necessary,  in  many  cases,  to  accept  the  traditions  that 
have  come  down  to  us  regarding  the  settlement,  organization,  social  and  com- 
mercial development  and  other  essential  facts  that  go  to  make  up  the  history  of 
our  county.  There  were  no  statisticians  in  the  days  of  our  forefathers,  no 
pubhc  officials  to  secure  and  record  information  and  nobody  kept  a  dian'. 
Hence  for  manv  things  we  relate  we  can  give  no  authority  beyond  the  recol- 
lection of  some  early  settler. 

So  far  as  can  be  determined,  the  first  white  child  born  in  the  county  was 
Marv  Jane  McGaughey,  the  daughter  of  Arthur  McGaughey.  the  first  county 
clerk.  She  first  saw  the  light  of  day  February  10.  1822.  John  Rawley.  the 
first  native  of  Greencastle,  was  born  in  a  log  cabin  near  the  public  spring, 
March  2;,  1822.  His  son  John  is  now  judge  of  the  Putnam  circuit  court. 
The  first  death  in  the  county  occurred  at  Trotter's  mill,  north  of  Greencastle. 
A  man  named  Dennis,  the  millwright,  died  late  in  1821,  before  the  county 
was  organized,  and  was  buried  near  the  mill.  Somewhat  later  a  man  who 
was  a  stranger  in  .the  community  died  within  the  northern  limits  of  Green- 
castle and  was  buried  in  what  was  afterwards  Jacob  Daggy's  orchard.  The 
next  death  in  Greencastle  was  that  of  Benjamin  Akers.  who  died  about  1825 
and  whose  bod\-  was  the  first  to  be  buried  in  what  is  now  known  as  the  Old 
Cemetery. 

The  first  ta\ern  or  public  house  was  kept  by  Jubal  Deweese  in  a  log 
structure  in  the  middle  of  the  block  on  the  west  side  of  the  public  .square. 


PUTNAM    COLXTV,    INDIANA.  47 

One  ot  the  rooms  must  have  been  more  or  less  commodious,  for  several  terms 
of  the  circuit  court  were  held  in  it  between  1824  and  i8j6. 

The  first  school  in  the  county  was  begun  in  1S23  and  was  between  Green- 
castle  and  the  Forks  of  Eel  and  about  seven  miles  southwest  of  the  former 
place.  The  first  school  in  Greencastle  was  taught  in  a  log  cabin  (jn  a  lot  near 
the  corner  of  Washington  and  Water  streets,  diagonally  across  from  Stande- 
ford's  wool-carding  factory.  Hiram  Stavens  and  Alfred  Burton  were  among 
the  first  teachers. 

The  first  marriage  was  that  of  Thomas  Jackson  to  Sarah  Wood.  The 
license  was  issued  Julv  4.  1S22.  but  the  ceremony  was  not  perfonned  till  the 
I  Sth  i>f  the  month.  The  officiating  clergyman  was  Reuben  Clearwaters. 
The  unusual  time  elapsing  between  the  date  of  the  license  and  the  cere- 
monv  is  probably  accounted  for  in  the  following  incident  which  was  related 
bv  Mr.  Jackson  himself;  "I  had  a  good  deal  of  trouble  in  getting  my  mar- 
riage license.  The  county  clerk  had  no  office  and  no  headciuarters  and  so  I 
had  to  run  ar(jund  over  the  county  in  search  of  him.  \\  hen  I  found  him  I 
found  his  office  t(jo.  for  it  was  in  his  hat.  From  inside  the  lining  he  pro- 
duce<l  a  paper  and  made  out  the  license.  1  got  a  preacher — Reuben  Clear- 
waters — to  marrv  us  and  we  at  once  went  t<i  housekeeping  in  a  log  cabin. 
.\])out  twij  weeks  afterward  the  preacher  came  to  me  in  the  woods,  where  I 
was  making  puncheons,  and  said  that  he  had  made  a  mistake  and  would 
have  to  maiM-v  us  (i\er  again.  1  was  very  well  satisfied  with  my  wife  and. 
without  asking  what  was  the  matter.  I  willingly  con.sented  and  went  to  the 
cabin  with  him  where  he  repeated  the  ceremony  and  I  went  back  to  my  work." 
Mr.  Jackson  ccjutinued  to  reside  in  the  county  till  his  death.  March  14.  1898. 
Had  he  lived  ten  weeks  li)nger  he  would  ha\e  attained  his  hundredth  vear. 

THE   FIR.ST  I'.l'X. 

\'er\-  early  the  [)eople  saw  the  need  of  military  protection  and  ere  long 
a  militia  company  was  f'omied.  The  story  oi  its  origin  and  the  incidents 
leading  thereto  is  stj  admirably  told  in  a  paper  entitled,  "The  First  Gun."  read 
bv  Tarvin  C.  ( irooms  before  the  Putnam  County  Hi.storical  Society  several 
years  ago  that  the  liberty  is  taken  to  reproduce  a  portion  of  it  here  as  follows  : 

■'I  am  glad  to  report  all  I  have  been  able  to  learn  about  the  famous  old 
cast-iron  si.\-pounder.  the  first  weapon  the  town  e\er  iiad,  and  which  has 
now  become  more  or  less  historic.  From  persons  who  have  lived  here  much 
longer  than  I.  we  learn  that  this  old  implement  of  warfare  was  brought  to 
the  county  by  the  militia  regiment  which  was  organized  here  in  the  early  davs 


48  weik's  history  of 

and  of  which  Gen.  Joseph  (^rr,  Gen.  John  Standeford.  Col.  Hiram  Miller, 
Colonel  Sigler  and  several  others  were  prominent  members.  Thomas  Wyatt 
savs  the  old  cannon  was  brought  from  Fort  Harrison  by  General  Orr  him- 
self; that  at  the  same  time  Orr  brought  some  old  guns  for  the  local  military 
company,  of  which  Jefferson  Walls  was  the  captain.  He  also  brought  some 
large  pistols  for  a  horse  company,  of  which  William  Bailey  was  captain. 
But  for  the  cannon.  One  old  citizen  says  that  he  remembers  it  very  well,  but 
fired  on  public  occasions.  In  1836,  when  the  internal  improvement  bill  was 
passed,  it  was  still  in  use  and  the  citizens  were  so  rejoiced  that  they  took  it 
that  it  was  much  neglected,  not  being  properly  housed,  and  was  invariably 
to  a  spot  of  high  ground  south  of  the  public  scjuare  and  west  of  the  old  col- 
lege on  Jackson  street  and  fired  it  off  in  the  direction  of  Putnamville,  be- 
tween which  place  and  Greencastle  there  had  been  much  rivalry  over  the  loca- 
tion of  the  countv  seat.  On  this  occasion  George  Thompson  lost  an  arm  and 
Doctor  Tarvin  Cowgill  was  injured  in  the  hand  by  a  premature  discharge. 
The  gun  was  frequently  hauled  out  and  fired  off,  whereupon  people  living  at 
a  distance  from  Greencastle,  hearing  the  sound,  would  immediately  drive  to 
town  to  learn  the  news.  On  one  occasion  Peter  Albaugh,  who  lived  near 
the  mouth  of  Little  Walnut,  heard  it  and  at  once  struck  out  for  Greencastle 
on  his  swiftest  nag  to  learn  what  was  up.  On  arri\-ing  he  found  a  group  of 
persons  standing  at  the  northwest  corner  of  the  public  square,  among  whom 
he  observed  Washington  Walls,  Lewis  H.  Sands.  Daniel  Sigler,  Arthur  Mc- 
Gaughev  and  Dr.  W.  B.  Gwathney.  On  driving  towards  them  and  inquiring 
what  had  happened,  he  was  blandly  informed  that  one  of  their  most  distin- 
guished citizens  had  moved  out  of  town  that  day  and  they  had  simply  fired 
oft'  the  old  gun  as  a  manifestation  of  their  complete  satisfaction  and  approval. 
"On  the  Fourth  of  July,  1845,  in  connection  with  a  widely  advertised 
celeljration  of  Independence  Day,  the  people  were  asked  to  assemble  at  one 
o'clock,  the  notice  to  be  the  proper  signal  from  the  gun.  But  the  signal  never 
came  for  the  reason  that  at  davbreak  Frank  Hensley  and  \\'ashington  and 
Clinton  Walls,  together  with  several  other  young  men  in  town,  had  quietly 
drawn  the  old  gun  to  the  commons  southwest  of  the  public  square  and  im- 
mediatelv  south  of  the  residence  of  Judge  John  Cowgill,  who  then  lived  on 
the  northwest  corner  of  JMadison  and  Walnut  streets.  After  being  loaded 
with  copious  quantities  of  sod.  yellow  clay  and  other  like  substances,  it  was 
discharged,  but  alas !  it  w  as  the  last  salute  the  old  weapon  was  destined  ever 
to  fire!  Under  the  glorious  enthusiasm  of  the  day  it  had  exploded,  one  of 
the  pieces,  weighing  sixtv  pounds,  striking  the  home  of  Judge  Cowgill,  Xo- 
body  was  injured.  The  fragments  were  gathered  together  and  the  whole 
advertised   for  sale.     .\  man  named  Wolf,  who  had  been  operating  a  small 


PUTNAM    COUNTY,    INDIANA.  49 

foundry  on  the  west  side  of  town,  became  the  purchaser.  Later  Wolf 
changed  his  location  to  Albaugh's  mill,  about  a  mile  and  a  half  southwest  of 
town,  and  transferred  the  fragments  of  the  old  cannon  there.  One  day  he 
undertook  to  melt  the  latter,  but  without  success,  for  the  old  iron  became 
refractor}-  and  refused  to  melt.  One  of  the  largest  pieces  lay  about  the  old 
mill  for  years  and  was  finally  thrown  into  the  branch,  where,  covered  by  the 
gradual  deposits  of  earth  and  gravel,  it  will  sleep  undisturbed  until,  in  the 
distant  future,  some  vandal  antiquarian  shall  disinter  and  expose  it  as  a  relic 
of  prehistoric  times." 

TAVERNS   AND  PUBLIC   HOUSES. 

As  alreadv  noted  in  these  pages,  Jubal  Deweese  was  the  first  landlord 
in  Greencastle ;  but  he  was  ver}-  speedily  followed  b}'  John  F.  Seller,  who 
opened  up  a  ta\ern  or  public  house  in  a  cabin  on  the  southwest  corner  of  the 
public  square.  After  Jubal  Deweese.  on  the  west  side  of  the  square,  came 
Pleasant  S.  Wilson  on  the  same  lot.  while  about  the  same  period  Joseph  H. 
Lucas  and  Hudson  Brackney  held  forth  on  the  north  side.  In  1826  Elisha 
King  was  also  engaged  in  entertaining  travelers,  his  place  being  on  the  east 
side  of  Indiana  street,  between  Washington  and  W'alnut. 

"These  early  tavems,"  relates  Thomas  C.  Hammond,  who,  until  his  re- 
moval to  California  recently,  was  the  oldest  native-born  resident  of  Green- 
castle, "had  their  pretentious  names  such  as  Social  Hall,  Franklin  House, 
Washington  Hotel,  etc.,  and  usually  had  a  sign  post  twenty  or  thirtv  feet 
high  in  front  of  the  house  with  a  large  sign-board  bearing  the  name  or  some 
emblem  or  coat  of  arms,  as  the  proprietors  apparently  traced  their  origin 
back  to  ancestors  entitled  to  such  distinction.  John  Lynch,  one  of  the  best 
known  'landlords,'  as  the  proprietors  of  these  ta\'erns  were  usuallv  called, 
succeeded  to  the  good  will  of  the  house  kept  by  Pleasant  S.  Wilson  on  the 
west  side  of  the  public  square,  but  did  not  remain  there  long  until  he  had 
traded  some  land  he  owned  west  of  town  for  a  house  and  lot  on  the  east 
side  of  the  public  square  and  known  as  part  of  lot  ur.  In  this  last  location 
he  catered  to  the  public  as  proprietor  of  the  Washington  Hotel.  It  was 
known  as  a  place  where  a  Democrat  could  find  congenial  spirits.  I  don't 
mean  such  spirits  as  they  are  accused  of  calling  up  or  down,  but  those  of  the 
Jacksonian  style.  Colonel  Lynch,  as  he  was  familiarly  called,  was  a  great 
admirer  of  the  Sage  of  the  Hermitage,  and  indeed  by  many  was  thought  to 
resemble  him  in  appearance.  This  house  was  the  only  one  in  Greencastle 
pretentious  enough  to  ha\e  a  large  bell  to  ring  out  the  signal  for  meals.  The 
(4) 


5° 


WEIK  S    HISTORY    OF 


tones  (jf  this  bell,  I  have  no  doubt,  are  yet  remembered  by  many  of  the  older 
citizens.  The  bovs  of  the  town  used  to  intepret  them  to  say,  as  they  rang  out 
in  the  morning  air,  'Pig  tails  done!  Pig  tails  done!'  After. Colonel  Lynch  re- 
tired from  the  house  the  bell  was  sold  to  Washington  Walls,  who  established 
the  Putnam  House  in  the  year  1859,  on  the  lot  lying  at  the  northeast  corner 
of  Washington  and  Vine  streets.  The  last  ring  of  the  historic  bell  was  on 
the  night  of  the  great  fire  in  Greencastle,  October  28,  1874,  when  as  the  bel- 
fry of  the  old  Putnam  House  toppled  over  and  fell  into  the  seething  flames 
below,  the  bell  was  heard  to  say  for  the  last  time,  'Pig  tails  done!"  John 
tlanmiond  was  another  innkeeper,  having  succeeded  to  the  business  of 
Elisha  King  about  1826.  Hammond's  hmise  stood  where  the  Banner  ofiice  is, 
on  the  corner  of  Franklin  and  Vine  streets,  and  was  called  Soci_alJifll.l.  It 
was  noted  for  its  good  table  and  care  for  the  comfort  of  its  guests.  The  new 
proprietor  was  a  staunch-  Whig,  a  Republican,  and  an  Abolitionist  when  it 
was  thought  to  be  a  crime,  and  in  his  later  years  an  ardent  advocate  of  tem- 
perance. He  was  a  native  of  Maryland  and  left  that  state  because  of  his 
aversion  to  slavery.  James  Ricketts,  another  noted  member  of  the  craft 
and  a  native  of  New  Jersey,  occupied  a  house  on  the  west  side  of  the  public 
square,  but  about  the  year  1854  removed  to  the  lot  on  the  southwest  corner 
of  Vine  and  Washington  streets,  where  he  established  himself  and  called 
his  house  the  N^-tional  Hotel.  Here  he  held  forth  to  the  favor  and  satisfac- 
tion of  the  traveling  public  until  a  short  time  before  the  great  fire  of  1874. 

"I  have  only  mentioned  a  few  of  the  old-time  tavern-keepers,  although 
manv  others  have  for  short  periods  and  some  for  many  years  catered  to  the 
wants  of  the  traveling  public.  Among  them  I  might  mention  the  names  of 
James  Jones,  William  S.  Collier,  James  Matlock,  and,  in  more  recent  years. 
Scott  &  Woolrich.  Uncle  Jack  Jones,  who  for  a  great  number  of  years  kept 
the  house  now  known  as  the  Belknap,  then  as  the  Jones  House,  afterwards 
continued  the  Jones  House  on  the  comer  of  Walnut  and  Jackson  streets,  the 
location  now  occupied  by  the  Commercial  Hotel.  Uncle  Jack — John  F. 
Jones was  a  noted  character  and  justly  esteemed  one  of  the  popular  land- 
lords in  the  West. 

"The  early-day  taverns  were  rarely  ever  crowded,  although  they  had 
only  capacity  for  a  dozen  or  twenty  guests  each.  When  crowded,  often  two 
stran-^ers  were  forced  to  occupy  the  same  bed,  which  they  did  without  objec- 
tion, knowing  that  it  was  the  last  chance.  The  traveling  public  then  was 
composed  almost  entirely  of  persons  seeking  land  for  homes  or  speculation. 
It  was  not  long  until  they  were  followed  by  the  clock  and  dry-goods  peddlers. 
The  latter  were  generally  young  men   fresh  from  Germany,  almost  always 


PUTNAM    COUNTY.    INDIANA.  5I 

well  educated,  speaking  different  languages  fluently,  but  working  a  bad  stag- 
ger at  English.  It  is  a  noteworthy  fact  that  these  young  men  who  first  ap- 
peared here  with  a  pack  on  their  back  afterwards  became  the  proprietors  of 
large  establishments  in  Cincinnati  and  elsewhere.  It  furnishes  a  lesson  to 
the  young  men  of  the  country  of  what  can  be  accomplished  by  enterprise  and 
persistence. 

"I  have  seen  the  bar-room,  now  called  the  office,  of  one  of  these  taverns 
occupied  by  such  lawyers  as  Tilghman  A.  Howard,  William  P.  Bryant, 
Joseph  A.  Wright,  James  Whitcomb,  John  P.  Usher,  Elisha  M.  Huntington, 
John  Law,  Joseph  G.  Marshall,  Samuel  B.  Gookins,  Samuel  Judah,  Richard 
W.  Thompson  and  others  of  high  legal  attainments.  As  a  boy  I  have  sat 
entranced  by  the  harmonies  drawn  from  the  violin  in  the  hands  of  Whitcomb 
and  Howard,  both  of  whom  v.ere  excellent  performers. 

"The  country  inn  has  been  called  the  'temple  of  true  liberty.'  I  am 
impressed  with  the  truth  of  this  saying,  as  I  recall  the  big  front  room  in  my 
father's  tavern.  It  was  a  veritable  forum  where  public  opinion  was  con- 
stantly being  moulded  and  as  I  remember  the  wit  and  arguments  flashing 
from  one  to  another  of  the  above  group  while  debating  the  great  questions 
of  the  day,  I  often  ask  mvself,  'Shall  we  see  their  like  again?"  " 


CHAPTER  III. 

COURTS,   COURT   HOUSES  AND  THE   BAR. 

We  have  already  seen  that  the  law  authorizing  the  organization  of  Put- 
nam county  was  passed  by  the  Legislature  December  31,  1821.  Immediately 
thereafter  the  machinery  necessary  for  the  proper  conduct  and  man- 
agement of  the  country's  business  was  set  in  motion,  as  the  following  docu- 
ment will  show : 

"Jonathan  Jennings,  Governor  and  Commander  in  Chief  of  the  State 
of  Indiana : 

"To  the  Sheriff  of  Putnam  county,  Greeting: 

"You  are  hereby  required  and  commanded  to  cause  the  qualified  voters 
of  the  said  county  of  Putnam  to  meet  at  their  respective  places  of  holding 
elections  on  the  first  Monday  in  April  next  and  then  and  there  you  shall 
cause  an  election  to  he  holden  for  two  associate  judges,  one  clerk,  and  one 
recorder  and  three  county  commissioners  and  the  manner  of  your  return 
shall  be  in  conformity  to  law.  Given  from  under  my  hand  and  the  seal  of 
the  state  this  first  day  of  January,  1822. 

"Jonathan  Jennings. 
"By  the  Governor. 

"R.  A.  New." 

^Meanwhile,  on  March  7,  1822,  Jacob  Call  was  appointed  presiding  judge 
of  the  circuit  court.  Later  George  Kirkpatrick  and  Purnell  Chance  were 
elected  associate  judges  and  Arthur  McGaughey  clerk.  William  Mcintosh 
became  sheriff.  The  commission  of  the  latter,  signed  by  Governor  Jennings 
at  Corydon,  August  22,  1822,  and  sent  by  mail  to  Spencer,  the  county  seat 
of  Owen  countv,  with  instructions  to  forward  to  the  seat  of  government  in 
Putnam  county,  is  still  preserved  in  the  files  of  the  clerk's  ofifice. 

The  first  court  was  held  June  3,  1822.  but  the  record  of  its  proceedings 
is  so  faded  and  abraded  by  use  as  to  be  in  many  places  almost  entirely  illegible. 
From  what  is  left,  however,  we  gather  that  spreading  the  commissions  and 
oaths  of  the  associate  justices  of  record,  providing  for  a  seal  and  ordering 
grand  and  petit  juries  for  the  ensuing  term,  constituted  the  business  done  at 
thie  first  term  of  the  Putnam  circuit  court. 


PUTNAM     COUNTY,    INDIANA.  S3 

The  county  seat  not  having  been  estabhshed  and  no  suitable  building  in 
which  to  hold  court  having  been  erected,  the  next  term  was  held,  as  the  record 
discloses,  "at  the  home  of  James  Athey,"  which,  it  will  be  recalled,  stood  at 
or  near  the  Forks  of  Eel  river,  on  September  2,  1S22.  The  judges  were  all 
present  and  the  same  officers  of  the  court  as  before,  with  the  addition  of 
Samuel  Judah,  the  prosecuting  attorney.  The  grand  jury  was  impanelled 
and  duly  sworn.     As  nearly  as  their  names  can  be  deciphered  they  were 

Benjamin  Bell,  McCoy,  Abraham  Lewis,  Mathew  Cole,  Richard 

Moore,   Henr\'  Williams,   Ephraim  Dukes,  Joseph  Thomas,   William  Dole, 

•  Chance,  Luke  Dyer,  Sr.,  Isaac  Anderson  and  John  Stagg.     The 

first  license  or  permission  to  practice  law  was  issued  at  this  term  of  court. 
On  motion  of  Samuel  Judah,  Thomas  H.  Blake  and  James  Farrington  were 
admitted  and  sworn  as  attorneys.  Both  the  latter  were  from  Terre  Haute. 
Blake  was  a  native  of  Alaryland,  but  had  emigrated  to  the  West  soon  after 
the  war  of  1812,  settling  at  Terre  Haute,  where  he  was  prosecuting  attorney, 
circuit  judge,  member  of  the  Legislature,  and  representative  in  Congress  in 
succession.  President  John  Tyler  appointed  him  commissioner  of  the  general 
land  office,  after  which  he  became  president  of  the  Wabash  &  Erie  Canal 
Company.  He  died  November  28,  1829.  Mr.  Farrington  was  born  in  Bos- 
ton, Massachusetts,  and  set  out  for  the  West  about  the  time  he  had  attained 
his  majority,  arriving  at  Vincennes  in  1819,  where  he  was  admitted  to  the 
bar.  Within  three  years  he  had  removed  to  Terre  Haute,  where  he  located 
permanently  and  spent  the  remainder  of  his  life.  He  was  very  active  in 
establishing  the  Terre  Haute  branch  of  the  Indiana  State  Bank  and  for  a 
long  time  he  was  its  cashier.  He  represented  Vigo  county  in  both  branches 
of  the  Legislature  and  was  assessor  of  United  States  internal  revenue  for  the 
seventh  Indiana  district  from  1862  until  his  death,  October  8,  1869.  He  was 
a  conscientious  and  painstaking  lawyer  and  a  man  of  the  highest  clerical 
capacity,  as  his  briefs  and  written  pleadings  now  on  file  in  the  clerk's  office 
will  attest. 

EARLV    COURT    REC0RD.S. 

Two  civil  cases  transferred  from  Parke  county  were  the  first  of  their 
kind  to  engage  the  attention  of  the  court.  They  w-ere  entitled  John  Hamilton 
vs.  John  Collett  and  John  Hamilton  vs.  William  Blair  et  al,  and  are  suits 
for  damages  for  the  retention  of  a  drove  of  hogs.  The  plaintiff  was  rep- 
resented by  Blake  and  Farrington  and  the  defendant  by  Charles  Dewey. 
The  record  shows  that  the  case  of  Hamilton  vs.  Blair  was  tried  on  June  3, 


54 


WEIK  S    HISTORY    OF 


1823,  and  that  the  plaintiff  was  awarded  judgment.  The  following  consti- 
tuted the  jur^- :  Abraham  Lewis,  Noble  J.  Meyers,  David  Hurst,  John  Raw- 
ley,  Benjamin  Bell,  Richard  Moore,  E>avid  McCoy,  Elisha  Mullinix,  Isaac 
Matkins,  William  Craig  and  Israel  Linder.  The  name  of  the  twelfth  juror  is 
not  legible. 

Before  court  was  adjourned  for  the  term  the  following  allowances  were 
made :  James  Athey,  twelve  dollars  for  the  use  of  his  house  twelve  days  for 
court  purposes;  Robert  Cunningham,  two  dollars  for  room  for  grand  jury 
two  days ;  Cunningham  was  also  allowed  two  dollars  for  two  days'  service 
as  bailiff,  and  Justin  Goodrich,  one  dollar  for  a  like  service.  On  the  last 
day,  June  3,  1823,  it  was  ordered  that  "Court  adjourn  until  court  in  course 
to  meet  at  the  house  of  Isaiah  Wright  at  the  next  term." 

For  a  brief  period  and  until  the  spring  of  1825  the  record  is  alike  scant 
and  quite  incomplete,  but  from  the  pleadings  written  by  the  attorneys  and 
the  returns  of  the  court  oflficers  which  are  still  on  tile  we  learn  that  the  busi- 
ness of  the  courts  was  gradually  increasing  in  volume  and  importance.  Be- 
tween September,  1823,  and  the  summer  of  1824  the  meetings  of  the  court 
were  held  as  directed  in  the  residence  of  Isaiah  Wright,  whose  log  cabin  was 
not  far  distant  and  in  the  neighborhood  of  the  Forks  of  Eel.  The  venire  of 
petit  jurors  for  the  fall  or  September  term,  1823.  shows  the  following  to 
have  been  summoned :  Abraham  Coleman,  Abraham  Lewis,  Noble  J.  Myers, 
Israel  Linder.  David  Hurst.  George  Legg.  Abraham  Leatherman,  Frederick 
Leatherman.  John  Oatman,  John  Reed.  Robert  McCain,  John  Rawley,  Joseph 
Patterson.  William  Craig,  Reuben  Clearwaters,  William  ^IcCray.  Elisha 
Mullinix,  John  Miller,  Amos  Robertson,  Benjamin  Bell.  Isaac  Matkins,  Rich- 
ard Moore,  David  McCoy  and  Isaac  Legg.  Those  selected  for  grand  jury 
service  at  the  same  time  were:  Thomas  Higgins,  Aaron  Harlan.  Samuel 
Arthur.  Elijah  Crawford.  Robert  Cunningham,  James  Kelso.  Charles  Hed- 
rick.  John  Colton.  Luke  Freeland.  David  Higgins.  Samuel  Chadd,  Ezekiel 
Hart.  John  Duncan.  Elisha  Hyatt.  Jacob  Clark.  Garrett  Gibson.  Jonathan 
Humphrevs.  Isaac  Bell.  Jubal  Deweese.  Joseph  Thornburgh  and  Mathew 
Cole. 

Meanwhile,  the  county  seat  question  having  been  settled,  the  judicial 
machinery  of  the  new  county  was  moved  to  Greencastle.  The  court  house 
not  vet  having  been  built,  the  sessions  of  court  were  held,  beginning  in  the 
fall  of  1824,  at  the  house  of  Jubal  Deweese,  a  log  cabin  on  the  west  side  of 
the  public  square,  where  Blake's  oi)€ra  house  now  stands.  In  May,  1826,  as 
appears  fmm  certain  records  in  the  clerk's  office,  court  was  held  also  in  the 
home  of  Joseph  Orr;  however,  it  is  supposed  a  court  house  was  built,  for. 
as  appears  by  the  record,  court  was  no  longer  held  in  private  buildings. 


PUTNAM     COUNTY,    INDIANA.  55 

The  character  and  volume  of  htigation  at  this  period  shu\vH  that  tlie 
people  were  somewhat  reluctant  to  call  on  the  courts  for  a  settlement  of  their 
disputes.  There  were  but  few  suits  on  notes,  less  for  enforcement  or  viola- 
tion of  contracts  and  never  a  personal  injury  or  damage  suit.  Criminal  ac- 
tions v.ere  equally  few  and  unimportant.  One  proceeding  of  frequent  oc- 
currence in  the  records  is  the  application  for  a  writ  ad  quod  daiiiuiun.  \  man 
desiring  to  erect  a  dam  across  the  stream  for  a  mill  would  apply  to  the  court 
for  the  prixilege.  whereupon  the  latter  would  direct  the  sheriff  to  summon 
■'twelve  tit  persons  in  the  bailiwick"  whose  duty  it  was  to  "examine  the  lands 
proposed  for  the  erection  of  said  dam  and  mills,  likewise  the  lands  above  and 
below  the  same,  the  property  of  other  persons  which  might  overflow  by  the 
erection  of  the  dam  to  the  height  required  and  to  say  what  damage  it  will 
be  to  the  several  properties,  and  whether  the  mansion  house  of  any  such 
proprietor  or  proprietors  or  the  curtilages,  orchards,  yards  or  gardens  of 
any  such  proprietors  will  be  injured  or  overflowed;  also  to  inquire  whether 
and  in  what  degree  fish  of  passage  or  ordinary  navigation  will  be  obstructed, 
whether  and  by  what  means  such  obstructions  may  be  prevented  and  whether 
in  their  opinion  the  health  of  the  neighbors  will  be  annoyed  by  the  stagnation 
of  the  water."  Usually  the  twelve  men  chosen  decided  in  the  applicant's 
fa\or  and  the  dam  was  promptly  built. 

Of  the  civil  actions,  as  often  happens  in  a  new  community,  many  were 
slander  suits.  One  of  the  earliest  was  William  M.  Blair  vs.  John  Hamilton, 
filed  in  Parke  county,  September  17.  1822,  and  transferred  to  the  Putnam 
circuit  court  for  trial.  In  this  instance  the  defendant  is  said  to  have  charged 
plaintiff  with  stealing  hogs.  .Another  filed  June  3.  1823.  entitled  Benjamin 
Johnson  vs.  John  Huffman,  charges  that  defendant  "in  the  presence  of  divers 
good  citizens  of  this  state  and  in  conversation  with  same,  in  a  loud  voice 
spoke,  uttered  and  published  these  false,  scandalous  and  malicious  words 
concerning  tiie  plaintiff:  'He  stole  indigo  and  d}ed  his  socks  with  it  and  I 
can  prove  it  '  "  .V  majoritv  of  the  criminal  actions  were  offenses  of  the  grade 
of  aft'rav  and  assault  and  batterv.  and  later  we  find  in  the  records  prosecu- 
tions now  and  then  for  selling  litjuor  unlawfully.  The  first  indictment 
was  returned  September  9,  1S22.  and  charged  that  Xathan  Parker,  late  of 
Tipt()n  townshi]).  in  the  county  of  Putnam,  on  "the  first  day  of  August  in  the 
year  of  our  Lord,  eighteen  hundred  and  twenty-tv.D.  with  force  antl  arms  at 
Longwaystown  in  the  county  of  Wabash  and  in  that  part  of  said  county  of 
Wabash  under  the  jurisdiction  of  the  county  of  Putnam,  one  bay  mare  of  the 
value  of  thirty  dollars  did  feloniously  steal,  take  and  carr\'  away,  etc." 

The  complete  records,  which  are  missing  after  the  close  of  the  June  term, 


56 


WEIK  S    HISTORY    OF 


1823.  are  resumed  again  in  1825.  They  show  that  the  circuit  court  convened 
in  Greencastle  May  5,  1825,  with  John  R.  Porter  as  presiding  and  John  Smith 
and  John  Sigler  as  associate  judges.  John  Law  was  the  new  prosecuting  at- 
torney and  Robert  GHdeweil  was  admitted  to  the  bar.  Among  the  proceed- 
ings at  this  tenn  was  the  indictment  of  Polly  Henry  for  perjury — being  the 
first  criminal  charge  against  a  woman — and  Silas  G.  Weeks  for  retailing 
liquor  in  violation  of  the  law.  At  the  October  term  of  that  year  the  same 
court  officers  were  present.  The  first  petition  by  an  administrator  to  sell  the 
lands  of  a  decedent  was  filed  at  this  temi,  and  related  to  the  sale  of  the  lands 
of  Thomas  James,  the  father  of  the  late  Stanfield  P  James.  The  elder  James 
wa.s  murdered  near  Cloverdale  by  an  insane  man  named  Robinson  who  slipped 
behind  him  and  shot  him  while  he  was  engaged  in  chopping  wood.  Robinson 
soon  after  committed  suicide  by  shooting  himself  in  the  head.  This  was  the 
first  murder  in  the  county.  At  this  term  James  Whitcomb,  afterward  Gov- 
enor  of  the  state,  appeared  as  attorney  for  the  plaintiff  in  the  suit  of  Storm 
vs.  Gibson. 

The  May  term,  1826,  was  held  at  the  house  of  Gen.  Joseph  Orr  in  Green- 
castle, with  the  same  judges  and  court  officers  present.  One  of  the  proceed- 
ings is  the  report  of  the  grand  jury  with  reference  to  the  jail.  The  body 
holds  "that  the  jail  of  the  county  is  insufficient,  that  it  needs  a  lock  to  each 
door  and  that  the  steps  of  the  same  need  fastening  to  the  wall."  The  report 
is  signed  In-  "Joseph  Jackson,  Foreman."  That  our  forefathers  also  had  a 
pure  food  law  is  shown  by  a  proceeding  in  court  at  this  term,  wherein  Noah 
H.  Drewry  was  tried  for  selling  unwholesome  provisions.  This  term  of 
court  is  also  noteworthy  in  that  it  contains  the  record  of  the  first  divorce 
suit.  Charity  Mullini-x  vs.  Elisha  Mullinix.  At  the  following  temi  in  October, 
Henrv  Secrest,  destinecl  to  be  one  of  the  greatest  lawyers  in  this  part  of  In- 
diana, was  admitted  to  the  bar.  At  the  May  term  in  1827  Joseph  F.  Farley 
was  admitted  to  the  Ijar.  Arthur  Mahorney  was  the  first  man  tried  for  gamb- 
ling and  Lewis  H.  Sands  and  Henry  Secrest  for  sending  and  accepting  a 
challenge  to  fight  a  duel.  Of  the  latter  charge  Sands  and  Secrest  were  ac- 
quitted, but  were  convicted  on  the  charge  of  canying  concealed  weapons. 
At  the  October  term.  1827.  John  M.  Purcell  was  tried  and  convicted  on  the 
charge  of  vagrancy.  He  was  fined  and  hired  out  for  a  month,  the  proceeds 
of  his  labor  being  applied  towards  the  payment  of  the  fine  and  his  support. 
In  1828  Sigier  and  Smith  gave  way  as  associate  judges  to  David  Deweese 
and  William  Elrod.  William  McLitosh  was  still  sheriff  and  Arthur  Mc- 
Gaughey  clerk  and  John  Law  prosecuting  attorney.  The  record  of  the  May 
term.  1830.  shows  that  John  Law  had  meanwhile  been  promoted  to  presiding 


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PfTNAM     C(.)UNTY,    INDIANA.  57 

judge  of  the  '"se\enth  judicial  circuit."  Tlie  following  order  appears  in  the 
record  of  this  term :  "Ordered  by  the  court,  that  the  following  space  of  land 
be  and  the  same  is  hereby  laid  off  and  designated  by  the  following  metes  and 
bounds,  around  the  county  jail,  as  and  to  be  called  and  termed  Prison  Bounds 
for  said  countv.  to  wit ;  Beginning  at  the  northwest  corner  of  the  town  of 
("ireencastle  in  said  county,  thence  south  to  Poplar  street,  in  said  town,  thence 
east  to  Water  street,  thence  north  to  the  northern  boundary  of  said  town  to 
Liberty  street,  thence  west  to  the  place  of  beginning;  such  bounds  to  include 
the  space  covered  by  the  several  roads  or  streets  as  bounding  such  space  as 
aforesaid."  The  October.  1831.  term  was  presided  over  by  George  W. 
Johnston,  Judge  John  Law  having  meanwhile  resigned. 

At  the  April  term,  1832,  Amory  Kinney  became  presiding  judge  and  so 
continued  till  the  fall  of  1836.  Shortly  before  this.  Associate  Judge  Deweese 
gave  way  to  James  Rankin.  Li  May.  1837,  Elisha  AL  Huntington  appeared 
with  the  commission  of  presiding  judge  and  served  as  such  until  the  May  term, 
1 84 1.  He  was  followed  by  William  P.  Bryant,  who  for  the  ensuing  three 
years  occupied  the  bench,  the  last  year  having  as  his  associates  George  Pearcy 
and  [Moses  T.  Bridges.  In  1844  Judge  Law  returned  to  the  bench  and  served 
till  November,  1849.  Robert  N.  Allen  having  in  the  meantime  succeeded 
George  Pearcy  as  associate  judge.  Judge  Law  having  resigned,  was  suc- 
ceeded for  a  brief  time  by  Samuel  B.  Gookins,  whose  associates  were  Robert 
X.  Allen  and  William  G.  Duckworth.  In  185 1  Delana  R.  Eckels  came  upon 
the  bench,  being  commissioned  by  the  Legislature  for  a  period  of  seven  years. 
-\llen  and  Duckworth  were  still  associate  judges. 

Judge  Eckels,  who  easily  advanced  to  the  front  rank  of  his  profession 
in  Indiana,  emigrated  from  Kentucky  and  was  admitted  to  the  bar  of  Put- 
nam county  in  April,  1S33.  In  October  following  John  C.  Childs,  another 
Kentuckian.  was  admitted  to  practice  and  in  March,  1835,  Edward  \V.  Mc- 
Gaughey,  the  son  of  Arthur  ^IcGaughey.  the  clerk  of  the  county,  was  like- 
wise added  to  the  roll  of  attorneys  practicing  in  Putnam  county. 

The  office  of  associate  judge  ha\ing  been  abolished  James  Hughes  was 
made  circuit  judge  for  a  period  of  six  years,  but  having  resigned  before  the 
expiration  of  his  term.  James  M.  ?Ianna  and  Ambrose  B.  Carleton  in  succes- 
sion were  appointed  to  fill  the  vacancy.  In  March.  1857,  Judge  Hanna.  hav- 
ing lieen  regularly  elected  in  the  preceding  fall,  resumed  his  place  on  the 
bench,  but  ere  long  he  again  resigned,  whereupon  Solomon  Claypool  was 
chosen  to  fill  out  the  unexpired  term.  In  April.  1865,  Judge  Eckels  returned 
to  the  bench  and  served  until  October.  1S70.  being  succeeded  by  William  M. 
Franklin,  who  filled  out  the  remainder  of  Judge  Eckels'  term.     In  1872  Solon 


^8  vveik's  history  of 

Turman  was  elected  and  continued  to  serve  until  his  death  in  i88_'.  Since 
Judge  Tumian's  death  the  judges  of  the  thirteenth  circuit,  which  includes 
Clay  and  Putnam  counties,  in  the  order  named  have  been  Sdas  D.  Coffey, 
Samuel  AI.  McGregor,  Presley  O.  Colliver  and  John  M.  Rawley,  the  present 
incumbent. 

When  the  county  was  first  organized  the  probate  business  was  transacted 
by  the  associate  judges,  but  after  1828  a  judge  was  appointed  to  take  charge 
of  all  probate  matters.  The  first  one  to  officiate  in  that  capacity  was  Joseph 
F.  Farley,  who,  as  appears  from  the  record,  served  till  the  close  of  the  year 
1830.  Judge  Farley  was  born  in  Shelby  county.  Kentucky.  April  15,  1791, 
and  early  in  life  joined  an  expedition  against  the  Indians  who  had  committed . 
the  Pigeon  Roost  massacre  in  this  state.  Later  he  was  a  soldier  in  the  war 
of  1812.  serving  in  Richard  M.  Johnson's  regiment  in  the  battle  of  the 
Thames.  An  incident  occurred  after  the  latter  engagement  which  in  later 
years  the  Judge  was  fond  of  narrating.  After  the  death  of  Tecumseh  many 
of  the  white  soldiers  gathered  about  the  body  to  secure  some  souvenir  of  the 
dead  chieftain.  One  of  the  fomier  called  Farley  aside  and  exhibited  a  piece 
of  skin  which  he  had  stripped  from  Tecumseh"s  back  and  which  he  coolly  pro- 
posed to  take  home  with  him  and  use  for  a  razor  strop.  The  revelation  not 
only  shocked  but  aroused  Farley.  He  denounced  it  instantly  as  a  wanton,  in- 
human and  barbaric  desecration.  "It  is  unworthy  a  brave  soldier  and  espe- 
ciallv  a  Kentuckian,"  he  exclaimed  angrily.  "  and  if  my  comrades  are  so  lost 
to  all  sense  of  decency  and  humanity  as  to  mutilate  the  dead  body  of  a  fallen 
enemy,  even  though  I  have  no  authority  to  prevent  it.  I  shall  not  look  upon 
their  hideous  work."  He  was  as  good  as  his  word  and.  deaf  to  all  arguments, 
nothing  could  induce  him  to  look  upon  the  body  of  the  dead  Indian.  When 
the  office  of  county  auditor  was  created  Judge  Farley  was  the  first  incumbent 
of  the  same,  serving  till  November.  1855.  In  183J  he  was  associated  with 
John  C.  Chikls  in  the  editorship  of  The  Hoosicr,  the  first  newspaper  ever 
published  in  the  county.  He  died  in  Greencastle  August  6.  1868.  Judge 
Farley's  successors  in  charge  of  the  probate  court  were  John  Cowgill.  George 
F.  Watennan.  Reese  Hardesty  and  William  Lee,  in  the  order  named.  The 
last  probate  judge  in  the  county  was  Robert  Glidewell.  who  filled  the  position 
from  May,  1846,  until  1851.  when  the  probate  court,  so-called,  was  abolished 
or  superseded  by  the  court  of  common  pleas  after  the  adoption  of  the  new 
constitution.  From  the  latter  date  until  1873.  when  the  court  of  common 
pleas  was  also  abolished  by  the  Legislature,  the  following  persons  in  the  order 
named  presided  over  that  court:  John  Cowgill.  Frederick  T.  Brown.  Wil- 
liam M.  Franklin  and  Harrison  Burns. 


PUTNAM    COUNTY,    INDIANA.  59 


LAWYERS    OF    PUTNAM     COUNTY     BAR. 

Some  of  the  greatest  lawyers  in  the  state  have  at  one  time  or  another 
appeared  in  our  courts  and  our  local  bar  has  always  been  held  in  the  highest 
regard  for  its  ability,  skill  and  devotion  to  professional  ethics.  Thus  far 
the  records  fail  to  show  a  single  case  of  disbannent  or  the  evidence  of  the  be- 
trayal of  a  trust.  The  following  attorneys  have,  at  various  times,  been 
practitioners  in  our  courts:  John  Law,  Hugh  L.  Livingston,  Thomas  F.  G. 
Adams,  Craven  P.  Hester,  Cephas  D.  Morris,  Moses  Cox,  Robert  Glidewell, 
Joseph  F.  Farley,  Henry  Secrest,  Delana  R.  Eckels,  Tobed  E.  Beard.  Henry 
C.  Brown,  Samuel  Judah,  James  Farrington,  Thomas  H.  Blake.  Reuben  C. 
Gregory,  Richard  W.  Thompson,  Amory  Kinney,  John  P.  L'sher,  Edward 
W.  McGaughey.  Addison  L.  Roach,  James  M.  Gregg,  Christian  C.  Nave, 
David  McDonald,  Jonathan  D.  Harvey,  Tilghman  A.  Howard,  Joseph  A. 
Wright.  George  L.  Waterman.  Joseph  E.  MclDonald,  John  Cowgill,  Crom- 
well W.  Barbour.  Samuel  B.  Gookins,  Oliver  H.  P.  Ash,  Thomas  H.  Nelson, 
Daniel  W.  Voorhees,  Harvey  D.  Scott,  Solomon  Claypool,  William  A.  Mc- 
Kenzie,  Caleb  B.  Smith.  Oliver  H.  Smith,  James  Whitcomb,  John  A.  Matson, 
Russell  L.  Hathawav,  Delana  E.  Williamson,  James  M.  Hanna.  William  K. 
Edwards.  John  P.  Baird.  Isaac  N.  Pierce.  Chilton  A.  Darnall.  Columbus  D. 
Seller.  Plenry  \V.  Daniels.  John  C.  Turk.  John  Hanna.  Addison  Daggy,  Reu- 
ben S.  Ragan.  Diilard  C.  Donnohue.  Justice  S.  Bachelder.  James  A.  Craw- 
ley, William  PI.  Xye.  Ruljert  M.  Crane.  Milton  A.  Osborn.  John  S.  Jennings. 
Alarshall  A.  Moore,  James  J.  Smiley.  Frederick  T.  Brown,  Willis  G.  Neff. 
John  Starr.  Henry  H.  Mathias.  James  S.  Xutt.  Jonathan  Birch.  Weller  P.. 
Smith.  Gustavus  H.  Voss.  William  A.  Brown,  Courtland  C.  Matson.  Joseph 
S.  McClary,  Henry  I\[artin.  Lucius  P.  Chapin,  John  R.  Miller,  Thomas  Hanna. 
Granville  C.  Moore.  Thomas  Brannan.  Tarvin  C.  Grooms.  W'illiam  S.  Eckels. 
George  .\.  Knight.  Silas  D.  Coffey.  William  W.  Carter,  Samuel  McGregor. 
John  M.  Rawley.  William  R.  Guthrie,  Charles  E.  Matson.  Allen  T.  Rose. 
George  D.  Peters,  Curtis  Compton.  John  R.  Gordon,  Silas  A.  Hays.  Thomas 
T.  Moore,  John  P.  .\llee.  Benjamin  F.  Corwin.  John  D.  Reed.  Henry  C. 
Lewis.  J(jhn  H.  James.  James  T.  Denny.  Charles  T.  Peck.  R,  P,  Carpenter. 
Francis  M,  Lyon.  William  H,  H.  Cullen.  Jackson  Boyd.  Theodore  Crawley. 
James  F.  O'Brien,  James  P.  Hughes.  Alonzo  F.  Jacobs.  William  M.  Sntherlin. 
C.  C.  Gillen.  .Arthur  Stevenson.  George  Blake,  George  M.  Wilson,  Charles 
Mc(iaughey  and  .\ndrew  E.  Durham. 


6o  weik's  history  of 


COUNTY  CLERKS. 

The  first  clerk  of  Putnam  county  was  Arthur  McGaughey,  whose  term 
of  service  extended  from  the  time  of  the  organization  of  the  county  in  1822 
until  April,  1S43.  His  successors  were  William  S.  Townsend,  who  served 
till  1850;  Jacob  McGinnis.  till  1859;  Melvin  McKee,  1867;  Henry  C.  Priest, 
1873;  Milford-B.  Rudisill,  1874;  Moses  D.  Bridges,  1882;  John  W.  Lee, 
1890;  Daniel  T.  Darnall,  1898;  and  John  W.  Houck,  1902.  The  present  in- 
cumbent of  the  office  is  James  L.  Hamilton,  who  was  elected  in  1902. 

COUNTY  AUDITORS. 

Until  185 1  the  duties  of  clerk  and  auditor  were  performed  by  one  person, 
but  after  that  the  offices  were  separated.  The  first  auditor  was  Joseph  F. 
Farley,  whose  term  expired  in  1855.  He  was  followed  by  Samuel  Woodruff, 
who  served  till  1863 ;  Elijah  T.  Keightley,  till  1866;  Henry  W.  Daniels,  1867; 
William  S.  Mulholn,  1875;  Harrison  M.  Randel.  1879;  James  Edwards, 
1883;  McCamey  Hartley,  1887;  James  L.  Randel,  1891  ;  George  M.  Black, 
1895;  William  L.  Denman,  1899;  Peter  F.  Stoner,  1903;  and  Clement  C. 
Hurst,  1907;  Daniel  V.  Mofifett.  the  present  incumbent,  was  elected  in  1906. 


The  first  sheriff  was  William  W.  Mcintosh,  who.  after  a  long  period  of 
service,  was  succeeded  by  George  Secrest.  Fielding  Priest  came  next  and 
served  till  1836;  David  Rudisill  till  1840;  Edward  R.  Kercheval,  1844;  Archi- 
bald Johnson,  1848;  Joseph  Collier,  1852;  Joseph  Siddons.  1854;  Anderson 
Johnson,  1856;  William  L.  Farrow,  1858;  John  R.  ]Mahan.  i860;  William 
S.  Collier.  1862;  John  McKee,  1S64;  Green  Burrow,  1866;  John  S.  Apple- 
gate,  1867;  Levi  Woodaim,  1868;  George  W.  Sherrill.  1872;  James  Stone. 
1876;  Closes  T.  Lewman,  1880;  James  Brandon.  1884;  Leander  L.  Lewis, 
1S88;  William  B.  Vestal,  1892;  Francis  M.  Glidewell.  1S96:  Richard  Buntin, 
1900;  John  F.  Cooper,  1904;  David  Maze,  1908;  Frank  M.  Stroube.  the  pres- 
ent incumbent,  was  elected  in  1908. 

COUNTY  TREASURERS. 

James  Talbott  was  the  first  county  treasurer,  having  been  elected  to  that 
office  bv  the  countv  commissioners  in  1S28;  James  McAchran,  Isaac  Mahan, 


PUTNAM     COUNTY,    INDIANA. 


6i 


Samuel  Woodrutt  and  Edward  R.  Kercheval  appear  to  have  filled  the  office 
until  1855,  when  Isaac  Wright  was  elected;  Wright  served  till  1857,  being 
succeeded  by  John  Gilmore,  who  served  till  1861 ;  Samuel  E.  Parks,  till  1863; 
James  G.  Edwards,  1865;  William  E.  D.  Barnett,  1867;  Joseph  B.  Sellers, 
1869;  John  Gilmore,  1871;  Harrison  M.  Randel,  1875;  Richard  S.  Farrow, 
1879;  Henry  Hillis,  1881  ;  William  R.  Grogan,  1885;  Ephraim  Tucker.  1889; 
Willard  Bowen,  1893;  George  W.  Hughes,  1897;  James  Browning,  1901  ; 
John  Edwards.  1905  ;  and  Edward  McG.  Walls,  1909.  The  pfesent  treasurer 
is  Jasper  Miller. 

RECORDERS. 

Originally  the  clerk  performed  the  duties  of  the  recorder  of  deeds  also, 
but  in  1836  a  recorder  was  chosen  in  the  person  of  William  E.  Talbott,  who 
served  as  such  till  1842,  when  David  Rudisill  took  the  office  and  filled  it  till 
1850.  William  Lee  succeeded  him.  serving  till  1855;  next  William  H.  Shields, 
till  1859;  CHnton  Walls,  1867;  John  Crane,  1875;  George  Owens.  1879: 
Daniel  Mahoney,  1887;  Daniel  Hurst,  1895;  Benjamin  Harris,  1903;  Henry 
Blue.  1907:  Lawrence  Athey,  the  present  incumbent,  was  elected  to  succeed 
Mr.  Blue. 

SURVEYORS. 

The  following  persons  have  performed  the  duties  of  surveyor:  Joseph 
S.  Patterson  and  Robert  Glidewell  from  the  date  of  the  organization  of  the 
county  till  1832;  William  H.  Shields,  till  1841  ;  Samuel  H.  Catherwood,  1843; 
William  H.  Shields,  1854;  John  McClaskey,  1856;  Lewis  H.  Rudisill,  1858; 
John  McClaskey,  i860;  Lewis  H.  Rudisill,  1862;  Harrison  M.  Randel.  1870: 
Philip  Rudisill.  1872;  Joseph  Frakes,  1874;  William  H.  Hedges,  1876; 
George  Hendricks,  1880;  Ransom  H.  Walls,  1886;  James  F.  O'Brien.  1898; 
Arthur  Plummer.  1903.  Since  the  latter  date  Aleck  Lane  has  been  chosen  to 
fill  the  office. 

COUNTY   COMMISSIONERS. 

Another  court  of  quite  as  much  if  not  greater  importance  than  either  the 
circuit  or  probate  courts  was  the  commissioners'  court.  From  the  record  of 
its  proceedings  we  learn  much  of  the  earlier  history  of  the  county.  L'n- 
fortunatelv   for  us.  however,  as  explained  in  a  former  chapter,  the  record 


62  weik's  history  of 

from  the  organization  of  the  county  in  1822  until  1828  has  been  lost  or  de- 
stroyed so  that  we  must  accept  as  true  some  things  during  the  period  named 
which  can  not  be  verified  by  the  highest  grade  of  proof  known  to  the  law, 
viz. :  a  written  record  made  at  the  time  the  action  or  transaction  took  place. 
Beginning  with  1828.  however,  the  record  is  complete  and  as  no  better  idea 
of  the  nature  and  extent  of  the  county's  development  can  elsewhere  be  ob- 
tained the  liberty  will  be  taken  to  reproduce  here,  although  without  attempt- 
ing to  conform  to  any  particular  order  or  arrangement,  such  items  as  will 
tend  to  afford  us  the  required  light.  In  May,  1828,  the  business  of  the  county 
was  intrusted  to  what  was  called  the  board  of  county  justices.  It  consisted 
at  that  time  of  sixteen  justices  of  the  peace  as  follows:  John  Hubbard,  who 
was  the  president;  George  Mcintosh.  Eli  Brackney,  William  Elrod,  Alex- 
ander Galbreath.  John  Denny,  John  Swift.  Arthur  Mahorney.  Peter  Gilstrop, 
Thomas  Heady,  Benjamin  Wright.  William  McCarty,  John  Reel,  Joshua 
Gillet.  David  Lindley  and  David  Swank.  Their  first  act  after  convening 
May  5.  1828,  was  to  elect  a  county  treasurer.  But  one  ballot  was  taken,  result- 
ing in  the  election  of  James  Talbott.  who  received  eleven  votes  as  against 
five  cast  for  Isaac  Ash.  Pleasant  S.  Wilson  was  appointed  keeper  of  the 
public  pound,  at  fifty  cents  per  day,  and  the  clerk  was  authorized  to  issue- 
license  to  David  Rudisill  and  Philip  Carpenter  to  "retail  spiritous  liquors  and 
vend  foreign  merchandise"'  for  twelve  months.  One  item  in  the  record  for 
this  term  will  serve  to  indicate  not  only  the  style  of  architecture  then  in  vogue 
but  the  county  commissioners'  idea  of  art  as  follows :  "Ordered  that  the 
plan  of  the  painting  of  the  first  and  third  story  of  the  cupola  of  the  court  house 
be  changed  from  red  to  white."  The  board  also  fixed  the  rate  of  taxation 
for  county  purposes,  the  same  to  be :  "Twenty-five  cents  on  each  poll ;  horses, 
twenty-five  cents;  oxen,  twelve  and  one-half  cents;  gold  watches,  one  dollar; 
silver  watches,  twenty-five  cents;  brass  clocks,  one  dollar;  town  lots,  fifty 
cents  on  each  one  hundred  dollars;  pinchbeck  watches,  twenty -five  cents." 
At  the  January  term  in  1829  it  was  "ordered  that  John  F.  Seller  be  allowed  the 
sum  of  four  dollars  for  dieting  (  ?)  prisoners,  etc."' 

THE  FIRST  COURT   HOUSE. 

We  have  already  seen  that  as  late  as  1826  the  circuit  court  met  at  the 
house  of  Joseph  Orr  on  the  north  side  of  the  public  square.  After  that,  there 
being  no  further  mention  in  the  records  of  the  court  having  met  at  a  private 
house,  it  is  presumed  that  the  county  had,  meanwhile,  erected  some  sort  of  a 
court  house;  but  what  style  of  building  it  was,  how  large,  what  it  cost  or 


PUTNAM    COUNTY,    INDIANA.  63 

when  completed  cannot  now  be  determined  for  the  reason,  already  mentioned, 
that  the  records  of  the  county  commissioners'  court  prior  to  1828  are  not  on 
hie. 

At  the  September,  1828,  term  of  the  commissioners'  court  we  find  an 
order  that  "the  agent  of  the  county  be  and  he  is  authorized  to  pay  over  as  fast 
as  he  can  collect,  the  money  that  may  become  due  to  Amos  Robertson  on  the 
last  payment  on  the  court  house  contract,"  and  at  the  May  term,  1829,  a  com- 
mittee consisting  of  John  Reel,  Eli  Brackney,  Alexander  Galbreath,  Isaac 
Alahan  and  John  Denny  make  the  following  report:  "We,  the  undersigned, 
being  your  committee  appointed  to  examine  the  situation  of  the  court  house, 
have  proceeded  to  examine  the  same  and  beg  leave  to  report  that  we  find  the 
same  in  an  untinislied  situation."  The  committee  was  further  directed  to 
meet  in  Greencastle  on  the  "first  Saturday  in  June  next  to  settle  with  Amos 
Robertson ;  to  estimate  the  amount  of  money  that  may  probably  be  expended 
on  the  court  house  during  the  present  year;  to  engage  workmen  on  the  best 
terms  to  finish  the  house  and  to  make  any  necessary  arrangement  in  relation 
to  the  partial  or  total  continuance  of  the  work."  Meanwhile  it  would  seem 
as  if  Robertson  had  failed  to  complete  the  building  or  in  some  other  way 
had  defaulted  in  his  contract  for.  in  July.  1829.  the  record  shows  that  the 
commissioners  enteretl  into  a  contract  with  Arthur  McGaughey  who  for  six 
hundred  ninety-nine  dollars  and  ninety-three  cents  had  agreed  to  finish  the 
court  house  by  September,  1830.  Of  this  sum,  one  hundred  fifty  dollars  was 
advanced  to  McGaughey  before  the  close  of  the  July  term.  Among  other 
orders  issued  by  the  board  at  this  session  was  one  appointing  Isaac  Mahan 
"agent  for  the  management  of  the  Publick  Spring,"  with  authority  to  contract 
with  Charles  Secrest  for  clearing  ofif  the  timber  from  the  lot  and  sowing  it  in 
blue  grass  and  "when  the  same  is  done  said  Charles  shall  be  freed  from  any 
right  of  action  that  may  heretofore  have  accrued  to  the  county  by  any  trespass 
heretofore  by  him  said  Charles  done  on  said  lot." 

Meanwhile,  the  court  house  committee  at  the  September  term,  1829,  ap- 
pear and  report  the  court  house  "complete  with  the  exception  of  one  Venetian 
l)lind  in  the  northwest  corner  of  said  house — upper  window,"  and  at  the  Janu- 
ary term  in  the  next  year  it  is  "ordered  that  Amos  Robertson  be  allowed 
three  hundred  fifty- four  dollars  and  forty-four  cents  so  soon  as  the  board 
finds  the  treasurv'  able  to  discharge  the  same."  Although  the  county  now  had 
a  court  house,  yet  it  soon  became  too  small  and  inadequate  for  the  growing 
business  of  the  new  community.  Within  two  years  it  was  found  necessary 
to  erect  a  separate  building  for  the  use  of  the  clerk  and  recorder. 


64 


WEIK  S    HISTORY    OF 


At  the  May  term,  1833,  the  records  show  an  order  directing  that  "the 
clerk's  office  be  built  ten  feet  west  of  Indiana  street  and  ten  feet  north  of 
Washington  street  fronting  west."  At  the  November  term  in  the  same  year 
it  was  ordered  that  "the  clerk's  office  be  removed  to  the  south  end  of  the 
building  erected  for  that  purpose  and  that  the  recorder's  office  be  removed 
to  the  north  end  of  the  same  building  forthwith,  that  the  work  on  the  inside 
thereof  be  received  by  the  board  and  that  Isaac  Mahan  be  allowed  one  hun- 
dred dollars  for  work  done  in  erecting  said  offices."  Prior  to  this  the  clerk's 
office  was  in  private  quarters,  for  we  find  an  order  directing  a  payment  to 
John  Hammond  of  "twelve  dollars  and  sixty-six  and  two-third  cents  for 
house  rent  for  clerk's  office."  That  even  after  the  erection  of  the  new  build- 
ing for  the  clerk's  office  there  was  more  or  less  friction  is  shown  by  an  order 
made  at  the  November,  1835,  tenn  of  the  commissioners'  court,  directing 
"that  the  two  rooms  heretofore  built  for  the  use  of  the  clerk  and  recorder  of 
this  county  be  from  this  time  forward  considered  as  a  clerk's  office  only  and 
that  the  clerk  fix  the  same  to  suit  himself  at  his  own  expense."  A  year  fol- 
lowing this  entry  appears  in  the  record :  "The  order  heretofore  issued  allow- 
ing the  clerk  the  use  of  the  recorder's  office  is  hereby  rescinded  and  the  re- 
corder is  informed  thereof  and  directed  to  remove  the  books  and  papers  of  his 
office  to  said  room." 

Meanwhile  the  entries  in  the  record  at  this  period  relating  to  the  matter 
of  a  court  house  are  more  or  less  confusing — so  much  so,  in  fact,  that  it  is 
difficult  to  determine  whether  they  relate  to  a  court  house  built  before  1828 
and  left  unfinished  or  to  a  new  building  then  under  construction.  For  in- 
stance at  the  November  term.  1833,  it  was  "ordered  that  Thomas  Gibbs  be 
allowed  thirty-five  dollars  for  work  done  plastering  the  court  house."  At  the 
March  temi,  1834,  it  was  further  ordered  that  John  Cowgill  be  appointed  to 
take  charge  of  the  court  house  and  see  that  it  sustains  no  damage  from  any 
quarter  whatever  and  that  for  the  purpose  aforesaid  he  is  authorized  and  re- 
quired to  take  the  kevs  of  said  house  and  to  incur  any  small  expense  in  secur- 
ing the  windows  and  doors."  Again  at  the  September  term  in  the  same  year 
it  is  recorded  that  "the  committy  after  examining  the  plastering  of  the 
court  house  do  think  the  plastering  strong  and  that  it  ought  to  be  and  by  the 
full  board  is  received  and  that  Thomas  Gibbs  be  allowed  a  further  payment 
of  sixty-five  dollars  on  his  contract."  At  the  November  term,  also,  in  the 
same  year  Isaac  Mahan,  Peter  \\'.  Applegate  and  Pleasant  S.  Wilson  were 
appointed  a  "committee  to  contract  with  competent  persons  to  repair  the  court 
house,  that  is  to  sav,  the  window  blinds,  window  glass  and  window  bolts  so 
as  to  secure  the  windows  inside  from  being  opened  outside  and  the  doors 
also,  together  with  the  repairs  of  the  chimneys." 


PUTXA.\[    COL'XTV,    INDIANA. 


ERECTION    OF  A   JAIL. 


In  Noxeniber,  1836,  Isaac  Mahan,  Wesley  White  and  Hudson  Brack- 
ney  were  directed  to  superintend  the  "building  and  erecting  of  a  new  jail  with 
power  to  act  in  their  sound  discretion."  In  May.  1840,  the  "conmnttee  on 
erection  of  new  jail  for  Putnam  county"  report  that  they  have  contracted  for 
the  erection  of  a  building  thirty-si.x  b\'  twenty-se\en  feet  siiuare.  of  brick  and 
two  stories  high,  the  "debtor's  room  to  be  furnished  strong  and  plain,  with 
fire-place  and  substantial  oaken  door.  The  criminal  room  to  be  built  inside 
the  brick  wall,  with  oak  timl^er  nine  inches  si[uare.  One  iron  door  and  one 
oak  door,  one  and  one-half  inches  thick — flooring  throughout  of  oak."  Sam- 
uel Taylor  and  James  M.  Grooms  w  ere  appointed  superintendents.  The  rec- 
ord does  not  indicate  precisely  when  the  new  jail  was  completed,  but  at  a 
session  of  the  commissioners'  court  in  December.  1841.  it  was  reported  that 
the  edifice  was  insecure,  whereupon  it  was  "ordered  that  the  inside  be  lined 
with  two-inch  oak  plank  and  that  iron  ijars  be  placed  around  doors  and  win- 
dows of  the  thickness  of  one-half  inch  and  in  width  four  inches.  The  planks 
spiked  with  wrought-iron  spikes  five  inches  long — the  bars  around  the  doors 
and  windows  to  be  counter-sunk  to  the  heads  of  the  spikes."  John  S.  Jen- 
nings was  appointed  superintendent  and  an  order  was  made  to  sell  the  old 
jail,  the  proceeds  to  be  applied  to  fence  around  jail  lot.  A  large  jail  was  un- 
necessary, for  on  examining  the  records  of  the  twenty-eight  criminal  causes 
tried  in  the  spring  of  184J,  we  learn  that  fourteen  of  them  were  for  unlaw- 
ful sale  of  liquor,  si.x  for  horse  racing,  four  for  assault  and  batterv,  one  for 
carrying  concealed  weapons  and  three  for  gaming. 

For  several  years  after  the  organization  of  the  county  there  was  no 
central  place  to  which  the  indigent  poor  or  those  who  were  charges  on  the 
public  could  be  taken,  but  in  Januan,',  1836,  the  commissioners  decided  to 
provide  an  asylum  for  such  cases  and  to  that  end  purchased  of  Henry  Batter- 
ton  a  farm  in  Marion  township,  which  is  still  owned  by  Putnam  county.  In 
March  James  Mc.Xchren,  John  Duckworth,  John  Collings  and  Anderson  B. 
Mathew s  were  appointed  a  committee  to  superintend  the  construction  of  neces- 
■sary  buildings  thereon.  The  record  further  states  that  Daniel  Chadd  was 
appointed  visitor  to  the  poor  farm  and  that  his  duties  were  to  make  sugges- 
tions from  time  to  time  to  the  county  Ix^ard  regarding  the  management  there- 
of. William  Patrick  was  engaged  as  superintendent  at  thirteen  dollars  per 
month  and  Dr.  William  E.  Talbott  as  phvsician. 
(5) 


66  WEIKS    HISTORY    OF 


A   NEW  COURT   HOUSE  NEEDED. 

As  the  population  and  business  of  the  county  continued  to  grow  the  pub- 
lic buildings  soon  became  more  or  less  inadequate.  At  the  March  term,  1844, 
of  the  countv  commissioners'  court  a  motion  carried  appointing  a  committee 
consisting  of  one  justice  of  the  peace  from  each  township  to  inquire  into  the 
probable  e.xpense  of  erecting  new  offices  for  the  clerk,  auditor  and  recorder,  to 
be  made  fire-proof  of  adequate  size,  etc.  The  committee  consisted  of  the 
following :  L.  B.  Harris,  Washington  township ;  J.  L.  Merrill,  Warren ;  D. 
Scott,  Jeff'erson;  A.  Van  Dyke,  Marion;  John  Miller,  Greencastle;  Levi  Mann, 
Madison;  Caleb  C.  Osborn,  Clinton;  Dillard  C.  Donnohue,  Monroe;  A.  B. 
Mathews,  Floyd;  William  M.  Saunders,  Jackson;  Thomas  Miller,  Franklin, 
and  John  Leaton,  Russell.  This  committee  at  the  June  meeting  reported 
that  the  existing  clerk's  and  recorder's  office  were  reasonably  "fire-proof  and 
that  further  expense  upon  said  office  would  be  improper."  The  matter  of 
new  or  improved  facilities  for  storing  and  caring  for  the  public  records — in 
other  words  the  project  of  a  new  court  house — was  thus  laid  aside  for  the 
time.  But  it  did  not  slumber  long,  for  in  1846  at  the  March  term  of  the  com- 
missioners' court,  Delana  R.  Eckels  moved  the  adoption  of  the  following 
resolution  :  "Resolved,  That  it  is  the  duty  of  this  board  to  take  some  prepara- 
tory steps  toward  the  erection  of  a  sufficient  court  house  for  the  transaction 
of  public  business,  and  the  convenience  of  the  people  of  Putnam  county."  A 
spirited  and  somewhat  acrimonious  argument  followed,  but  on  the  call  of  the 
aves  and  noes  the  new  court  house  partisans  were  successful  by  a  majority  of 
seven  as  follows :  Ayes — James  Athey,  Lloyd  B.  Harris,  Thomas  Shipman, 
Thomas  Morris,  William  McKinley,  John  S.  Jennings,  William  W.  Berry, 
John  Miller,  Samuel  Adams,  Caleb  B.  Osborn.  James  Johnson,  Joseph  Albin, 
Stacv  R.  Youn-^man,  Dillard  C.  Donnohue,  James  L.  Boyd,  James  B.  Wilson 
and  John  Leaton.  seventeen.  Noes — John  M.  Purcell.  Curran  E.  Swift. 
David  Barnes,  Isaac  Hurst.  Ouinton  Van  Dyke.  Robert  Case,  William  Per- 
kins, William  Sanders.  Thomas  Miller  and  Sylvester  \V.  Perry,  ten.  The 
board  thereupon  appointed  John  K.  Dawson,  John  Reel,  Francis  Dunlavy, 
William  Arnold  and  Xorval  F.  Kennedy  a  committee  to  prepare  plans  and 
receive  bids  for  the  material  and  for  the  construction  of  a  court  house.  The 
record  further  shows  that  at  the  September  term,  1846,  on  motion  of  John  S. 
Tennino-s,  it  was  ordered  that  the  new  court  house  to  be  built  should  be  sixty- 
fi\-e  feet  long  and  fifty  feet  wide  and  that  the  cost  should  not  exceed  eight 
thousand  dollars.     It  was  further  ordered  that  Elisha  Braman  be  authorized 


PUTNAM    COLNTY,    IXDIAXA.  67 

to  prepare  a  draft  or  plans  of  the  new  structure,  the  same  to  be  deposited  with 
the  auditor,  who  should  give  public  notice  that  bids  for  the  erection  of  the 
building  would  be  received  on  the  second  day  of  the  December  term.  Bra- 
man's  plans  were  accepted  and  the  board  thanked  him  and  made  him  a  small 
allowance,  \^'hen  the  bids  were  opened  on  December  9th  it  was  found  that 
Elisha  .Adamson  was  the  lowest  bidder,  his  figures  being  eight  thousand  five 
hundred  dollars.  He  was  duly  awarded  the  contract,  with  George  K.  Steele 
and  John  Sunderland  as  his  sureties.  The  old  court  house  was  at  the  same 
time  sold  for  one  hundred  fifty-one  dollars  to  William  S.  Collier,  who  was 
required  to  remove  it  before  the  following  June.  Isaac  Mahan  was  appointed 
superintendent  of  constmction.  During  the  erection  of  the  new  building  it 
was  "ordered  that  the  several  courts  be  held  in  the  county-  seminary  and  the 
county  clerk  establish  his  office  in  some  suitable  room  on  the  pubHc  square." 
The  construction  of  the  new  building  was,  therefore,  begun  about  July,  1847. 
At  the  December  term  of  the  commissioners'  court,  contractor  Elisha  Adam- 
son  presented  the  following  report  of  his  operations  up  to  that  time: 

"^75/^2  perch  stone  at  $2.00 S  351.00 

"Digging    9.54 

'■'118,800  Brick  at  S6.50 772.20 

"132  feet  Collums  at  $2.00 264.00 

"Collum  Caps 50.00 

"Original  Brick  and  stone  work  finished 3.300.00 

"Amount  of  carpenter  work  done 3.500.00 

$8,246.74 
"Orders  issued  to  E.  .-Xdamson 1.920.00 


$6,326.74 
"E.  Adamson. 
"Greencastle,  Dec.  6." 

At  the  Alarch,  184S.  term  of  court  it  was  ordered  that  contractor  Adam- 
son  be  directed  to  omit  the  vaults  marked  in  the  draft  under  the  stairways  in 
the  court  house,  he  having  agreed  to  deduct  from  the  amount  of  his  original 
contract  the  sum  of  twenty- four  dollars  in  consideration  thereof.  The  board 
also  agreed  to  receive  "the  brick  pilaster  caps  when  well  plastered  with  water 
lime  cement  instead  of  the  wooden  caps  ordered  in  the  original  specifications." 
At  the  June  temi,  1S48,  it  was  ordered  by  the  board  that  Elisha  Adamson  be 


68  weik's  history  of 

instructed  to  varnish  the  judge's  seat  in  the  new  court  house,  provided  it 
costs  no  more  than  the  painting  would  cost  if  done  according  to  contract." 
Also  that  Isaac  Alahan,  Samuel  Emerson  and  Abraham  Moore  be  "authorized 
to  superintend  the  completion  of  court  room,  to  procure  three  dozen  round 
arm-chairs  for  court  room,  three  dozen  painted  split-bottom  chairs  for  grand 
and  petit  jury  rooms  and  procure  a  carpet."  September  4,  1848,  the  board 
met  in  the  county  seminary  building.  ''Elisha  Adamson  receipted  for  two 
thousand  si.x  hundred  sixty-four  dollars  and  ninety-two  cents  in  full  for  bal- 
ance due  on  court  house  contract,  and  announced  that  the  court  house  was 
complete  and  officers  authorized  to  move  in  as  soon  as  practicable."  Isaac 
Mahan  and  Joseph  Collier  appointed  a  "committee  to  grade  the  court  house 
yard,  furnish  suitable  stoves  and  pipes  and  have  rock  fixed  under  conductors 
to  carry  off  water,  also  to  sell  old  clerk's  and  recorder's  office  for  the  best 
possible  price."'  December  5,  1848,  "ordered  that  sheriff  have  authority  to 
rent  for  an  office  one  of  the  jury  rooms  below  in  the  court  house  to  William 
A.  McKenzie."  On  March  6,  1849,  "ordered  that  common  council  of  Green- 
castle  and  their  officers  may  use  middle  room  on  west  side  of  the  court  house 
below  the  stairs,  when  unoccupied  by  court  or  juries,  for  fifty  cents  per 
month."  June  5,  1850,  John  Cowgill,  James  Jones,  Clinton  Walls,  William 
Albin,  Samuel  M.  Dyer,  James  Sill  and  John  S.  Jennings  appointed  trustees 
of  county  library-.  Clinton  Walls  as  agent  to  collect  scattered  volumes  and 
replace  in  library.  The  library  to  be  for  the  present  in  middle  room,  west 
side  down  stairs,  of  court  house."  September  4,  1S50,  "ordered  that  middle 
room  down  stairs  on  west  side  of  court  house  be  rented  to  Chilton  A.  Darnall 
for  law  office  at  one  dollar  and  twenty-five  cents  per  month,  and  northwest 
corner  room  below  to  Delana  R.  Eckels  at  the  same  rental." 

The  court  house  was  now  complete  and  no  longer  the  occasion  for  the 
fruitless  and  irritating  controversy  which  its  construction  awakened.  A 
plain  but  classic  structure,  with  massive  columns  at  either  end,  it  stood  for 
years,  like  some  mute  sentinel,  o'ertopping  every  other  building  within  its 
view.  Larger  and  more  capacious  than  necessary,  its  builders  nevertheless 
looked  beyond  their  needs  and  builded  for  the  future.  And  lo,  the  future 
was  not  far  away,  for  within  fifty  years  it  was  found  to  be  greatly  inadequate 
and  unsuited  to  the  new  century's  requirements.  To  dwell  on  the  develop- 
ment of  the  beautiful  and  artistic  structure  which  now  graces  our  public 
square  would  be  an  unnecessary  repetition,  for  every  school  boy  knows  its 
history  and  almost  every  one,  "citizen  and  sojourner"  alike,  saw  it  but  a  few 
days  ago  rise  majestically  from  a  heap  of  earth  and  sand  and  shapeless  rock 
to  a  graceful  and  prepossessing  combination  of  steel  and  glass  and  sculptured 
stone. 


PUTNAM    COUNTY,    INDIANA.  69 


THE  PRESENT  COURT  HOUSE. 

The  first  step  towards  its  construction  was  an  act  of  the  Legislature  of 
1901.  introduced  by  our  representative,  Hon.  John  H.  James,  which  author- 
ized a  special  election  in  the  county  on  the  proposition  of  a  court  house  build- 
ing at  a  cost  of  not  e.Kceeding  one  hundred  and  fifty  thousand  dollars.  The 
election  was  held  in  1903  and  by  a  ver)'  significant  and  substantial  majority 
the  voters  fa\ored  the  court  house.  A  board  of  construction,  consisting  of 
the  three  county  commissioners,  T.  D.  Brookshire,  V.  B.  McCammack  and 
Samuel  H.  Judy,  and  three  other  well-known  citizens,  George  W.  Hanna, 
James  McD.  Hays  and  James  L.  Randel,  was  organized  and  to  their  viligance, 
firmness,  honesty  and  good  sense  do  we  owe  much  of  the  success  of  this  great 
enterprise.  After  e.xamining  many  plans,  they  accepted  those  prepared  by 
J.  W.  Gaddis.  an  architect  living  in  Vincennes.  On  July  29,  1903,  a  contract 
to  erect  the  building  was  made  with  Caldwell  &  Drake,  of  Columbus,  Indiana, 
and  as  soon  thereafter  as  the  old  building,  which  was  sold  to  Andrew  Black 
and  James  B.  Nelson  for  twenty-seven  dollars,  could  be  removed  the  new  one 
was  begun.  The  comer  stone  was  laid  October  29,  1903.  and  the  building 
completed  and  dedicated  July  4,  1905.  A  bronze  memorial  tablet  on  the  wall 
of  the  rotunda  fi.xes  the  cost  of  the  building  at  $144,977.13  ;  heating  plant  and 
sewer,  $17,385.69:  furnishings,  S13. 366.60,  or  a  total  of  $175,729.68. 


CHAPTER  IV. 

EARLY  SETTLERS  AND  INCIDENTS. 

As  late  as  1836  the  county  clerk,  by  order  of  the  commissioners,  was 
issuing  certiticates  for  two  dollars  to  any  one  who  might  kill  a  wolf  over  six 
months  old  "and  half  that  sum  for  wolves  under  six  months;"  all  of  which 
goes  to  prove  that  the  transition  from  the  blazed  trail  and  greased  paper 
window  to  the  railroad  and  the  daily  paper  is  after  all  a  slow  and  labored 
evolution. 

The  early  settlers  of  Putnam  county  were  as  healthy,  vigorous  and  as 
susceptible  to  social  and  moral  improvements  as  any  other  community  of  like 
environment.  Comprised  mainly  of  the  more  progressive  and  adventurous 
spiri^  from  Kentucky,  Tennessee,  North  Carolina  and  other  older- states, 
they  were  easily  inured  to  the  privations  and  lack  of  comfort  which  life  in 
a  new  country  invariably  necessitates.  "The  moral  character  of  these  early 
settlers,"  says  one  writer,  "was  generally  of  a  high  order.  They  were  honest 
in  their  dealings,  industrious  by  habit  and  charitable  toward  their  neighbors. 
That  they  were  deeply  imbued  with  the  principles  of  the  Christian  religion 
may  be  inferred  from  their  very  early  establishment  of  various  church  organi- 
zations. On  the  contrar}-.  that  they  were  subject  to  some  of  the  vices  incident 
to  the  time  in  which  they  lived  need  not  be  concealed.  But.  they  possessed 
within  themselves  the  elements  of  their  own  correction." 

No  better  history  can  be  written,  nothing  more  vividly  reproduced  than 
the  recollections  by  our  forefathers  of  their  early  days  in  the  isolation  and 
solitude  of  the  wilderness;  and  from  such  sources  are  we  made  to  realize  how 
the  pioneers  lived;  how,  in  spite  of  adverse  conditions,  they  developed  and 
how^  much  we  of  this  day  and  generation  are  indebted  to  them  for  the  com- 
forts we  ourselves  enjoy.  As  a  faithful  portrayal  of  primitive  conditions  in 
Putnam  county,  I  take  the  liberty  of  quoting  from  a  paper  read  before  the 
Putnam  County  Historical  Society  on  "Old  Landmarks"  by  Albert  Lock- 
ridge  in  May.  1895.  "Almost  eveiy  witness  of  the  earliest  days  in  Putnam 
county."  said  Mr.  Lockridge,  "has  gone  to  his  reward  and  yet.  strange  to 
relate,  one  of  these  who  was  here  when  the  county  was  created  and  who  helped 
to  mould  it  into  one  of  the  political  divisions  of  our  great  state  is  still  living. 
I  refer  to  Thomas  Jackson,  of  Marion  township.     Bom  in  Bourbon  county. 


PUTNAM    COUXTY,    IXDIAXA.  J I 

Kentucky,  Alay  j8,  1798.  he  is  still  well  preserved  pliysically  and  nientallv  and 
an  interesting  specimen  of  the  hardy  and  adventurous  pioneer.  The  writer 
recently  visited  him  and  gleaned  from  his  reminiscences  many  items  of  early 
history  that  ought  not  to  be  lost.  Speaking  of  his  arrival  in  Putnam  countv. 
he  said  it  was  an  unbroken  wilderness.  One  of  his  neighbors  was  Samuel 
Chadd  and  together  they  planted  and  cultivated  a  crop  of  corn,  exchanging 
work.  Mr.  Jackson — or  Uncle  Tommy,  as  he  is  generally  known — did  the 
plowing  and  Chadd  manipulated  the  hoe.  The  harness  and  plow  were  of  the 
most  primitive  type,  the  former  simply  a  shuck  collar  with  linn  tugs,  and 
the  plow  of  the  usual  mold-board  variety.  The  linn  bark, — that  is.  the  inner 
bark  of  the  linden  tree. —  from  which  tug.  straps,  strings  and  thongs  were 
made,  was  first  soaked  in  a  neighboring  1)ranch'  until  it  became  soft  and 
pliant,  when  it  was  doubled  antl  twisted  into  various  sizes  according  to  the 
use  for  which  it  was  intended.  It  was  also  used  for  bed  cords,  well-sweeps 
and  plow  lines.  It  is  also  safe  to  infer  that  four  or  five  feet  of  the  larger  size 
was  occasionally  used  judiciously  and  with  apparent  profit  in  disciplining  an 
indolent  or  refractory  plow-boy. 

"Clearing  the  timber  was  a  difficult  ami  laborious  operation.  Water 
stood  everywhere  through  the  dark  woods  and  the  settlers  had  to  wade  in  it 
up  to  their  knees,  sometimes,  as  they  felled  and  carried  the  logs  with  hand- 
pikes  to  the  huge  heaps.  Mr.  Jackson  related  that  after  fifteen  or  twenty 
successi\  e  days  of  such  laborious  toil  the  pioneer,  hardy  though  he  was,  would 
be  well  nigh  fagged  out.  While  in  his  youth  in  Kentucky  Uncle  Tommv 
managed  to  save  a  hundred  dollars.  Returning  to  that  state  for  it,  he  had 
to  give  fifty  of  it  to  get  what  was  called  'land-ofiice  money," — that  is,  silver. 
He  agam  set  out  for  Indiana  and  with  his  uncle,  James  Lightall,  entered  one 
hundred  sixty  acres  of  land  in  what  is  a  portion  of  the  Terry  farm  in  the 
eastern  part  of  Putnam  county.  This  was  his  first  entiy.  Later  he  sold 
his  interest  for  three  hundred  dollars  and  entered  the  land  on  which  he  now 
li\'es. 

"At  that  time  there  were  several  Indian  camps  in  the  neighborhood,  two 
on  what  is  now  the  writer's  fann  in  Marion  township,  and  one  on  the  Nichola.s 
Cofifman  tract  on  the  right  bank  of  Big  Walnut  creek.  Uncle  Tommv  fre- 
quently visited  these  camps,  for  the  Indians  were  very  friendly.  He  related 
that  he  was  at  a  camp  on  one  occasion  when  the  Indians  were  preparing  a 
feast  by  cooking  a  coon  in  a  kettle.  With  an  Indian's  habitual  contempt  for 
cleanliness,  they  were  cooking  the  animal  with  the  customar}-  'trimmings' ; 
that  is  with  the  hair,  hide  and  claws.  When  this  smoking  mess  was  skill fullv 
harpooned  out  of  the  kettle  by  a  greasy  squaw,  Uncle  Tommv  was  in\ited 


J2  WEIK  S    HISTORY    OF 

to  dine ;  but  his  appetite  for  dinner  had  vanished  and  with  the  usual  protesta- 
tion of  thanks  he  felt  impelled  to  decline  the  invitation.  It  was  at  this  same 
camp  on  Big  Walnut  that  he  saw  the  grave  of  an  Indian  only  recently  buried. 
The  mound  was  enclosed  in  a  mde  pen  built  of  buckeye  logs  which  the  red 
men  had  cut  into  proper  lengths  with  their  tomahawks.  This  barrier  of  logs 
had  been  erected  to  keep  wild  animals  from  digging  up  the  body. 

"Church  services  in  the  early  days  of  Putnam  county  were  held  princi- 
pally at  camp-meetings  and  occasionally  in  the  primitive  school  houses,  there 
being  no  meeting  houses.  At  one  time  a  very  strong  and  noted  preacher  held 
protracted  meeting  in  the  school  house.  He  awakened  a  deep  interest  among 
the  settlers,  which  in  some  cases  has  left  its  imprint  to  this  day.  While  in 
attendance  at  one  of  the  meetings.  Uncle  Tommy  saw  a  woman  run  up  into 
the  pulpit  to  receive  what  was  called  a  'holy  kiss'  from  the  preacher,  a  cere- 
mony A\hich.  if  in  practice  at  this  day.  would  speedily  result  in  an  overcrowded 
ministry-. 

"The  earlv  grist-mills  were  vers-  clumsy  affairs,  being  run  by  water  and 
in  some  cases  horse  power.  One  of  these  mills  stood  on  the  banks  of  Deer 
creek  a  short  distance  south  of  where  Mr.  Carmel  church  was  erected  in  later 
years.  It  was  owned  and  operated  by  Samuel  Hazlett.  Sometimes  the  miller 
was  so  overcrowded  with  grists  that  he  would  ha\e  to  place  tallow  dips  in 
different  parts  of  the  mill  so  as  to  run  at  night.  Stores,  even  of  the  usual 
country  \arietv.  had  not  yet  found  a  place  in  the  clearing,  for  on  one  occasion 
Uncle  Tommv  was  forced  to  ride  to  Bloomington  to  buy  a  little  coffee  for 
his  own  use.  He  often  accompanied  James  Woods,  who  was  a  noted  hunter, 
in  search  of  wild  honey.  On  one  of  these  expeditions  he  underwent  an  ex- 
perience, common  enough  in  that  day.  but  one  which  forever  dispels  the 
readilv  accepted  illusion  that  tight  shoes  and  the  mi.sery  thereof  fell  entirely 
upon  a  later  generation.  He  had  worn  a  pair  of  deer-skin  moccasins,  but 
they  became  so  tight  from  continually  wading  through  the  water,  which  stood 
in  pools  even-where,  that  when  he  returned  home  it  was  necessaiy  to  cut  them 
off  his  feet  with  a  knife. 

"Moccasins  in  that  dav  were  frequently  made  with  wooden  soles.  In 
the  sumn:er  season  thev  were  ven-  satisfactory,  but  when  the  snows  of  winter 
fell  they  were  decidedly  inconvenient.  The  snow  w  ould  keep  clogging  up  on 
the  wooden  soles,  becoming  thicker  and  thicker,  and  with  each  step  the  wearer 
rose  in  the  air  higher  and  higher  until  suddenly  and  without  notice  the  mocca- 
sin would  lose  its  burden  and  the  owner  drop  down  sideways  or  plunge  head- 
long forward. 


PLT.VAM     COl'NTY,    INDIANA.  73 

"The  horses  of  tlie  settlers — fences  Ijeing  ahnost  unknown — were  hob- 
bled to  keep  tliem  from  getting  o\'er  the  logs  and  straying  off  into  the  wilder- 
ness. The  hoijbling  was  accomplished  by  tying  the  hind  feet  of  the  animal 
together.  One  day  Uncle  Tommy's  horse  strayed  off  into  the  forest  and  he 
and  his  neighbor.  James  Woods,  set  out  in  search  of  him.  Before  they  had 
gone  very  far  they  came  uiK)n  a  hear  cub  sitting  or  lying  on  top  of  a  stump. 
Woods  at  once  turned  about  to  hasten  home  for  his  rifle.  Just  then  there 
was  a  terrific  scratching  in  a  hollow  tree  nearby  and  presently  the  head  of  the 
old  hear  appeared  at  the  top.  As  soon  as  the  old  animal  espied  the  woodmen 
she  flrew  in  her  head  and  came  tearing  down.  She  reared  up  on  her  hind 
feet  and  waddled  belligerently  toward  the  men.  ^Vith  the  quick  sense  of 
prompt  action  which  life  on  the  frontier  seems  to  create.  Woods  jerked  an 
axe  out  of  the  hands  of  EHck  Miller,  a  man  who  had  meanwhile  joined  the 
hunters,  and  speedily  despatched  the  old  bear  and  three  of  her  cubs. 

'"On  another  occasion  Uncle  Tommy  had  gone  over  to  Amos  Robertson's 
house  to  get  a  bushel  of  salt.  Robertson  had  made  it  his  business  to  haul 
salt  to  the  new  settlement  from  the  Ohio  river.  Xearing  the  forks  of  Eel. 
his  horse  shied  at  something  ahead  in  the  pathway,  when  suddenlv  a  large 
animal  ran  across  and  disappeared  into  a  thicket.  Uncle  Tommy  took  it  to 
be  a  hog.  Xed  Rogers  coming  along.  Uncle  Tommy  told  him  what  he  had 
seen.  In  a  short  time  Rogers  reappeared  with  his  dogs  and  gun  and  ere  long 
they  came  ui)on  the  animal  lying  behind  a  log.  Rogers  at  once  fired  at  him. 
but  his  aim  was  too  high  and  the  bear  started  to  mn.  At  this  moment  Dr. 
A.  C.  Stevenson,  who  was  passing  by.  heard  the  noise  and  rode  up.  Learning 
\vhat  had  occiuTed.  the  Doctor  set  out  after  the  bear  and  presently  caught 
up  with  him.  The  dogs  were  snapping  and  biting  at  the  big  animal,  who 
would  endure  it  for  a  time  and  then  rear  up  on  his  hind  feet  and  fall  back- 
wards in  the  hope  that  his  weight  would  crush  some  of  the  irritating  dogs. 
The  battle  continued  thus  with  varying  success  until  a  man  named  Owens, 
\\  ho  had  joined  the  party,  drew  his  rifle  and  despatched  the  bear." 

THE   SPIRIT    OF    THE    PIONEERS. 

Looking  back,  it  is  hard  for  us  to  belie\-e  that  our  forefathers  could  be 
induced  to  lea\e  conifortai)le  homes  in  Kentucky,  Tennessee.  North  Caro- 
lina and  el-e\\hei"e.  knowing  the  pri\ations  that  awaited  them  in  the  une.x- 
plored  regions  of  central  Indiana.  But  there  is  and  always  has  been  in  the 
heart  of  man  a  restless  desire  to  penetrate  the  new  countries  and  no  danger, 
no  hardship,  has  ever  been   found   formidable  enough  to  deter  the  voung. 


74 


WEIK  S    HISTORY    OF 


hardy  and  venturesome  emigrant  who  sets  out  for  the  land  of  promise.  That 
same  spirit  prompted  the  early  navigators  to  cross  the  seas  and  scale  the 
mountains  and  it  will  incite  future  generations  to  further  deeds  of  daring  and 
conquest  till  every  part  of  the  habitable  globe  shall  have  been  peopled. 

"I  left  Tennessee  with  my  wife  and  two  children,"  relates  an  old  Put- 
nam county  settler,  "with  all  my  worldly  goods  in  a  cart  drawn  by  one  horse. 
On  the  wav  my  money  gave  out  and  I  was  forced  to  sell  the  cart  and  pack 
the  goods  on  the  horse,  my  wife  riding  with  one  child  in  her  lap  and  the  other 
behind  her;  I  walked  and  led  the  horse.  In  this  way  I  reached  Indiana  in 
1 82 1.  I  stopped  for  a  time  in  Washington  county  to  earn  a  little  money  be- 
fore coming  to  Putnam  county.  At  first  I  had  a  hard  time  uf  it,  frequently 
walking  several  miles  a  day  to  work  at  fifty  cents  a  day  to  procure  corn  for 
bread  and  seed.  In  a  few  years  I  was  able  to  raise  a  crop  and  gradually  ac- 
quire more  land. 

CL.MM   CLUBS. 

"There  was  a  kind  of  freemasonry  among  the  old  settlers.  They  formed 
themselves  into  clubs,  the  workings  of  which  were  known  only  to  themselves. 
They  had  their  regular  officers  and  their  law  was  extreme  against  all  intruders 
on  their  claims.  Sometimes  innocent  persons  were  injured  by  these  clubs, 
but  they  had  their  choice — to  join  the  club  and  become  acquainted  with  the 
wav  of  working  or  give  up  their  land.  Here  are  some  of  the  by-laws  of  these 
claim-clubs  which  e.xisted  in  Putnam  county  and  which  many  old  pioneers 
will  recognize : 

"  'Whereas,  self-protection  and  the  peaceable  possession  of  property  are 
essential  to  the  happiness  and  prosperity  of  the  people,  and  whereas  reckless 
claim-jumpers  and  invidious  wolves  in  human  form  are  prowling  through  the 
country  for  the  purpose  of  robbing  the  settlers  of  their  claims  and  of  the 
means  of  support,  therefore  be  it  resolved. 

■'  ■(  i)  That  we  pledge  ourselves  to  protect  every  member  of  this  club 
in  his  rights  of  claim  as  against  the  presumption  of  adverse  parties,  without 
fear  of  the  world,  the  flesh  or  the  devil. 

"■(2)  That  no  person  shall  be  allowed  to  pre-empt  or  to  purchase 
from  the  government  any  claim  of  a  member  of  this  club  without  the  un- 
equivocal consent  of  the  member. 

"'(3)  That  the  filing  of  any  intention  to  pre-empt  in  contravention 
of  the  right  of  any  member  hereof  shall  be  regarded  as  an  attempt  to  deprive 
one  member  of  his  rights  under  the  eternal  fitness  of  things  and  we  pledge 


PUTNAM     COUNTY,    INDIANA.  75 

ourselves  one  to  another  to  meet  the  offenders  on  the  home  stretch,  with  logic 
of  hfe  or  death. 

"  '(4)  That  a  committee  of  three  be  chosen  whose  duty  shall  be  to 
hear  and  adjust  any  disputes,  evasions  or  disagreements  that  may  arise  with 
members  of  this  club  or  any  case  where  claims  of  members  are  in  dispute 
with  outside  adverse  claimants  of  any  character  whatever. 

"  '(5)  That  we  pledge  ourseh'es  to  sustain  and  uphold  our  committees 
in  the  performance  of  their  several  duties  and  to  enforce  their  decisions  and 
adjudications  to  the  very  letter  with  force  and  arms  if  necessary. 

"  '(6)  That  a  cordial  invitation  is  hereby  extended  to  every  citizen  of 
the  county  to  sign  these  by-laws  and  assist  in  their  faithful  execution  and  en- 
forcement." " 

The  enforced  exclusion  from  the  outside  world  did  not  sadden  the  hearts 
of  the  early  settlers  or  imbue  them  with  melancholy  reflections.  Their  spirits 
never  drooped.  They  were  happy  rather  than  hopeless,  co-operating  with 
each  other  in  every  undertaking.  This  harmony  of  purpose  and  unity  of  ac- 
tion drew  theiu  together  in  a  bond  so  strong  and  unyielding  that  the  very 
foundations  of  society  are  now  built  upon  it.  They  realized  that,  as  they 
sowed,  posterity  would  reap. 

SOCIAL    CONDITIONS. 

"Their  long  isolation  from  outside  society,"  writes  one  who  was  him- 
self an  early  settler,  " frequently  not  seeing  any  one  outside  of  their  own  fam- 
ilies for  months,  had  caused  a  sort  of  bash  fulness  in  the  presence  of  strangers, 
which  in  some  cases  was  never  fully  recovered  from.  But  amongst  them- 
selves, the  feeling  of  jovially  and  sociability  fairly  boiled  over  and  their  many 
social  meetings  frequently  became  enthusiastic  and  genial  in  the  highest  de- 
gree. 

"I  remember  once  of  visiting  a  family  in  Putnam  county  that  had  seven 
daughters.  On  visiting  the  same  family  some  years  later  and  seeing  none 
of  the  girls,  I  inquired  what  had  become  of  them.  The  father  informed  me 
that  he  had  married  them  off  on  the  'buckwheat  straw  principle."  That  is, 
when  he  wished  the  cattle  to  eat  his  straw,  if  he  saw  them  anywhere  about 
he  would  set  the  dogs  on  and  drive  them  off.  He  said  it  wouldn't  be  long 
I^efore  they  would  slip  around  and  eat  it  all  up.  He  had  applied  the  same 
principle  in  marrying  off  his  daughters.  When  a  young  man  came  to  see 
them  who  was  bright  and  he  thought  would  make  a  good  husband  he  would 
'go  for"  him  and  tell  him  he  couldn't  come  to  see  his  girls.  It  wouldn't  be 
long  l)efore  they  would  get  up  a  correspondence,  meet  in  the  neighborhood 


j6  weik's  history  of 

and  make  a  match.     The  father  always  reluctantly  gave  his  consent.      In  this 
wav  the  daughters  were  all  married  off  and  well  settled  in  life." 

Life  on  the  frontier,  however,  had  its  redeeming  features.  The  men 
were  universally  vigorous  and  gifted  with  fine  constitutions.  There  were 
none  of  the  diseases  that  now  afflict  us  and  which  are  due  to  our  superheated 
houses,  lack  of  ventilation  and  over-indulgence  in  rich  food.  Their  amuse- 
ments, though  not  so  varied  as  the  recreation  we  enjoy  today,  were  none  the 
less  refreshing  and  appropriate.  Their  music  was  the  hum  of  the  spinning 
wheel  and  the  loom  and  they  were  lulled  to  sleep  by  the  hoot  of  the  owl  and 
the  sighing  of  the  wind  through  the  forest. 

"When  newcomers  arri\'ed,"  relates  an  old  settler,  "they  generally 
stopped  with  relations  or  former  friends  until  they  could  select  claims  and 
build  their  own  cabins.  I  remember  one  instance  in  which  a  cabin  was  oc- 
cupied by  four  families  at  the  same  time  and  in  addition  was  the  stopping 
place  for  travelers  and  land-hunters.  So  it  will  be  seen  that  the  house  was 
crowded  to  its  utmost  capacity.  When  bed  time  arrived  the  first  family 
would  take  the  back  part  of  the  cabin  and  so  filling  up  by  families  until  the 
limit  was  reached.  The  young  men  slept  in  the  wagons  outside.  In  the 
morning  those  nearest  the  door  arose  first  and  went  outside  to  dress.  Meals 
were  served  on  the  hind  end  of  a  wagon  and  consisted  of  corn  bread,  butter- 
milk, fat  pork  and  occasionally  hot  coffee  to  take  away  the  morning  chill. 
On  Sunday  they  had  a  change,  bread  made  out  of  wheat,  trod  by  horses  on 
the  ground,  cleaned  with  a  sheet  and  ground  with  the  com  cracker  by  hand. 
This  was  the  best  the  most  particular  could  obtain  and  this  only  one  day  in 
seven.  In  giving  this  bill-of-fare  I  should  have  added  meat,  of  which  they 
had  plenty.  Deers  could  be  seen  daily  trooping  through  the  woods  and  wild 
turkeys  without  number.     Bears  were  not  uncommon. 

"Doctors  were  rather  scarce  and  as  a  general  rule  the  people  did  their 
own  doctoring,  or  some  handy,  accommodating  person  in  the  neighborhood 
who  had  learned  from  wider  experience  a  little  more  of  the  common  ailments 
of  the  human  system,  as  also  the  most  natural  relief  for  them,  stood  always 
ready  to  give  the  benefit  of  their  superior  knowledge  and  timely  advice  with- 
out cost  to  all  the  afflicted  ones  who  called  for  their  aid. 

"On  account  of  the  condition  of  the  roads,  traveling  was  done  principal- 
ly on  horseback.  The  value  of  a  family  horse  was  estimated  according  to 
the  number  he  could  carry.  When  the  family  increased  beyond  the  capacity 
of  his  back  there  were  always  some  by  that  time  who  could  walk. 

"All  the  money  that  was  brought  to  Putnam  county  to  purchase  land 
and  stock  was  in  currency  and  was  paid  out  in  large  amounts.     It  was  kept 


PUTNAM    COUNTY.    INDIANA. 


77 


by  the  farmers  without  tear  of  robbers.  It  is  related  by  Anhur  McGaughey 
that  after  he  was  elected  clerk  of  the  county  he  was  in  the  habit  of  putting  all 
the  money  he  received  in  one  of  his  wife's  blue  stockings  and  keeping  it  under 
the  bed.  When  remonstrated  with  by  a  neighbor  for  his  carelessness  with 
the  funds  intrusted  to  his  care,  he  answered  :  'Tut.  tut,  man ;  there  is  no 
vault  in  America  as  safe  as  my  wife's  stocking.'  " 

AN    INTERESTING    REMINISCENCE. 

Though  not  conforming  to  chronological  sequence  or  otherwise  adhering 
to  any  particular  order  of  presentation,  yet  as  a  faithful  and  vivid  reproduc- 
tion of  frontier  life  nothing  can  be  more  illuminative  or  impressive  than  the 
reflections  of  an  early  settler  in  Putnam  county.  J.  D.  Carter,  who  subsequent- 
ly moved  to  the  west.  His  reminiscences,  printed  in  one  of  our  county  papers, 
are  of  such  real  historic  value  the  liberty  is  taken  of  reproducing  portions  of 
the  same  here. 

"All  the  experience  of  the  early  pioneers  of  Putnam  county."  he  relates, 
"goes  far  to  confirm  the  theory  that  happiness  is  pretty  evenly  balanced  in  this 
world.  They  had  their  own  privations  and  hardships,  but  thev  also  had  their 
own  peculiar  joys.  .A.  common  interest  and  a  common  sympathv  bound  them 
together  with  the  strongest  ties.  Neighbors  didn't  wait  for  an  invitation  to 
help  each  other.  If  there  was  a  house-raising  or  a  log-rolling,  they  came  with 
as  much  alacrity  as  if  they  were  all  members  of  the  same  familv,  bound  to- 
gether by  the  ties  of  blood.  The  nature  of  their  environments  taught  these 
earl}'  settlers  to  dwell  together  in  this  manner;  it  was  their  only  protection. 
They  had  come  far  aw  ay  from  the  well  established  reign  of  law  and  entered 
a  new  countr}-.  Each  man's  protection  was  in  the  good  will  of  those  about 
him  and  the  thing  any  man  might  well  dread  w  as  the  ill-w  ill  of  the  communitv. 
It  was  more  terrible  than  the  law. 

"Brazil  Pursell  was  one  of  the  men  who  reached  Putnam  countv  before 
I  did.  He  was  there  on  a  prospecting  and  hunting  excursion  before  Green- 
castle  had  been  selected  as  the  county  seat.  He  and  John  Leroy  on  one  oc- 
casion treed  and  finally  captured  a  half-grown  black  bear.  After  a  pro- 
tracted struggle,  in  which  Leroy's  hands  and  face  were  more  or  less  lacerated 
the  latter  succeeded  in  binding  his  captive  and  taking  him  in  triumph  into 
camp.  Subsequently  he  passed  through  Greencastle  with  his  pet  on  his  wav 
to  the  far  West,  but  that  place  was  a  mere  hamlet,  there  being  but  a  few  log 
cabins  about  the  court  house  s([uare.  Leroy  was  fond  of  telling  the  reason 
why  breakfast  was  late  one  morning  during  his  stay  in  Greencastle.     The 


78  vveik's  history  of 

landlord  had  for  some  time  realized  that  his  larder  was  growing  empty,  but 
was  in  hourly  expectation  of  supplies.  The  evening  before  the  pantry  had 
become  bankrupt,  but  the  host  was  in  hopes  his  team  would  come  with  pro- 
visions before  morning.  But  hope  deferred  maketh  the  heart  sick.  At  early 
dawn  the  landlord  looked  wistfully  in  the  direction  he  expected  his  wagon, 
but  in  vain.  Finallv  he  mounted  a  horse  and  rode  to  a  house  down  the  road 
where  he  secured  some  meal  and  a  half  side  of  bacon  and  immediately  re- 
turned home.  The  half-dozen  hungry  boarders  sat  in  front  of  the  log  build- 
ino-  pining  for  the  flesh  pots  of  civilization  and  soon  their  spirits  arose  and 
their  mouths  began  to  water.  Far  away  to  the  northwest  came  the  landlord 
riding  like  a  jehu  holding  aloft  the  half-side  of  bacon  as  a  sign  of  relief. 

"Mr.  Pursell  attended  one  of  the  first  weddings  in  the  county.  The 
father  of  the  bride  spent  several  days  riding  about  among  the  settlers  in  order 
to  obtain  flour  enough  to  make  the  wedding-cake.  He  was  unsuccessful  and 
returned  home  much  disappointed ;  but  the  bride  and  her  brother  were  equal 
to  the  emergency.  They  pounded  com  in  a  mortar  dug  out  in  the  top  of  a 
stump,  the  pounding  being  done  with  an  iron  wedge  attached  to  a  pole  which 
in  turn  was  fastened  to  a  sweep.  Of  the  com  pounded  in  this  way  the  finest 
was  taken  for  the  wedding  cake  which,  when  sweetened  with  maple  sugar 
and  properly  baked,  was  highly  relished  by  the  guests. 

"It  is  strange  with  what  pride  the  pioneers  speak  of  their  old  log  cabins. 
I  doubt  if  there  was  ever  a  happier  people  than  those  sheltered  by  them. 
With  equal  pride  they  speak  of  the  one-legged  bedstead,  a  piece  of  furniture 
long  since  obsolete.  It  was  made  of  poles  fastened  into  holes  of  the  required 
size  bored  into  the  logs  of  the  cabin.  If  set  up  in  one  corner  of  the  room,  as 
was  often  done,  but  one  leg  was  required.  Upon  these  poles  clap-boards 
were  laid  or  linn  bark  interwoven  from  pole  to  pole.  Upon  this  primitive 
structure  the  bed  lav.  The  convenience  of  a  cook  stove  was  not  to  be  thought 
of;  but  instead  the  cooking  was  done  by  the  faithful  wife  in  pots,  kettles  and 
skillets  in  and  about  the  big  fireplace  and  very  frequently  over  and  around  the 
distended  pedal  extremities  of  the  lord  of  the  household  while  he  was  indulg- 
ing in  the  luxury  of  a  cob-pipe  and  discussing  the  probable  result  of  a  con- 
templated deer  hunt  up  Big  Walnut. 

"The  mention  of  hunting  reminds  me  of  an  incident  which  happened 
during  one  of  my  excursions  into  the  wilds  in  quest  of  game.  I  was  ac- 
companied by  Samuel  McNary-  and  when  we  were  several  miles  southeast  of 
Bainbridge  we  noticed  a  queer  looking  heap  in  the  woods  not  far  from  our 
path.  On  approaching,  we  found  to  our  dismay  that  beneath  the  mound  of 
leaves  and  bark  with  his  head  and  face  only  visible  lay  the  form  of  a  little 


PUTNAM     COUXTY,    IXDIAXA.  79 

boy.  Remox'iiig  the  covering,  we  found  him  entirely  nude  save  for  a  few 
rags  around  his  neck  and  waist.  Life  being  not  extinct,  we  proceeded  to 
divest  ourselves  of  what  wraps  we  could  spare,  for  it  was  a  cold,  chilly  day, 
and  then  took  turns  in  carrying  him  to  Bainbridge,  where  I  secreted  him  in 
my  harness  shop  until  I  borrowed  some  clothing  from  Aunt  Milly  Damall. 
Meanwhile  I  reported  to  the  overseers  of  the  poor,  who  were  James  O'Hair 
and  John  Cooper.  They  bound  the  boy  over  to  me  till  he  was  twenty-one 
years  of  age.  He  was  so  emaciated  that  the  bones  in  some  places  protruded 
through  the  skin  and  the  wonder  is  that  he  survived.  I  raised  and  educated 
him  and  he  became  a  useful  man.  Later  investigation  proved  that  he 
^vas  descended  from  a  good  family  on  his  mother's  side.  She  being  dead, 
his  father,  through  dissipation  and  lost  to  every  feeling  of  humanity,  suffered 
the  woman  with  whom  he  was  living  to  drive  the  children  from  home.  Sub- 
sequently two  others  were  found  and  bound  out. 

"Raising  a  crop  the  first  year  was  an  absolute  necessity  for  the  early  set- 
tler. The  failure  of  a  crop  meant  more  to  him  then  than  at  anv  time  after- 
ward. I  have  seen  a  man  cut  down  elm  and  linn  trees  so  that  the  cattle  might 
feed  on  the  buds  in  order  to  get  them  through  the  long  winter.  In  that  case 
the  man  had  arrived  late  in  the  fall  and  had  been  unable  to  secure  feed,  hence 
the  necessity  of  turning  the  stock  out  to  browse.  In  this  way  many  of  the 
settlers  who  came  in  late  succeeded  in  bringing  their  stock  through  the  winter. 
But  they  could  not  ha\e  endured  the  siege  much  longer,  as  thev  found  in  the 
spring  that  there  was  not  much  more  vitality  than  was  necessarv'  on  the 
part  of  the  dumb  brutes  to  enable  them  to  get  around  and  graze  upon  the  new 
grass  sufficiently  to  recruit  their  ^\•asted  bodies. 

"Money  was  so  scarce  that  but  few  of  the  newly-arrived  immigrants 
had  more  than  enough  to  secure  their  lands.  They  devoted  their  time  and 
energies  to  clearing  land  and  assisting  each  other  in  building  cabins  and  roll- 
ing logs  in  the  winter  and  spring  months.  It  was  often  the  case  that  after 
preparing  the  ground  ready  for  the  plow  they  would  find  their  horses  had 
strayed  away,  they  having  been  turned  loose  to  graze  that  the  corn  might  be 
saved  to  feed  while  they  were  worked.  Horses  going  astray  frequently  be- 
came a  serious  matter.  Owing  to  the  sparsely  settled  condition  of  the  country- 
it  was  almost  useless  to  make  iiKjuiry.  It  was  a  well-established  fact  that  when 
a  horse  tried  to  return  to  the  country  from  which  it  was  brought  he  took  a 
direct  line,  paying  no  attention  to  roads  or  improvements  if  possible  to  o^et 
through,  often  climbing  and  descending  bluff's  which  sometimes  seem 
impassable. 


8o  '  WEIK  S    HISTORY    OF 

"After  spending  days  and  sometimes  weeks  in  the  fruitless  search  for 
their  strav  animals,  the  pioneers  would  return  to  find  their  families  almost 
destitute  for  want  of  food.  In  such  cases  they  never  appealed  to  their  more 
fortunate  neighbors  in  vain.  They  often  realized  the  beautiful  saying  of  our 
Savior,  'It  is  more  blessed  to  give  than  to  receive.'  It  was  not  uncommon  in 
such  cases  of  misfortune  that  the  families  were  compelled  to  live  on  bread 
and  milk.  The  wild  onion  or  ramp,  so  common  at  that  time,  was  thj  first 
\egetation  in  the  spring  and  was  eaten  by  the  cows,  causing  their  milk  to  be 
unfit  for  use.  These,  with  many  other  annoyances  common  to  a  new  country, 
caused  some  to  become  discouraged  and  leave  the  .country,  but  they  were 
generally  of  that  class  who  'go  back  to  their  wives'  folks.' 

"Some  left  and  returned  again.  John  Fosher,  who  lived  in  the  northern 
part  of  the  county  and  who  never  knew  a  person  too  poor  to  credit  for  a  sack 
of  corn  meal,  proposed  to  give  those  who  wished  to  leave  five  bushels  of  meal 
if  they  would  agree  to  give  him  ten  bushels  of  corn  should  they  return.  Many 
accepted  this  offer.  Mr.  Kosher  informed  me  that  enough  had  returned  and 
'acknowledged  the  corn'  to  more  than  remunerate  him  for  all  that  he  had 
given. 

"The  agricultural  implements  of  the  early  settlers  were  much  in  contrast 
with  those  of  the  present  time.  The  only  plows  they  had  were  what  they 
styled  'cork-screws.'  The  mold-boards  were  of  wood.  Some  say  they 
would  kick  a  man  over  the  fence  and  kick  at  him  three  times  after  he  was 
over.  The  old  'cork-screw'  plows  did  good  service  and  must  be  awarded 
the  honor  of  first  stirring  the  soil  of  Putnam  county.  It  was  quite  a  time 
before  the  introduction  of  the  groimd-hog  threshing  machine.  I  have  always 
wondered  whv  thev  were  not  adopted  as  an  implement  of  war.  for  they  cer- 
tainly would  have  been  formidable  at  short  range  to  blind  the  advancing  col- 
umns by  throwing  wheat  in  their  eyes.  There  was  no  attachment  for  separat- 
ing the  wheat  from  the  chaff.  It  was  put  in  bins  and  cleaned  at  leisure  by 
sheet  or  wind-mill.  Corn  was  gathered  by  snapping  it  from  the  stalk  and 
throwing  it  on  the  ground,  then  gathering  up  by  hand  and  putting  it  into 
a  sledge  or  wagon  and  then  it  was  hauled  to  some  smooth  place  on  the  farm 
and  thrown  into  a  rick,  after  which  all  the  neighbors  would  be  invited  to  the 
husking,  when  they  would  proceed  to  husk  and  throw  it  in  a  pile,  .preparatory 
to  being  hauled  to  the  cril)  and  thrown  in  by  hand.  There  was  no  such  thing 
as  a  scoop-shovel  to  handle  the  grain  with  at  that  time.  I  suppose  the  labor 
performed  in  gathering  the  corn  at  present  wages  would  have  cost  more  than 
the  corn  was  worth. 

"When  hogs  were  sold  they  were  weighed  in  the  old-fashioned  steelyard 
scales.     Thev  were  weighed  by  taking  the  breeching  off  the  horses  and  sus- 


t  PUTNAM    COU-N'TV.    IXDIAXA.  8l 

pending  the  hogs  in  it  one  at  a  time  while  they  were  weighed.  flie  price  was 
one  dollar  and  fifty  cents  per  hundred  pounds  for  the  best.  They  were 
driven  on  foot  to  some  market  on  the  Ohio  river.  The  greatest  loss  I  ever 
knew  to  be  sustained  by  stock  men  in  Putnam  county  was  when  they  paid 
the  above  price  for  hogs.  .\  number  of  years  after^vard  they  used  for  weigh- 
ing the  old  fashioned  beams  with  a  bo.K  to  put  the  hog  in.  It  never  entered 
their  minds  to  balance  against  the  l)ox.  but  they  subtracted  the  weight  of  the 
box  from  every  hog.  as  they  did  the  breeching,  and  when  the  present  stock 
scales  were  first  introduced  I  have  known  men  to  drive  five  miles  to  weigh  in 
the  box  because  the  weigh-master  failed  to  subtract  the  platform  and  frame 
around  it  from  the  weight  of  the  hogs.  So  you  will  see  that  the  old  saying 
that  our  forefathers  carried  a  stone  in  one  end  of  the  sack  and  the  com  in  the 
other  is  about  true  after  all. 

"The  young  man  or  v>oman  of  today,  enjoying  the  blessings  and  com- 
forts of  a  modern  home,  can  scarcely  appreciate  the  tender  and  tearful  leave- 
takings  with  which  the  pioneers  left  their  cheerful  and  inviting  homes  in 
Kentucky  for  the  new  and  unexplored  lands  of  Putnam  county.  Though 
years  ha\e  come  and  gone,  the  memory  of  the  relatives  and  friends  who 
followed  us  to  the  turn  in  the  lane  will  never  be  forgotten.  Brave,  self- 
sacrificing  men  and  women  were  they  who,  severing  the  ties  of  home  and 
kindred,  set  out  for  the  perils  and  privations  of  pioneer  life  in  the  wilderness. 
I  recall  vi\idly  the  arrival  of  the  immigrants  who  came  in  wagons,  horse- 
back, on  foot  and  in  every  conceivable  shape.  I  shall  never  forget  the  dark 
and  ho()eless  outlook  when  I  reached  Putnam  county  on  that  drearv  morning 
in  March.  I  had  spent  the  night  in  Greencastle.  and  set  out  on  foot  the  next 
morning  for  my  destination  in  Bainbridge.  It  had  been  snowing  all  night 
and  I  had  made  a  very  early  start.  In  the  gray  of  the  morning,  just  as  the 
last  notes  of  the  night-owl  had  faded  away  in  the  distance.  I  passed  the 
Seybol(^  place.  The  heavy  snow  having  bent  the  boughs  of  the  trees  across 
the  road,  it  had  the  appearance  of  a  tunnel.  I  entereil  it  almost  in  darkness 
and  walked  on  in  silence  until  I  reached  .Amos  Robertson's,  now  the  Crow 
place.  There  I  saw  the  smoldering  fires  of  some  log  heaps  being  replenished 
with  brush  and  heard  the  music  of  an  axe  as  it  felled  the  timber  and  I 
sniffed  the  savory  bacon  as  it  his.sed  and  curled  in  the  frying  pan.  Afrs. 
Robertson  soon  dished  up  a  toothsome  breakfast  from  their  scanty  supplv, 
spicing  it  with  some  costly  morsel  from  the  store.  Coffee,  bacon  and  slap- 
jacks were  soon  disposed  of.  No  forbidding  pile  of  daintv  dishes  to  be 
pantried    away — just   a    few   tin   cups,   pewter   plate  and    knives.      .\    tap   or 

(6) 


82  weik's  history  of 

t\\  o  knocks  the  coffee  groiiiuls  from  the  cups ;  a  wipe  cleans  the  cups  and 
knives.     Thus  the  morning  dishes  are  cleaned. 

"I  stopped  for  a  time  with  Abram  Hillis,  who  graphically  described 
the  eft'ects  of  a  hurricane  which  had  shortly  before  passed  through  the  county, 
tearing  up  trees  and  otherwise  destroying  property,  but  got  no  further  than 
Mr.  Marks'  place  where  I  had  spent  the  night.  The  next  morning,  having 
ao-ain  set  out  on  mv  journey,  I  discovered  a  man  lying  in  the  middle  of  the 
road  and  a  horse  nearby.  I  soon  discovered  that  the  man's  overcoat  was 
frozen  to  the  ground,  the  man  himself  having  evidently  fallen  from  his  horse 
before  it  began  to  freeze.  He  was  so  completely  imbedded  in  the  snow  and 
mud  it  was  with  some  difficulty  that  I  was  able  to  pry  him  loose.  When 
aroused  from  his  stupor  he  took  some  whisky  which  he  had  not  yet  consumed 
and  I  helped  him  to  mount  his  horse  again.  He  certainly  w'ould  have  per- 
ished without  assistance.  It  has  always  been  a  mystery  to  me  why  that 
horse,  hungry  and  cold,  remained  with  his  master  throughout  the  night.  It 
could  only  have  been  due  to  the  guiding  hand  of  an  over-ruling  Providence, 
I  am  sure. 

"We  traveled  on  and  after  a  while  my  unfortunate  friend  began  to 
recover  himself.  In  one  place  we  encountered  an  immense  tree  which  had 
fallen  across  our  path  and  which  my  companion  said  had  killed  the  son  of 
Colonel  Piercv  while  carrving  the  mail  a  short  time  before;  also  that  some 
kind  of  a  disease  had  made  serious  inroads  among  the  people  and  that  every 
man  who  owned  or  occupied  land  along  that  road  from  Bainbridge  to  Green- 
castle,  with  the  exception  of  William  Randel,  had  passed  away — an  an- 
nouncement calculated  to  afford  solemn  and  serious  reflection  to  a  stranger 
about  to  pitch  his  tent  in  that  neighborhood.  I  finally  arrived  at  the  hurri- 
cane-visited spot,  about  one-half  mile  south  of  where  Bainbridge  now  is.  The 
destruction  of  timber  had  been  frightful.  The  track  of  the  hurricane  ap- 
peared to  be  about  a  quarter  of  a  mile  in  width  and  its  course  east  and  west. 
Scarcely  a  tree  was  standing  in  its  course.  By  night  I  reached  Bainbridge, 
a  hamlet  in  the  woods  which  contained  four  families  as  follows :  William 
T.  Damall,  ].  H.  Lucas.  Adam  Feather  and  Reuben  George.  Lucas  was  the 
big  man  of  the  place — landlord,  justice  of  the  peace,  postmaster,  merchant 
and  tanner. 

"As  is  invariablv  the  case  in  newly  settled  places  remote  from  the  great 
rivers  or  lines  of  communication,  the  price  of  stock,  grain  and  other  products 
was  invariablv  low  and  out  of  proportion  to  that  of  other  commodities. 
\'erv  often  after  reaching  the  large  trading  centers  the  settler  would  find 


PUTNAM     COUNTY.    INDIANA.  83 

an  unlooked-for  advance  in  tlie  price  of  what  he  expected  to  take  back  with 
him  and  the  market  glutted  with -the  kind  of  produce  he  had  to  sell.  I  well 
remember  three  of  my  neighbors  who  went  to  Lawrenceburg  only  to  find  an 
oversupply  of  grain.  Being  unable  to  find  a  customer,  they  almost  gave 
their  stocks  away  and  in  order  to  secure  the  necessaries  for  the  party,  two  of 
them  were  compelled  to  remain  and  work  a  week  in  a  distillery  in  order  to 
make  up  what  they  lacked  in  money.  Flour  was  unknown  at  first  and  meal 
scarce.  Meal  of  home  manufacture  was  made  by  pounding  boiled  corn  in  a 
sort  of  mortar  made  in  the  top  of  a  stump.  The  pounding  was  done  with  an 
iron  wedge  fastened  to  a  stick.  Various  other  contrivances  were  used.  Buck- 
wheat was  ground  in  coffee  mills.  In  this  way  flour  was  ground  for  many  a 
toothsome  flap-jack.  Meat,  of  course,  was  very  cheap.  Bazil  Pursell,  who 
helped  build  the  bridges  on  the  National  road  in  Putnam  county,  told  me  that 
in  1824  he  sold  a  wagon  load  of  jerked  or  Indian  smoked  venison  hams  in 
the  village  of  Greencastle  for  two  and  a  half  cents  per  pound. 

A  CHARIVARI. 

"When  visiting  Greencastle  in  early  times  I  stopped  with  John  Lynch, 
who  kept  a  tavern  on  the  west  side  of  the  public  square.  There  I  always  got 
good  corn  bread  of  Aunt  Lucretia's  baking,  who  could  put  to  shame  her 
modern  sisters  in  the  art.  On  one  of  these  occasions,  I  think  in  the  winter 
of  1835,  I  was  informed  by  Pleasant  S.  Wilson  that  there  was  to  be  a  chariv- 
ari in  town  that  night  in  honor  of  the  marriage  of  Robert  M.  Wingate  and 
Cynthia  Ash.  As  I  had  never  heard  of  such  a  thing  and  didn"t  wish  to  ex- 
pose my  ignorance  by  inquiry,  I  concluded  to  stay  and  hear  or  see  what  it 
might  be.  I  hadn't  long  to  wait  after  dark  before  the  sound  of  revelry  began. 
It  seemed  that  Bedlam  itself  had  been  let  loose.  I  repaired  at  once  to  the 
scene  of  disturbance.  The  figures  were  all  masked,  wearing  nail-kegs,  buckets 
antl  other  devices  on  their  heads.  In  order  to  give  the  reader  some  idea  of 
the  noise  and  confusion  they  created,  let  us  imagine  fifty  men  in  a  drunken 
revelry,  with  dumb  bulls,  drums,  horse  fiddles,  horns,  bells  and  tin  pans  being 
beaten,  blown,  rattled  and  commingled  with  their  demoniac  yells  and  the 
squealing  of  ducks,  geese  and  chickens,  with  a  cannon  fired  at  intervals,  vou 
then  have  a  faint  idea  of  that  charivari,  for  all  of  these  things  were  brought 
into  requisition  to  make  night  hideous.  I  soon  found  that  I  and  certain  others 
w^ere  intruders.  A  spy  came  around  with  something  on  his  head  like  a  tur- 
key with  a  long,  sharp  spike  for  a  beak  and  by  the  motion  of  his  head  he 
could  inflict  a  severe  wound,  as  Jim  Lynch  could  attest.     Thinking  discretion 


g^  weik's  history  of 

the  better  part  of  valor,  I  retired  to  bed.  there  to  hear  every  bed  post  bounced 
on  the  floor  bv  the  jar  of  the  cannon,  which  had  broken  many  panes  of 
glass  out  of  the  court  house  and  other  buildings.  On  hearing  people  assemb- 
ling in  the  room  below,  I  immediately  descended,  to  find  a  council  being  held 
by  the  better  class  of  citizens  to  devise  some  means  to  save  the  town.  It  was 
soon  decided  that  Reese  Hardesty  should  disguise  himself  in  P.  G.  Wilson's 
coat  and  cap  and  spike  the  cannon,  which  he  did.  But  the  crowd  soon  found 
it  out  and  Hardesty  had  to  make  his  escape  amidst  a  shower  of  brick-bats 
and  stones,  the  prints  of  which  remained  on  the  door  for  years.  Later  in  the 
night  the  enthusiasm  of  the  mob  began  to  wane  and  I  finally  returned  to  my 
bed.  resolved  that  I  would  never  again  be  caught  in  town  on  the  night  of  a 
charivari. 

THE    FIRST    OYSTER    SUPPER. 

"On  another  occasion,  after  the  advent  of  a  few  Yankees  into  the  county, 
an  ovster  supper  was  announced  to  take  place  at  the  hostelry  of  James 
Ricketts— Lhimself  a  Yankee4-on  the  west  side  of  the  court  house  square. 
Having  a  great  desire  to  see  and  taste  oysters,  which  I  had  never  seen  and  of 
which  I  had  often  heard  my  father  speak.  I  ventured  once  more  to  Green- 
castle  to  spend  the  night.  On  the  assembling  of  the  guests  it  was  found  that 
thev  had  no  more  oysters  than  would  supply  the  Yankees;  but  their  prolific 
minds  were  equal  to  the  emergency  and  they  forwith  proceeded  to  make 
cod-fish  soup  for  the  Hoosiers,  believing  that  the  latter  could  not  tell  the 
difiference.  which  proved  to  be  too  true;  for  not  one  of  those  present  save 
the  Yankees  had  ever  seen  or  tasted  an  oyster.  The  fraud  was  complete. 
We  Hoosiers  didn't  enjoy  the  feast  very  much  owing  to  the  fact  that  we 
thought  the  oysters  spoiled  by  their  long  transportation.  If  I  am  not  en- 
tirely correct  as  to  details,  I  am  sure  my  old  friend.  R.  L.  Hathaway,  may  be 
able  to  give  some  light  on  the  subject,  as  he  was  one  of  the  Yankees  present 
on  .that  occasion." 


CHAPTER  V. 


EDUCATION    IX    PUTNAM    COUNTY. 


In  extent  of  fertile  soil,  in  depth  of  mineral  deposits  and  certain  other 
natural  resources,  it  may  be  true  that  a  few  other  counties  have  surpassed 
Putnam,  but  in  well-ordered  morals,  in  all  the  elements  of  material  progress 
and  especially  in  the  advanced  steps  it  has  taken  in  the  matter  of  school  edu- 
cation she  easily  ranks  among  the  foremost  counties  in  the  state.  Who  taught 
the  first  school  or  where  the  first  school  house  in  each  township  was  located, 
can  not  now  in  every  instance  be  determined,  nor  is  that  infomiation  abso- 
lutely essential  to  a  correct  history  of  the  county.  We  know  that  very  soon 
after  the  organization  of  the  county — in  fact  before  the  county-seat  question 
was  fully  settled — schools  were  being  taught  in  at  least  two  different  places, 
and  as  the  newcomers  appeared  and  moved  up  the  streams  to  found  additional 
settlements,  the  physician,  who  is  recognized  as  one  of  the  earliest  arrivals 
in  every  community,  and  the  school  teacher  appeared  on  the  scene  almost  at 
the  same  time.  The  early  records  of  the  county  indicate  a  zealous  care  on  the 
part  of  the  county  commissioners  in  behalf  of  education.  The  fines  collected 
in  criminal  cases  were  turned  over  to  the  county  seminan.-  anrl  ever\-  effort 
was  made  to  encourage  and  stimulate  the  cause  of  education. 


COUNTY   SE.MINARY. 


The  records  at  the  court  house  show  that  an  order  was  issued  in  1830 
directing  John  Baird.  the  agent  for  the  town  of  Greencastle,  to  make  a 
"deed  of  gift  to  the  president  and  trustees  of  the  Greencastle  Seminary 
Society  for  the  use  of  said  society  of  lot  number  30  in  said  town.''  the  same 
lying  on  the  north  side  of  Washington  street,  between  Madison  and  Jefferson, 
and  now  occupied  by  the  residence  of  Granville  C.  Moore.  On  this  lot  a 
one-ston-  brick  was  built,  having  about  two  rooms,  and  which  for  the  time 
was  the  most  pretentious  structure  for  educational  purposes  in  the  countv. 
The  curriculum  was  the  conventional  course  of  instruction  in  the  earlv 
schools  of  Indiana:     "Readin".  writin'  and  cipherin'  to  the  Rule  of  Three." 


86  weik's  history  of 

The  records  show  a  pronounced  degree  of  interest  on  the  part  of  the  county 
commissioners,  who  held  the  agent  of  the  seminary  to  a  strict  accountabiHty. 
In  March,  1837,  it  was  "ordered  that  John  Thornburgh  (agent  for  the  Coun- 
ty Seminary)  be  authorized  to  permit  the  trustees  of  Indiana  Asbury  Univer- 
sity to  use  the  County  Seminary  for  three  years  on  condition  that  said  trustees 
loan  to  the  said  Thornburgh  the  sum  of  two  hundred  dollars  for  the  pur- 
pose of  furnishing  said  seminary — one  hundred  dollars  in  hand,  the  residue 
on  September  ist;  that  they  Will  keep  an  open  school  free  for  any  scholar  in 
Putnam  county  who  may  choose  to  avail  themselves  thereof  and  that  they 
will  regulate  their  school  so  as  to  have  ordinary  branches  of  English  educa- 
tion taught,  such  as  the  alphabet,  spelling,  reading  and  writing,  etc." 

The  County  Seminai-y  at  Greencastle  therefore  must  have  been  some- 
what in  advance  of  the  other  schools  in  the  county.  In  the  other  places  the 
rude  log  school  house  with  its  primitive  seats,  its  imperfect  light  and  its 
crude  curriculum,  held  sway,  but  it  only  laid  the  foundation  for  an  education ; 
for  with  the  limited  funds  in  the  hands  of  authorities  for  school  purposes 
and  the  poor  pay  of  the  teachers  but  little  more  could  be  expected.  Though 
nominally  kept  up  by  public  funds,  the  teacher  practically  had  to  look  to  the 
patrons  for  his  pay.  After  the  adoption  of  the  new  constitution,  in  185 1. 
taxes  for  school  purposes  began  to  be  levied  and  the  whole  educational  sys- 
tem took  a  great  stride  forward. 

FIRST  SCHOOL   BO.VRD. 

The  historv  of  the  schools  in  Greencastle.  as  set  forth  in  the  records 
of  the  school  board  of  that  city,  may  be  taken  as  a  fair  indication  of  the 
growth  and  development  of  the  school  system  in  other  parts  of  the  county. 
A  few  extracts  from  the  latter  record  may  not  be  without  interest.  On 
April  26,  1853.  John  Hanna.  mayor  of  the  town  of  Greencastle.  issued  to 
Delana  R.  Eckels.  Russell  L.  Hathaway  and  Daniel  Sigler  a  commission  as 
"Trustees  for  Schools  in  the  Town  of  Greencastle."  these  persons  having 
been  elected  bv  the  common  council.  The  Ijoard  of  trustees  met  and  selected 
D.  R.  Eckels  as  president.  Almost  the  first  item  of  business  was  an  order 
"that  the  graded  svstem  of  schools  be  adopted  for  the  town."  Further  pro- 
ceedings were  as  follows : 

"It  has  been  ordered  that  the  number  and  classification  of  schools  for  the 
present  vear  shall  be  as  follows:  Four  primary  schools,  one  of  which  shall 


PCTXAM     COLNTV,    INDIANA.  8/ 

be  in  the  first  ward,  one  in  tlie  third,  one  in  the  fourth  and  one  in  the  fifth, 
and  one  high  schc:>ol  in  the  County  Sennnary.  c(jnsi.sting  of  a  male  and  female 
department. 

"It  is  ordered  that  schools  shall  commence  on  the  ist  day  of  June  ne.xt 
antl  continue  two  months,  after  which  a  vacation  of  six  weeks,  and  that  the 
winter  session  shall  commence  on  the  15th  of  September,  and  the  summer 
session  on  the  ist  of  April  each  year,  each  session  being  four  and  a  half 
months  with  a  vacation  of  six  weeks  between  them. 

"It  is  ordered  that  the  county  auditor  audit  and  the  county  treasurer  pay 
over  to  the  treasurer  of  the  school  incorporation  the  amount  of  money  due 
the  town  from  the  public  fimd  and  that  proposals  be  published  in  the  three 
weekly  papers  of  the  town  for  eight  school  teachers." 

At  a  meeting  of  the  board  held  June  4,  1853,  the  following  were  agreed 
upon  as  salaries  for  the  teachers:  "For  principal  in  the  male  department  of 
the  high  school,  thirty  dollars  per  month;  assistant  in  the  same  department, 
tw-enty  dollars  per  month;  principal  in  the  female  department  of  the  high 
school,  twenty  dollars  per  month  and  for  all  other  teachers,  fifteen  dollars 
per  month."  In  .March.  1S54,  the  school  trustees  ordered  that  the  school 
system  of  the  town  should  consist  of  two  high  schools,  one  grammar  school, 
two  reading  schools,  and  four  primary  schools,  with  a  slight  advance  in  the 
pay  of  the  teachers  as  follow  s :  ".Male  high  school,  thirty-five  dollars  per 
month;  feiuale  high  school,  thirty-five  dollars;  grammar  school,  twentv 
dollars;  primary  schools,  twenty  dollars." 

TROUBt.ES   OF   A   SCHOOL    DIRECTOR. 

In  185;  the  number  of  school  trustees  in  the  town  of  Greencastle  was 
reduced  from  three  to  one  and  Charles  W.  Moore,  who  had  shortly  before 
graduateil  from  Aslnny  University,  was  elected  to  fill  the  place.  A  report 
in  the  record  m  Mr.  Moore's  handw  riting  aH:'ords  us  a  rather  graphic  picture 
of  school  Conditions  in  (ireencastle  at  an  early  day  as  follows: 

"(jreencastle.  May  20.    18^5. 

"  1  he  schools  are  prospering  as  a  general  thing  very  w  ell.     Some  things, 

howe\er.  are   far   from  being  right.     The  houses  are  the  merest  apologies 

for  school  rooms.     There  is  not  a  single  building  in  the  town  as  it  ouo-fit  to 

be  either  in  regard  to  comfort  inside  or  beauty  outside.     There  ought  to  be 


88  WEIK  S    HISTORY    OF 

several  neat  brick  houses  built,  properly  ventilated;  with  good  grounds  an- 
nexed, co\ere(l  with  shade  trees  and  flowers.  Then  the  school  room  would 
be  comfortable  and  the  pleasure  grounds  attractive.  Then  the  health  would 
be  preserved  and  the  head  and  heart  would  be  improved." 

At  this  time  schools  in  the  various  parts  of  the  town  were  in  the  most 
ca.ses  held  in  private  dwellings.  In  some  cases  the  teachers  allowed  their  own 
h(3mes  to  be  used  for  school  purposes  and  were  paid  suitable  rent  by  the 
school  trustee  and  in  others  even  church  dwellings  were  so  used.  Among 
other  buildings  utilized  by  the  authorities  of  this  period  was  the  old  Presby- 
'  terian  church  on  the  lot  at  the  corner  of  Jefferson  and  Columbia  streets  in 
the  west  part  of  the  city  and  now  occupied  by  the  heirs  of  the  late  William 
Haspel.  but  the  surroundings  were  not  calculated  to  promote  the  cause  of 
education,  as  the  following  report  by  the  trustees  seems  to  indicate : 

"July  lo,  1835. 

"At  the  old  Presbyterian  church  we  have  been  annoyed  exceedingly  by 
the  bad  boys  of  Greencastle.  They  from  time  to  time  have  broken  the  lights 
and  sash  out  of  the  windows;  they  have  broken  open  the  doors,  thereby  de- 
stroying the  locks,  and  having  entered,  they  have  broken  the  brooms,  benches 
and  blackboards  and  in  other  ways  have  defiled  the  room. 

"I  have  tried  to  have  the  law  redress  these  wrongs,  but  for  lack  of  a 
faithful  prosecution  bv  those  whose  duty  it  was  to  see  these  matters  made 
right  we  have  been  annoyed  all  term.  I  at  one  time  handed  to  the  mayor 
the  names  of  fifteen  or  twenty  bo\s  who  had  been  abusing  the  school  house 
and  its  appendages,  together  with  the  names  of  the  witnesses  by  whom  to 
pro\e  same.  A  dav  was  set  for  the  trial,  a  jury  selectetl  and  the  trial  duly 
entered  upon  in  the  case  of  a  portion  of  the  offenders,  but  through  ignorance 
of  the  prosecutor  the  jury  agreed  to  disagree  and  through  slothfulness  and 
disregard  of  dutv  of  the  prosecutor  all  the  offenders  were  set  free  and  with 
a  smile  pronounced  'Young  .Americans.'  'trundle  bed  trash."  etc..  thus  making 
them  worse  than  ever.  ^V'e.  however,  promise  all  men  that  we  will  break 
up  these  nocturnal  school  house  depredations  and  good  men  say.  'So  mote 
it  be."  " 

Rut  even  at  that  dav — 1855 — the  tenn  Free  Schools  was  more  or  less 
of  a  misnomer.  The  tax  levied  f'lr  school  purposes  was  entirely  inadequate 
and  the  result  was  a  serious  hindrance  to  the  successful  operation  of  the  new 
system,  as  the  followii^g  report  of  Trustee  Aloore.  dated  December  12.  1855. 
w  ill  indicate  : 


PLTXAM    COCNTV,    INDIANA.  89 

•it  was  my  design  to  have  the  second  term  of  the  puhhc  scliools  begin 
the  latter  part  of  November  and  for  this  purpose  I  had  the  houses  made 
comfortable  and  had  an  excellent  corps  of  teachers  secured,  but  the  council 
saw  tit  in  their  wisdom  to  have  subscription  schools  during  the  winter  and 
delay  the  free  schools  until  the  ist  of  March.  By  doing  this  some  of  the 
same  teachers  were  permitted  to  take  the  houses  and  teach  pay  schools  and 
obligated  themselves  to  return  the  houses  in  good  repair,  as  good  as  that  in 
which  they  received  them.  The  object  in  delaying  the  free  schools  is  to  get 
out  of  debt,  a  \ery  good  idea. 

'"C.  W.  MooRE." 

The  attendance  at  the  schools  of  Greencastle  in  1855,  as  shown  by  the 
record,  was  four  hundred  and  sixty-eight  pupils  in  the  common  schools  and 
ninety-two  in  the  high  schools,  a  total  of  five  hundred  and  sixty.  In  1856, 
under  the  administration  of  Reuben  S.  Ragan,  school  trustee,  it  is  shown 
that  "there  were  in  attendance  during  the  term,  one  hundred  and  seventy- 
seven  male  and  one  hundred  and  fifty-fi\e  female  scholars,  a  total  of  three 
hundred  and  thirty-two,  indicating  a  "daily  attendance  of  about  one-third 
of  all  the  children  in  the  town  between  the  ages  of  five  and  twenty-one  years." 
There  are  n(5  further  figures  indicative  of  the  school  population  till  1861. 
An  enumeration  made  by  Mr.  Ragan  between  July  and  Septemlier  in  that 
year  of  all  children  between  five  and  twenty-one  years  shows  three  hundred 
and  twenty-six  males  and  three  hundred  and  sixty-three  females,  a  total  of 
six  hundred  and  eighty-nine.  The  average  per  family  was  two  and  one-half. 
The  highest  number,  eight,  was  returned  by  two  persons  only.  Dr.  Thomas 
Bowman,  president  of  Asbury  University,  and  A.  V.  Hough. 

The  commonly  accepted  notion  that  after  the  law  of  185 1  authorized 
the  levy  of  a  tax  for  school  purposes  the  public  school  swstem  went  forward 
without  further  delay  or  difficulty  is  a  great  popular  misconception.  Ten 
years  after  this  law  which  pretended  to  establish  free  schools  was  passed  the 
schools  were  anything  but  free,  as  the  following  statement  by  Trustee  R. 
S.  Ragan.  found  in  the  records  of  the  i)ublic  schools  of  Greencastle.  will 
indicate  : 

"On  the  6th  day  of  January.  1862,  I  called  a  meeting  of  the  legal  voters 
of  the  city  of  Greencastle  at  Tliomburgh"s  Hall  for  the  purpose  of  determ- 
ining when  i\xii  schools  should  commence.  A  notice  thereof  was  dulv  gi\-en 
in  the  Putnam  Rcf'ublicau  Banner,  a  newspaper  of  general  circulation  in  said 
city,  at  least  five  davs  previous. 


CO  WEIK  S    HISTORY    OF 

"On  said  day  a  large  number  of  the  citizens  at  the  time  and  place  men- 
tioned assembled  and  after  due  deliberation,  on  motion  of  J.  F.  Jones,  the 
trustee  was  directed  to  postpone  free  schools  until  the  14th  day  of  April, 
1862,  which  was  accordingly  done.  Said  meeting  also  directed  the  trustee 
to  go  forward  and  secure  by  rent,  buildings  suitable  for  school  rooms,  prop- 
erly furnish  the  same  and  also  employ  teachers,  etc. 

"The  trustee,  after  having  ascertained  what  school  rooms  could  be 
secured  (the  city  having  no  school  rooms  of  its  own),  called  another  public 
meeting  at  the  court  house,  there  being  no  more  suitable  place  for  holding 
same,  on  the  4th  day  of  April.  1862.  at  which  time  a  veiy  large  number  of 
persons  assembled  and  the  trustee  laid  before  them  the  business  of  the  meet- 
ing. He  was  unanimously  directed  to  rent  the  Seminary  building,  the  Acad- 
emy building,  the  Fort,  as  it  is  called,  a  building  owned  by  Mr.  Gorrell,  Mrs. 
Johnson's  building  and  such  others  as  would  be  needed ;  fitting  the  same  up 
as  they  might  require." 

After  the  above  report  the  records  are  silent — in  fact  there  are  no 
records  after  1862  until  1866.  when,  under  the  efficient  management  of  the 
school  trustees,  whose  number  had  again  increased  to  three,  funds  were  now 
forthcoming  to  build  substantial,  modern,  brick  school  buildings.  The  build- 
ing in  the  second  ward  was  constructed  in  1867  and  soon  thereafter  followed 
the  erection  of  another  like  structure  in  the  first  ward,  which  last  building 
was  completed  in  1869.  Since  that  date  two  more  buildings  have  been 
erected  and  plans  are  now  being  made  looking  to  the  erection  of  a  high  school 
building,  larger  and  more  commodious  than  any  of  the  others. 

In  1867,  by  which  time  the  school  attendance  had  greatly  increased,  and 
the  schools  themselves  had  realh",  for  the  first  time,  been  graded,  it  was 
found  necessary  to  put  at  the  head  of  the  school  department  a  competent 
person  to  supervise  the  work  of  the  teachers  and  administer  the  educational 
affairs  of  the  city.  With  that  end  in  view,  the  board  of  school  trustees  on 
September  6.  1867.  selected  Greencastle's  first  superintendent  of  schools  in 
the  person  of  Gillum  Ridpath.  Professor  Ridpath  served  for  one  year,  being 
followed  in  .succession  by  S.  D.  Waterman.  E.  P.  Cole.  George  W.  Lee.  J.  N. 
Study.  T.  M.  Olcott.  Tames  Baldwin  and  R.  A.  Ogg.  Horace  G.  Woody,  the 
present  incumbent,  has  filled  the  office  since  1898.  There  are  seven  instruc- 
tors in  the  high  school,  and  thirteen  teachers  in  the  various  grafles.  The 
enumeration  of  school  children  in  1909  showed  a  school  population  in  the 
city  of  eight  hundred  and  seventy-two. 

That  the  schools  of  Greencastle  in  all  that  pertains  to  bettemient  of 
sanitary   conditions,    in    attendance,    discipline   and    the    incentive   to   higher 


PUTNAM     COUXTV,    INDIANA.  9I 

ideals  have  kept  pace  nith  the  best  schools  in  the  state  is  clearly  shown  in  a 
paper  recently  prepared  by  Prof.  H.  G.  Woody,  the  school  superintendent. 
After  alluding  to  the  advance  in  school  methods,  and  that  the  real  aim  of 
modern  education  is  a  higher  ideal  than  mere  intelligence,  viz  :  the  formation 
of  character  based  upon  intelligence.  Professor  Woody  says: 

"Within  the  last  ten  years  the  school  houses  of  Greencastle  have  been 
overhauled.  Two  rooms  have  been  added  in  district  No.  3.  but  the  chief 
improvements  have  looked  to  better  ventilation,  lighting  and  decoration. 
Our  city,  taking  advantage  of  the  free  school  laws,  promptly  and  earnestly 
erected  substantial  brick  buildings  forty  years  ago.  Very  little  was  then 
understood  concerning  what  is  now  considered  good  school  architecture.  To 
overcome  the  difficulties,  furnaces  have  been  substituted  for  stoves,  gravity 
systems  of  ventilation  ha\e  been  installed  in  three  of  the  four  buildings,  and 
additional  windows  ha\-e  been  constructed  wherever  the  light  was  insufficient. 
All  the  windows,  except  those  on  the  north,  are  fitted  with  double  shades, 
the  upper  one  being  a  translucent  white  shade  to  diffuse  the  light  so  no  pupil 
need  sit  in  a  glare. 

"In  the  matter  of  mural  decoration,  the  old  wall  of  dingy  plaster  gave 
way  to  paper  about  six  to  ten  years  ago.  Xow  as  the  paper  grows  dingv-, 
the  board  of  trustees  is  having  them  decorated  in  oil  paints.  This  is  a  step 
in  the  right  direction  whether  vieweil  from  a  hygienic  or  an  aesthetic  stand- 
point. The  schools  possess  more  than  one  hundred  good  pictures  and  casts. 
These  have  come  through  the  loyal  efforts  of  teachers  and  pupils,  inspired 
by  the  superintendent  and  supported  by  the  patrons  of  the  schools,  .\bout 
one  thousand  dollars  has  been  thus  investefl  in  works  of  art  in  the  past  ten 
years.  Most  of  these  are  reproductions  of  classic  pictures  and  statues,  and 
some,  like  LeRey's  'Scotch  Hether',  are  excellent  modern  paintings. 

"These  material  works  of  progress  are  but  e\'idences  of  something  even 
better,  viz:  a  living,  growing  educational  spirit.  There  is  further  evidence 
of  this  healthy  spirit  to  be  seen  in  the  smooth  running  of  the  schools.  They 
go  on  with  the  work  without  jar  or  friction.  There  is  no  rebellion  anywhere, 
no  back-biting  and  scarcely  any  fault  finding,  no  petitions  to  oust  teachers, 
and.  indeed,  the  great  majority  of  parents  are  in  hearty  accord  with  the 
schools  anrl  are  staunch  supporters  of  the  teachers. 

■'Probably  the  most  incontrovertible  proof  of  Greencastle's  fine  educa- 
tional spirit,  is  the  increase  in  school  attendance  and  improvement  in  its 
punctuality. 

"The  per  cent,  of  the  average  daily  attendance  from  k^oi  to  [907 — 
seven  years — was  06.1  and  for  the  past  three  years.  96.6:  for  i()o6-07.  96.8; 


92  WEIK  S    HISTORY    OF 

for  1908-09,  it  was  97.1  per  cent.  The  net  total  enrollment  includes  all  the 
children  who  touch  the  schools  at  any  time  during  the  school  year,  though  the 
time  be  ever  so  short.  Yet  for  the  past  four  years,  the  average  daily  attend- 
ance has  been  85.1  per  cent,  of  the  total  enrollment.  For  1906-07  it  was  86.2 
per  cent. 

"In  si.xteen  cities  of  the  state,  viz;  Brazil.  Bluffton,  Columbus,  Conners- 
ville.  Frankfort.  Franklin.  Greensburg.  Hartford  City.  Huntington,  Kokomo. 
Lebanon.  Newcastle.  Noblesville.  Princeton.  Shelbyville,  Wabash,  the  average 
dailv  attendance  for  1906-07  was  19171.9  and  the  total  enrollment  24.449,  the 
average  dail\-  attendance  being  78.4  per  cent,  of  the  enrollment.  Making 
a  like  computation  for  all  the  cities  of  the  state,  the  per  cent,  is  found  to  be 
78.3;  and  tor  all  the  public  schools  of  the  state,  ■]■/  per  cent.  For  the  past 
four  years  Greencastle's  average  daily  attendance  has  averaged  85  per  cent, 
of  the  enrollment,  and  it  has  not  fallen  below  79  per  cent,  since  1901. 

"A  verv  large  proportion  of  our  pupils  remain  in  school  each  year  until 
the  close  of  school.  Xearly  one  hundred  per  cent,  of  the  pupils  who  finish 
the  work  of  the  common  schools,  enter  the  high  school.  The  high  school 
has  increased  its  enrollment  since  1901,  by  jo  per  cent.  It  was  16  2-3  per 
cent,  of  the  total  number  in  all  of  the  schools  in  1901 ;  1903,  it  was  21.5  per 
cent;  the  past  four  years  it  has  averaged  26.8  per  cent,  of  the  entire  enroll- 
ment; its  highest  reach  was  29  per  cent.  The  sum  of  the  enrollments  of  the 
high  school  for  the  past  four  years  is  36.6  per  cent,  of  the  sum  of  the  enroll- 
ments in  the  grades.  In  the  sixteen  cities  named  above,  the  total  high  school 
enrollment  for  1906-07  was  16.4  per  cent,  of  the  total  grade  enrollment.  This 
large  enrollment  in  the  local  high  school  means  the  more  when  it  is  further 
stated  that  this  school  maintains  a  ver\'  high  per  cent,  of  attendance  as  com- 
pared with  the  enrollment.  For  the  year  ending  1905.  it  was  91  per  cent,  and 
for  1907.  91.6  per  cent.  The  high  school's  per  cent,  of  attendance  for 
1906-07,  as  reckoned  in  the  state's  schools,  was  97.6.  nor  has  it  fallen  below 
97  per  cent,  since." 

Outside  the  citv  of  Greencastle  the  schools  in  the  county  until  1872  were 
practicall}-  without  supervision.  There  had  been,  it  is  true,  a  school  examiner, 
so  called,  but  his  duties  were  almost  entirely  confined  to  the  examination  of 
persons  applying  for  license  to  teach.  His  visits  to  and  inspection  of  the 
schools  over  the  county  were  few  and  far  between  and  the  salary-  of  the  place 
was  so  meagre  he  could  give  the  position  but  a  small  portion  of  his  time.  In 
1872  the  Legislature  created  the  office  of  county  superintendent  of  schools 


PUTNAM    COUNTY,    INDIANA.  93 

and  the  first  person  to  till  that  post  was  the  late  John  R.  Gordon,  who  served 
until  1875.  Following  him  came  L.  A.  Stockwell,  whose  term  ended  in 
1881  :  L.  E.  Smedley  in  1889;  F.  M.  Lyon  in  1897  and  S.  A.  Harris  in  1903. 
Since  the  latter  year  the  present  incumbent,  Oscar  Thomas,  has  filled  the 
office. 


SCHOOL   ST.VTISTICS. 

•At  present  there  is  one  and  in  some  cases  two  high  schools  in  each  town- 
ship in  the  county.  Including  the  high  school,  there  are  nine  teachers  in  the 
various  districts  of  Jackson  township;  si.xteen  in  Franklin;  eight  in  Clinton; 
thirteen  in  Monroe;  nine  in  Floyd;  seven  in  Warren;  nine  in  Greencastle 
(outside  of  the  city)  ;  nine  in  Madison;  ten  in  Russell;  nine  in  Marion ;  eight 
m  Jefferson;  eighteen  in  Washington;  si.xteen  in  Cloverdale  and  four  in 
Mill  Creek.  Add  to  these  the  twenty  instructors  in  the  city  schools  of  Green- 
castle and  we  have  a  total  of  one  hundred  and  sixty-five  teachers  in  the 
county.  .\n  enumeration  of  school  children  made  last  year  shows  ^^j  in 
Jackson ;  225  in  Clinton ;  444  in  Cloverdale ;  256  in  Floyd ;  480  in  Franklin ; 
455  '"  Greencastle  (outside  of  the  city)  ;  247  in  Jefferson;  266  in  Madison; 
364  in  Marion;  147  in  Mill  Creek;  391  in  Monroe;  ^^^  '"  Russell;  209  in 
Warren;  480  in  Washington,  and  872  in  the  citv  of  Greencastle  a  total  of 
5,608. 

EARLY   HIGH   SCHOOLS  AND  ACADE.MIES. 

In  the  days  prior  to  the  Civil  war.  academies  and  seminaries  and  other 
mstitutions  of  higher  grade  than  the  district  school  began  to  make  their  ap- 
pearance not  only  in  Greencastle  but  in  other  parts  of  the  county  as  well. 
Of  course  they  were  private  enterpri.ses  and  in  some  instances  short-lived 
but  in  others  they  continued  for  years,  growing  in  popular  favor  until  the 
arlvent  of  the  modern  high  school  and  college,  after  which  they  gradually 
went  out  of  existence.  There  was  a  seminary  in  Cloverdale  as  earlv  as  i8;o 
and  both  Russeilviile  and  Bainbridge  boasted  of  academies.  The  institution 
at  Bainbridge  was  admirably  managed  and  its  reputation  for  discipline  and 
excellence  in  training  extended  far  Ijeyond  the  county  lines.  The  Russeil- 
viile .Academy  was  likewise  a  notable  institution,  its  course  of  instruction 
fitting  its  graduates  for  entrance  to  any  of  the  colleges  or  universities  in  the 


94 


WEIK  S    HISTORY    OF 


middle  West.  In  Greencastle  the  preparatory  school  for  Asbury  University 
answered  the  purpose  of  an  academy,  but  as  girls  were  not  admitted  there 
grew  up  a  demand  for  separate  schools  for  them.  This  demand  was  promptly 
met  and  several  female  high  schools  or  academies  were  at  different  times 
inaugurated,  the  principal  one  being  the  school  of  Mrs.  Larrabee.  the  wife 
of  Prof.  William  C.  Larrabee,  of  Asbury  University.  This  institution  drew 
to  Greencastle  young  ladies  from  various  points  not  only  in  this  state  but 
even  in  the  adjoining  .states.  In  the  decade  prior  to  the  Civil  war  these 
higher  grade  private  schools  flourished  everywhere.  In  the  Putnam  Repub- 
lican Banner,  published  in  Greencastle  during  this  period,  are  .found  the  ad- 
vertisements of  the  New  Albany  Female  Seminary,  at  New  Albany,  Indiana; 
the  Terre  Haute  Female  College,  at  Terre  Haute  ;  the  Asbury  Female  Institute, 
at  Greencastle,  presided  over  by  James  A.  Dean,  principal,  and  later  by  Rev. 
J.  B.  DeMotte ;  the  Greencastle  High  School,  which  included  in  its  curriculum 
drawing  and  painting  and  was  managed  by  E.  French,  principal;  the  select 
school  of  Mrs.  M.  A.  Skelton  at  the  "Old  Presbyterian  Church";  the  music 
school  of  Mrs.  H.  B.  Hibben  at  "'Bellamy  House";  the  school  of  Mrs.  S.  S. 
Johnson  at  the  "east  end  of  Seminar}'  street,"  and  the  select  school  of  Mrs. 

A.  E.  Bickle,  at  the  "east  end  of  the  building  known  as  the  'Fort'."  After 
the  reorganization  of  the  public  schools  of  Greencastle  about  1867-68  the 
day  of  the  "academy"  had  passed  away.  In  1870  the  Female  College  of 
Indiana,  an  institution  under  the  patronage  of  the  Presbyterian  church,  was 
established  in   Greencastle.     Its  first  board  of  trustees  consisted  of  Joseph 

B.  Fordyce,  W.  C.  Gilmore.  John  H.  Randolph,  J.  L.  Seybold,  James  D. 
Stevenson,  Addison  Daggy,  Milton  A.  Oslwrn,  Conrad  Cook  and  M.  B. 
Barnard.  Rev.  E.  W.  Fisk,  local  pastor  of  the  church  in  Greencastle,  be- 
came the  first  president  of  the  board  and  ultimately  president  of  the  college 
also.  At  the  time  of  the  organization  the  trustees  purchased  four  and  a  half 
acres  of  ground  east  of  Locust  and  south  of  iVnderson  streets,  on  which  a 
large  brick  dwelling  and  a  two-story  brick  church  suitable  for  a  college  build- 
ing had  already  been  erected.  In  August,  1873,  a  fire  destroyed  the  college 
building  including  the  library,  furniture,  etc.  This  was  a  great  misfortune 
and  one  from  which  the  institution  never  fully  recovered.  The  school  was 
continued  in  other  buildings  and  two  classes — one  in  1875  and  the  other  in 

1876 were  graduated.     A  new  building  on  a  tract  of  ground  southwest  of 

town,  donated  by  James  Gillespie,  was  begun,  but  the  requisite  funds  to 
continue  its  erection  were  not  forthcoming  and  with  Asbury  L^niversity  ad- 


PUTNAM    COUNTY,    INDIANA.  95 

mitting  women  to  all  its  departments  on  a  footing  with  men  the  competition 
proved  to  be  too  great  and  the  new  institution  was  finally  forced  to  surrender. 

.\SBURY.    NOW    DEP.VUW,    UNIVERSITY. 

This  chapter  on  the  schools  of  Putnam  county  would  be  manifestly  far 
from  complete  were  we  to  omit  mention  of  the  great  educational  factor  of 
our  county — .\sbury.  now  DePauw,  University.  The  earliest  and  most  in- 
teresting history  of  the  genesis  and  development  of  this  great  institution  is 
from  the  pen  of  the  Rev.  F.  C.  Holliday,  who  in  February,  1S5S,  wrote  for 
one  of  the  Indianapolis  papers  a  historical  sketch  entitled  "Methodism  in  In- 
diana."' Alluding  to  the  efforts  of  the  church  to  promote  the  cause  of  edu- 
cation, he  says : 

"In  May,  1832.  the  Illinois  conference  was  divided  and  Indiana  became 
a  separate  conference.  The  first  session  of  the  Indiana  conference  was  held 
in  New  Albany  October,  1832.  On  the  first  day  of  the  session  A.  Wilev,  C. 
W.  Ruter  and  James  Armstrong  were  a  committee  to  consider  and  report 
on  the  propriety  of  establishing  a  literary  institution  under  the  patronage  of 
the  conference.  The  committee  made  their  report,  but  no  definite  action  was 
had  beyond  pro\-iding  for  the  collection  of  information  to  be  reported  to  the 
next  conference. 

"Although  it  was  felt  to  be  desirable,  on  many  accounts,  to  have  an 
institution  of  learning  under  the  control  of  the  conference,  yet  it  was  thought, 
if  we  could  receix'e  anything  like  an  equitable  share  of  privileges  in  the  State 
University  at  Bloomington,  that  would  meet  the  wants  of  our  people  for 
several  years:  and  accordingly,  at  the  conference  in  1834,  it  was  resolved  to 
memorialize  the  state  Legislature  on  the  subject :  and,  accordinglv,  a  memorial 
from  the  conference,  and  similar  memorials  numerously  signed,  were  sent 
up  from  different  parts  of  the  state.  The  memorialists  did  not  ask  that  the 
university  be  put  either  in  whole  or  in  part  under  the  control  of  the  church. 
They  simply  asked  that  the  trustees  of  the  university  be  elected  for  a  term  of 
years  and  that  vacancies  as  they  occurred  should  be  filled  bv  the  Legislature 
and  not  by  the  remaining  members  of  the  board  of  trustees.  The  memorial 
was  referred  to  an  able  committee  of  the  Legislature,  but  for  some  reason 
the  committee  never  made  a  report.  Those  who  were  opposed  to  anv  change 
in  the  manner  of  controlling  the  State  University  doubtless  judp-ed  that  it 
would  be  easier  to  smother  the  report  while  in  the  hands  of  the  committee 
than  to  answer  before  the  people  for  the  opposition  to  a  reform  so  just  and 
equitable. 


p6  weik's  history  of 

"Failing  in  their  efforts  to  secure  a  refonn  in  the  manner  of  controlHng 
the  State  University,  the  conference  turned  their  thoughts  earnestly  toward 
the  establishment  of  a  literary  institution  of  high  grade  under  the  control  of 
the  church.  At  the  session  of  the  conference  in  1835  a  plan  was  agreed  upon 
for  the  founding  of  a  university.  Subscriptions  were  taken  up  and  proposals 
made  from  different  points  in  the  state  with  a  view  of  securing  the  location 
of  the  university.  Rockville,  Putnamville,  Greencastle,  Lafayette,  Madison 
and  Indianapolis  were  the  principal  competitors.  Rockville  presented  a  sub- 
scription of  twenty  thousand  dollars;  Putnamville  about  the  same  amount; 
Indianapolis  and  Madison  each,  about  ten  thousand  dollars;  Greencastle, 
twenty-five  thousand;  and  accordingly,  at  the  session  of  the  conference  in 
Indianapolis,  October,  1836,  the  conference  by  vote  fixed  the  site  of  the  uni- 
versity at  Greencastle.  At  that  time  Greencastle  contained  a  population  of 
about  five  hundred.  A  committee  was  appointed  to  draft  a  charter  to  be  sub- 
mitted to  the  Legislature  at  its  next  session,  which  was  done,  and  the  charter 
was  passed  substantially  as  drawn  up  by  the  committee.  The  following 
gentlemen  comprised  the  original  board  of  trustees:  Robert  R.  Roberts, 
John  Cowgill,  Alexander  C.  Stevenson,  William  H.  Thomburgh,  William 
Talbott,  Reese  Hardesty,  Joseph  Crow,  John  W.  Osborne,  Thomas  Robinson, 
Hiram  E.  Talbott,  James  Montgomery,  Daniel  Sigler,  Isaac  Matkins,  Tarvin 
W.  Cowgill,  William  Lee,  William  K.  Cooper,  Calvin  Fletcher,  Gamaliel  Tay- 
lor, Martin  M.  Ray,  Isaac  C.  Elston,  S.  E.  Leonard,  W.  W.  Hitt,  Joseph  A. 
Wright,  Tilghman  A.  Howard,  Jacob  Haas.  The  institution  was  to  be  known 
bv  the  name  and  style  of  "The  Indiana  Asbury  University.' 

"The  first  meeting  of  the  board  of  trustees  was  held  on  the  first  Monday 
in  March,  1837,  at  which  time  they  resolved  to  open  the  preparatory  depart- 
ment as  soon  as  they  could  procure  a  suitable  teacher.  Rev.  Cyrus  Nutt,  a 
graduate  of  Allegheny  College,  was  elected  principal  of  the  preparatory  de- 
partment with  a  salary  of  four  hundred  dollars.  Greencastle  was  at  that 
time  about  ten  years  old,  small  and  rough.  The  site  was  by  no  means  the 
most  pleasant,  being  a  succession  of  hills  and  hollows.  The  streets  were 
without  grading  or  sidewalks,  except  about  the  public  square,  and  mud  was 
a  very  abundant  article  for  about  six  months  in  the  year.  It  was  exceedingly 
fortunate  for  Greencastle  that  it  secured  the  location  of  the  university;  had 
it  failed  in  its  efforts  the  county  seat  would  probably  have  been  removed  to 
Putnamville.  and  Greencastle  been  numbered  among  the  things  that  were. 
But  the  influence  o-iven  to  it  by  this  institution  made  it  a  point  on  the  Indian- 
apolis &  Terre  Haute  railroad  and  gained   for  it  also  the  New  Albany  & 


EAST   COLLEGE,   DEPAUW   UNIVERSITY 


Cammack  Pliolographe 


PUTNAM    COL'NTV,    INDIANA.  97 

Michigan  City  railroad,  which  render  it  a  place  of  considerable  commercial 
importance  and  make  it  of  easy  access  from  most  parts  of  the  state.  Rev. 
Cyras  Xutt,  who  had  been  elected  to  take  charge  of  the  preparatory  depart- 
ment, arrived  in  due  time  and  the  school  was  opened  on  the  5th  of  June,  1837, 
in  a  room  in  the  old  town  seminary,  about  twelve  by  fifteen  feet.  Five  pupils 
appeared,  barefooted  and  without  coats.  Their  names  were:  Oliver  P. 
Badger.  O.  H.  P.  Ash,  William  Stevenson.  Bishop  Osborne  and  S.  Taylor. 
They  all  resided  in  the  town  except  Badger. 

LAYING   THE    CORNER    STONE. 

"The  20th  of  June  was  an  era  for  Greencastle.  and  also  for  the  history 
of  Indiana  Asbury  University.  It  was  the  day  appointed  for  laying  the 
corner  stone  of  the  college  edifice.  Rev.  H.  B.  Bascomb  was  engaged  to  de- 
liver the  address  on  the  occasion.  Expectation  was  great.  The  occasion,  the 
unrivaled  reputation  of  the  speaker,  the  greatest  orator  of  the  West  if  not  of 
the  world,  awakened  an  interest  hitherto  unknown  along  the  hills  and  valleys 
and  prairies  of  western  Indiana. 

"Greencastle  was  put  in  her  tidiest  dress,  and  the  doors  of  the  citizens 
were  thrown  open  to  entertain  the  guests  that  were  expected  to  be  present  on 
the  occasion.  On  ^londay,  the  19th.  the  crowd  began  to  appear  and  by  nio-ht 
the  town  was  full.  People  came  from  all  parts  of  the  state  and  it  was  esti- 
mated that  twenty  thousand  persons  were  present  on  the  next  day.  The  re- 
nowned orator  arrived  and  took  lodging  at  the  residence  of  one  of  the  prin- , 
cipal  citizens.  The  hum  of  preparation  was  heard  at  a  late  hour  in  the  night. 
On  the  20th  the  order  of  the  day  was  a  sermon  in  the  Methodist  Episcopal 
church,  at  nine  o'clock  A.  M..  from  Rev.  Hooper  Crews,  of  Illinois.  At 
eleven  o'clock  the  pnxession  was  formed  and  marched  to  the  site  of  the 
university  where,  over  the  stone,  which  had  been  prepared,  with  sundrv  docu- 
ments enclcsed,  Calvin  Fletcher,  Esq.,  of  Indianapolis,  delivered  a  brief  and 
appropriate  address,  but  \\hich  was  heard  by  comparatively  few  of  the  vast 
assembly. 

"The  procession  was  again  formed  and  marched  to  a  grove  in  the  .south- 
west part  of  the  town  where  temporary  seats  had  been  prepared  which  accom- 
modated about  one-fourth  of  the  audience.  The  stand  was  occupied  bv  the 
orator  of  the  day  and  Revs.  A.  Wiley.  James  Havens,  C.  W.  Ruter,  E.  R 
.\mes  and  a  few  other  leading  ministers  of  the  conference.  Praver  was 
offered  by  Rev.  E.  R.  Ames,  when  Rev.  H.  B.  Bascomb  proceeded  with  his 

(7) 


98  WEIKS    HISTORY    OF 

address,  which  he  read.  As  the  day  was  extremely  chilly  for  the  season,  he 
asked  to  speak  with  his  hat  on.  During  an  interlude  caused  by  a  slight  shower 
of  rain  accompanied  with  snow,  the  speaker  sat  down  a  few  minutes,  when  a 
countryman, — a  Hoosier,  of  course, — who  had  provided  himself  with  a  huge 
roll  of  gingerbread,  stepped  up  behind  the  stand  and,  plucking  the  reverend 
Doctor  by  the  coat,  broke  oft  a  piece  of  his  loaf  and  offered  him,  saying, 
'Mister,  as  you  have  been  speaking  hard  you  must  be  hungry;  here  take  a 
piece.'  The  Doctor  thanked  him  kindly,  saying  he  had  no  occasion.  The  ad- 
dress was  two  hours  in  its  delivery  and  made  a  very  favorable  impression 
on  the  minds  of  the  audience. 

"At  the  meeting  of  the  board  of  trustees  in  September,  1837,  the  college 
proper  was  organized  and  the  regular  professorships  created.  Rev.  Cyrus 
Nutt  was  elected  professor  of  languages  and  acting  president.  In  the  spring 
of  1838  Rev.  J.  W.  Weakly  was  appointed  preceptor  of  the  preparatory  de- 
partment. In  1839  Rev.  Matthew  Simpson  was  duly  elected  president  of  the 
institution.  He  arrived  and  took  charge  in  May  of  the  same  year.  The  first 
catalogue  was  published  at  the  close  of  that  term  and  the  number  of  students 
Avas  one  hundred  and  forty. 

"In  the  fall  of  1840  the  first  regular  commencement  was  held  and  the 
president  inaugurated.  A  charge  was  delivered  by  Governor  Wallace  and  an 
inaugural  address  by  the  president,  both  of  w-hich  were  published.  The  new- 
building  was  completed  and  the  above  exercises  were  the  first  consecration  of 
its  halls  to  the  purposes  for  which  they  were  designed. 

PRESIDENTS    OF   THE    UNIVERSITY. 

"The  first  graduates  were  John  Wheeler,  of  Bellefontaine.  Ohio; 
Thomas  A.  Goodwin,  of  Brookville,  Indiana,  and  James  Maddox,  of  Craw- 
fordsville,  Indiana.  Another  change  was  made  in  the  faculty  at  the  close  of 
the  vear.  J.  W.  Weaklv  resigned  and  Rev.  William  C.  Larrabee  was  elected 
to  the  chair  of  mathematics  and  natural  science.  Mr.  Larrabee  arrived  in  the 
spring  of  1841  and  took  charge  of  his  professorship.  In  1842  the  faculty 
was  further  increased  by  the  election  of  John  Wheeler — who  was  the  first 
graduate  of  the  institution — to  the  chair  of  Latin  literature,  and  Charles  G. 
Downey  to  the  chair  of  natural  science.  In  the  fall  of  1844  Rev.  B.  F.  Tefft 
was  elected  professor  of  Greek  language  and  literature  made  vacant  by  the 
resignation  of  Professor  Nutt.  Doctor  Simpson  continued  in  the  presidency 
of  the  university  till  the  summer  of  1848.  when  he  resigned  and  William  C. 


PUTNAM    COUNTY,    INDIANA.  99 

Larrabee  was  acting  president  for  one  year.  In  1849  Rev.  Lucien  W.  Berry- 
was  elected  to  the  presidency^  of  the  institution,  but  his  formal  inauguration 
did  not  take  place  until  the  next  year,  during  commencement  week,  when 
the  keys  of  the  uni\ersity  were  turned  over  to  him  by  the  governor  of  the 
state,  Joseph  A.  Wright.  After  a  service  of  four  years,  he  resigned  and 
moved  to  Iowa,  where  he  accepted  the  presidency  of  the  Iowa  Wesleyan 
University  at  Mt.  Pleasant.  In  August,  1854,  Rev.  Daniel  Curry,  of  New 
York,  was  elected  to  the  vacancy  and  remained  until  July,  1857,  a  period  of 
about  three  years.  It  was  during  Doctor  Curry's  administration  that  the 
famous  rebellion,  which  seriously  threatened  the  life  of  the  university,  oc- 
curred, and  which  finally  so  widened  the  breach  between  students  and  facultv 
that  the  president  deemed  it  best  to  resign.  He  left  the  institution  in  June, 
1857.  For  the  ensuing  year,  the  university  being  without  an  executive  head. 
Dr.  Cyrus  Nutt,  the  vice-president,  was  the  acting  president.  Being  called 
to  the  head  of  the  institution  at  a  time  when  public  confidence  was  shaken  in 
its  success  and  when  the  students  were  deserting  its  halls,  he  succeeded  in 
re-inspiring  public  confidence,  in  increasing  the  patronage  of  the  institution 
and  restoring  order  and  contentment  generally." 

In  July.  1858.  Rev.  Thomas  Bowman,  D.  D.,  of  Pennsylvania,  was 
elected  to  the  presidency.  Fie  was  a  man  of  splendid  and  thorough  training 
and  brought  to  the  position  talents  of  the  highest  order.  Under  his  adminis- 
tration the  university  made  great  progress.  In  1872  he  was  chosen  bishop 
of  the  Methodist  Episcopal  church  and  moved  to  St.  Louis.  The  presidency 
next  fell  to  Rev.  Reuben  Andrus.  D.  D.,  at  that  time  pastor  of  the  Meridian 
Street  church  in  Indianapolis.  Doctor  Andrus  was  a  powerful  preacher  and 
a  strong  man  generally,  but  after  three  years"  service  resigned  and  returned  to 
the  pulpit.  Rev.  Alexander  Martin.  D.  D.,  of  West  Virginia,  was  the  next 
president,  beginning  his  administration  in  the  fall  of  1875.  Doctor  Alartin 
was  a  man  of  ripe  learning,  sound  judgment  and  keen  observation.  A 
Scotchman  by  birth,  he  had  all  the  attractive  traits  of  the  Scotch  character. 
He  was  rugged,  firm  and  reserved.  It  was  under  his  administration  that 
Washington  C.  DePauw  made  his  great  endowment.  Asbury  was  enlarged 
and  became  the  Liberal  .'\rts  School  of  DePauw  University.  It  was  a  period 
of  great  expansion  and  the  attendance  at  the  university  reached  its  highest 
point.  After  fourteen  years  of  service  Doctor  Martin,  desiring  to  be  relieved 
of  the  heavv  responsibilities  of  the  presidency,  offered  his  resignation  and 
took  a  chair  in  the  department  of  philosophy,  where  he  continued  to  serve 
until   1893.     His  successor  at  the  head  of  DePauw  L^niversity.  chosen   in 


lOO  ■  WEIK  S   HISTORY   OF 

1889,  was  Dr.  John  P.  D.  John,  who  had  already  been  connected  with  the 
university  as  its  vice-president.  "Doctor  John,"  are  the  words  of  one  of  his 
colleagues,  "was  thoroughly  acquainted  with  the  life  about  him  and  in  full 
sympathy  with  the  course  of  development  of  the  last  few  years.  With  his 
strong,  logical  mind,  and  his  enthusiastic  nature,  he  recognized  large  possibil- 
ities in  the  very  near  future  and  bent  his  energies  toward  them.  He  devoted 
himself  assiduously  to  the  re-organization  of  the  courses  of  study  and  to  the 
looking  out  for  professors  of  the  highest  available  equality  in  their  own  lines 
of  work  so  that  whenever  a  change  had  to  be  made  in  the  faculty,  or  an  addi- 
tion could  be  made,  it  might  always  be  the  best  one  possiljle  in  the  interests 
of  the  highest  order  of  work  in  all  departments.  These  were  the  days  when 
the  university  expectations  were  at  their  greatest  as  regarded  the  value  of  its 
endowments  and  large  things  seemed  to  be  within  reasonable  reach  of  the 
institution.  But  hard  times  came  this  way  in  1893  and  continued  through 
subsequent  vears.  Business  interests  suffered,  stocks  and  shares  declined  in 
value;  productive  funds  became  non-productive,  student  numbers  decreased 
because  incomes  of  their  homes  were  uncertain,  and  the  horizon  of  present 
possibilities  narrowed,  and  that  beyond  the  power  of  any  one  to  prevent  it. 
Many  a  man  and  many  an  institution  during  those  years  had  to  exchange  its 
inquiry  of  'what  is  best'  for  the  more  available  one  of  'what  is  most  ex- 
pedient.' But  a  high  order  of  work  was  done  in  recitation  rooms,  libraries 
■and  laboratories  and  young  men  and  young  women  were  learning  to  think 
and  were  getting  ready  for  the  great  world." 

Doctor  John  resigned  the  presidency  in  June,  1896.  and  was  followed 
by  Rev.  Hillarv"  A.  Gobin  in  the  fall  of  that  year.  Doctor  Gobin  had  for 
several  years  been  dean  of  the  school  of  theology  and  is  the  only  graduate  of 
the  universitv  who  has,  thus  far.  ever  been  elevated  to  the  presidency.  Doctor 
Gobin  filled  the  position  with  great  credit  to  himself  and  decidedly  to  the 
advantage  of  the  university.  He  administered  the  affairs  of  the  institution 
during  a  season  of  financial  stress,  displaying  the  rarest  discretion  in  avoiding 
the  rough  places  ahead,  thus  proving  that  he  was  the  right  man  in  the  right 
place  and  at  the  right  time.  But  the  administrative  duties  of  the  presidency 
were  dailv  becoming  more  and  more  burdensome,  so  that  Doctor  Gobin,  be- 
lieving a  younger  man  better  able  to  contend  with  the  exacting  demands  of 
the  position,  gave  way  in  1903  and  accepted  the  chair  of  Biblical  science  and 
Hebrew.  His  successor  was  Dr.  Edwin  Holt  Hughes,  who  at  the  time  of  his 
election  was  pastor  of  the  Methodist  church  in  Maiden,  Massachusetts.  .\s 
president  of  the  university  Doctor  Hughes  was  welcomed  with  every  demon- 


PUTNAM     COUNTY,    INDIANA.  lOI 

stratioii  of  popular  approval.  He  was  young,  versatile  and  abreast  of  the 
times  in  matters  of  college  discipline  and  training.  A  very  popular  preacher 
and  platfoiTn  orator,  he  soon  attracted  the  attention  of  the  Methodists  every- 
where and  so  deep  was  the  impression  he  made  that  at  the  general  conference 
in  Baltimore  in  1908  he  was  elected  a  bishop  of  the  church  and  assigned  to 
San  Francisco,  California,  for  residence.  Doctor  Hughes  was  the  third 
president  of  Asbury  or  DePauw  University  elevated  to  the  episcopacy.  The 
present  head  of  DePauw.  Dr.  Francis  J.  McConnell,  was  elected  in  1908.  He 
came  from  Brooklyn.  Xew  York,  where  he  had  charge  of  one  of  the  largest 
churches  in  that  city.  He  is  a  native  of  Ohio  and  was  graduated  from  the 
famous  Ohio  W'esleyan  University  at  Delaware.  His  two  years  of  service 
at  the  head  of  DePauw  have  demonstrated  that  no  mistake  was  made  in  choos- 
ing him  to  administer  the  affairs  of  the  institution.  He  is  a  profound  student, 
well-informed,  tolerant,  progressive  and  fair.  He  thinks  long  and  hard  before 
he  talks.  In  profoundity  of  learning,  in  the  ability  to  analyze,  in  clearness 
and  power  of  e.xpression.  the  university  has  scarcely  seen  his  eijual  since  the 
days  of  Mathew  Simpson. 

In  1846  a  department  of  law  was  created  and  two  years  later  the  Indiana 
Central  Medical  College  was  made  a  department  of  the  university.  The 
arrangement  with  the  medical  school  proved  too  great  an  undertaking  at  the 
time  and  the  board  of  trustees  withdrew  their  support  after  an  e.xperience 
of  three  or  four  years.  The  law  school  was  not  organized  for  regular  work 
until  1853.  It  continued  for  about  ten  years  and  was  then  suspended,  to  be 
renewed  again  in  1883,  for  another  period  of  ten  years,  since  which  time 
it  has  again  been  dropped. 

In  1859  the  university  was  again  organized  into  the  following  depart- 
ments : 

I.     Mental  and  Moral  Philosophy. 
II.     Mathematics. 
III.     Natural  Science. 
I\^.     Greek  Language  and  Literature. 
V.     Latin  Language  and  Literature. 
VI.     Belles  Lettres  and  History. 

VII.     Preparatory  Department. 

\'III.     Law  School. 

The  year  1867  was  notable  in  the  history  of  the  institution  in  that  it 
witnessed  the  admission  of  women  to  all  the  departments  of  the  university 


I02  weik's  history  of 

x>n  an  equal  footing  with  the  men.  In  1871  the  graduating  class  contained  four 
ladies,  being  the  first  of  their  sex  who  ever  received  a  diploma  or  degree  at 
the  hands  of  the  university.  On  October  20,  1869,  the  corner  stone  was  laid 
for  a  new  building  known  as  East  College,  which  when  finished  had  cost 
over  a  hundred  thousand  dollars.  It  contains  the  large  and  spacious  chapel 
named  Meharry  Hall,  in  honor  of  the  benefactions  of  the  late  Jesse  Meharry. 
On  February  10,  1879,  the  old  building — whose  corner  stone  had  been  laid 
by  Bishop  Bascomb — was  nearly  destroyed  by  fire.  Its  walls  being  left  intact, 
it  was  speedily  rebuilt  and  the  wings  added  on  the  east  and  west  side  respec- 
tively. 

BENEFACTIONS   OF   W.    C.    DEPAUW. 

In  1884  the  financial  stringency  under  which  the  institution  had  so  long 
struggled  was  greatly  relieved  by  the  munificent  endowment  of  the  late 
Washington  C.  DePauw.  On  the  payment  by  the  people  of  Putnam  county 
of  sixty  thousand  dollars  and  double  that  sum  by  the  various  Indiana  con- 
ferences, Mr.  DePauw  made  contributions  that  have  netted  the  university 
over  a  half  million  dollars.  Though  not  required  by  the  donor,  the  corporate 
title  of  the  university  was  changed  to  bear  his  name,  and  the  name  of  Asbury 
was  perpetuated  in  the  school  of  liberal  arts.  As  soon  as  the  DePauw  en- 
dowment became  effective  the  university  entered  on  an  era  of  expansion  and 
underwent  a  thorough  and  complete  re-organization.  By  1886  the  following 
departments  were  organized  and  in  working  order : 

The  .\sbury  College  of  Liberal  .Arts. 

School  of  Theology. 

School  of  Law. 

School  of  Military  Science. 

School  of  Mu.sic. 

School  of  Art. 

Normal  School. 

Preparatory  School. 

Tn  addition  to  the  buildings  erected  as  the  result  of  the  DePauw^  endow- 
ment two  beautiful  and  magnificent  structures  have  recently  been  built  on 
the  college  grounds.  One,  given  up  to  science,  was  the  generous  and  unselfish 
gift  of  the  late  D.  W.  Minshall,  of  Terre  Haute:  the  other,  a  magnificent 


PUTNAM    COrXTY.    IXDIAXA.  IO3 

Stone  building,  contains  the  university  library  and  is  the  result  of  the  munif- 
icence of  Andrew  Camegie.  Certain  other  lesser  benefactions  have,  in  recent 
years,  come  to  the  university,  but  they  are  so  numerous  and  so  varied  in  char- 
acter space  here  will  forbid  more  extended  mention. 

The  material  resources  of  the  university  consist  of: 

Campus,  43  1-2  acres,  valued  at $      50,000.00 

Buildings,   1 1,  valued  at 356,000.00 

Library.  30,000  vols.,  valued  at 19,000.00 

Endowment    funds — productive 490.186.14 

Endowment    funds — non-productive 35,925.00 

Total    $1,001,111.14 

.\LL'MX.\K  ST.\TISTICS. 

The  graduates  from  the  School  of  Liljeral  Arts  number  2,238  and  from 
the  professional  schools.  409,  making  a  total  of  2,647.  Erom  a  statement 
made  over  ten  years  ago — later  figures  are  not  accessible — it  appears  that 
these  alumnae  of  the  institution  ha\e  ad(3pted  occupations  as  follows: 
Teachers.  808;  lawyers.  523:  ministers  and  missionaries,  437;  general  busi- 
ness, 211  ;  physicians.  152:  editors  and  journalists.  107;  authors.  53:  farmers, 
60;  bankers.  39;  manufacturers.  24:  engineers.  28. 

Of  those  who  have  attained  distinction  through  public  office  the  list  is 
as  follows:  Governors.  4:  lieutenant-governors.  2;  cabinet  officers.  2;  foreign 
ministers.  6;  attaches  and  consuls.  5:  United  States  senators.  7:  congressmen, 
II;  state  senators,  25:  state  representatives,  64:  other  state  officers,  15:  fed- 
eral and  state  supreme  judges.  23:  army  and  navy  officers,  jj. 

Of  the  808  teachers  mentioned  in  the  foregoing  statement,  53  have 
been  college  presidents.  139  college  professors,  iii  city  and  county  superin- 
tendents, and  505  school  instructors  generally. 

BO.XRD  OF   TRl'STEE.S. 

The  board  of  trustees  consist  of  the  following  members:  William  Xew- 
kirk.  Connersville;  Xewland  T.  DePauw.  New  .Albany:  William  D.  Parr, 
Kokomo:  Hugh  Dougherty.  Indianapolis:  Deloss  ^\.  Wood.  Indianajx^lis ; 
William  H.  Latta.  Indianapolis:  David  G.  Hamilton.  Chicago;  George  E. 
Keiper.  Lafavette:  Hardin  Roads.  Muncie :  George  W.  Earis.  Terre  Haute: 


I04 


WEIK  S    HISTORY    OF 


William  M.  Adams.  Bloomington ;  Charles  E.  J.  McFarlan,  Connersville ; 
Robert  LeRoy  0"Hair.  Greencastle;  Harry  Whitcomb,  Shelbyville;  Marvin 
Campbell,  South  Bend;  John  Franklin  Simison,  Romney;  Charles  Edgar 
Bacon,  Indianapolis:  William  Henry  Charles,  Marion;  E.  G.  Eberhart,  Mish- 
awaka ;  W'infield  T.  Durbin,  Anderson ;  D.  J.  Terhune,  Linton ;  Ira  B.  Black- 
stock,  Springfield,  Ills.;  William  E.  Carpenter,  Brazil;  Alfred  E.  Dickey, 
Minneapolis,  Minn.;  Edwin  H.  Hughes,  San  Francisco,  Calif. 

In  addition  to  the  above  named  trustees,  the  three  conferences  in  Indiana 
elect  three  representatives  each  annually  who  are  called  visitors,  and  who  sit 
with  the  board  of  trustees  and  have  an  equal  voice  and  vote  in  the  manage- 
ment of  the  affairs  of  the  corporation.  The  officers  of  the  corporation  are; 
Hugh  Dougherty,  Indianapolis,  president;  Henry  H.  Hornbrook.  secretary; 
Salem  B.  Town,  treasurer. 

THE    FACULTY. 

The  faculty  is  as  follows : 

Bishop  Thomas  Bowman,  chancellor  emeritus. 

Francis  John  McConnell,  president. 

Hillary  Asbury  Gobin.  vice-president  and  professor  of  Biblical  Science. 

Edwin  Post,  dean  and  professor  of  Latin. 

lames  Riley  Weaver,  professor  of  Political  Science. 

Belle  Aurelia  Mansfield,  dean  of  Schools  of  Music  and  Art. 

Julia  Alice  Druly.  professor  of  Pianoforte. 

William  Fletcher  Swahlen,  professor  of  Greek. 

Joseph  P.  Xaylor.  professor  of  Physics. 

Karl  H.  Fussier,  assistant  professor  of  Physics. 

Henry  Boyer  Longden.  professor  of  Gennan. 

Wilbur  Vincent  Brown,  professor  of  Mathematics. 

Andrew  Stephenson,  professor  of  Histor>-. 

Adolph  Schellschmidt.  professor  of  Violin. 

\\illiam  Martin  Blanchard.  professor  of  Chemistiy. 

C.  W.  Wright,  assistant  professor  of  Chemistry. 

William  Grant  Seaman,  profes.sor  of  Philosophy. 

Howard  James  Banker,  professor  of  Biology. 

Albert  Farrington  Caldwell,  professor  of  English  Literature. 

Rufus  Bernhard  von  Kleinsmid.  professor  of  Education. 

Frances  Elizabeth  Oldfiekl.  professor  of  Voice  Culture. 

Xathaniel  Waring  Barnes,  professor  of  Rhetoric. 


PLTXAM    COUXTV,    INDIANA.  IO5 

Helen  Maliin.  assistant  professor  of  Rhetoric. 

Harry  Bainbridge  Gough.  professor  of  Orator\-. 

Minna  May  Kern,  associate  professor  of  German. 

Cecil  Clare  Xorth.  assistant  professor  of  Sociology. 

W  ilhur  Tandy  Ayres,  instructor  Latin. 

Bessie  Minerva  Smith,  instructor  Drawing  and  Painting. 

Margaret  Overbeck,  instructor  Drawing  and  China  Painting. 

Floyd  E.  Chidester.  instructor  Biolog}-. 

Rose  Francoise  Laitem.  instructor  French. 

Mae  Amelia  Seaman,  instructor  PubHc  School  Music. 

Mildred  Rutledge,  instructor  Pianoforte. 

Arthur  Milton  Brown,  Physical  Director. 

Earl  C.  Ross,  instructor  English  and  History. 

Dade  Bee  Shearer,  instructor  I^tin  and  English. 

Mary  Morrison  Zabriskie,  instructor  Physical  Science. 

.\idah  A'ictoria  ^IcCoy.  assistant  Pianoforte. 

Minna  Lucile  Matern.  instructor  German. 

Isaac  Edward  Xorris.  professor  of  Pianoforte  and  Pipe  Organ. 

James  William  Harris,  instnictor  Education. 

Aldis  Hutchens.  assistant  English  Composition. 

OFFICERS  OF  THE    FACULTY. 

William  F.  Swahlen.  Secretary. 
Leona  Margaret  Powell,  Librarian. 
Margaret  Gilmore.  .Assistant  Librarian. 
Joseph  T.  Dobell.  Registrar. 
Rose  F.  Laitem.  Dean  of  Women. 
Edwin  Post.  Dean  of  College. 


CHAPTER  VI. 

CHURCH    HISTORY RELIGIOUS   SOCIETIES. 

The  first  preacher  in  the  county  of  whom  we  have  any  definite  record  was 
Reuben  Clearwaters,  a  Methodist.  As  to  his  reputation  and  abihty  in  the 
pulpit  we  i<now  but  little  and  about  the  only  information  regarding  him  which 
we  possess  is  that  he  solemnized  the  first  marriage  in  the  county,  uniting 
Thomas  Jackson  and  Sarah  Wood.  July  4,  1822  ;  that,  having  discovered  some 
defect  or  error  in  the  marriage,  he  hunted  up  Jackson  and  his  wife  and  per- 
formed the  ceremony  over  again.  He  appears  to  have  lived  in  the  county 
manv  vears  and  was  frequently  a  judge  at  elections  and  otherwise  interested 
in  matters  of  public  concern.  Judging  by  his  signature,  which  is  found  rude- 
ly scrawled  among  the  earlv  records  of  the  county,  his  educational  opportun- 
ities or  preparation  for  his  calling  must  have  been  painfully  meagre  and  neg- 
lected. One  writer  says  he  came  to  the  county  in  1821  ;  that  John  Messer 
arrived  about  the  same  time  also  and  that  the  two  preached  for  the  Method- 
ists, who  were  even  then  somewhat  numerous,  before  the  believers  of  that 
faith  were  included  within  the  lx)unds  of  any  conference. 

The  doors  of  the  old  log  school  houses  were  always  opened  to  the  itiner- 
ant ministers,  who.  though  of  different  faiths,  were  all  equally  eager  to  ex- 
pound the  simple  truth  of  a  sublime  and  beautiful  religion  and  point  out 
for  comparison  the  thorny  path  of  duty  and  the  primrose  path  of  reliance. 
Often  have  those  old  walls  given  back  the  echoes  of  the  songs  of  Zion  and 
many  an  erring  one  has  had  his  heart  moved  to  repentance  thereby  more 
strongly  than.  even,  by  the  flights  of  homely  eloquence.  The  religious  meet- 
ings held  in  those  old  log  school  houses  were  much  in  contrast  to  those  of 
todav.  The  pulpit  was  a  box  in  the  middle  of  the  room.  The  audience  as- 
sembled was  composed  of  men  in  home-spun  and  women  in  calico  and  sun- 
bonnets,  together  with  travelers,  land-hunters  and  other  outsiders.  The 
young  men  accompanying  the  girls  had  to  stop  before  arriving  at  the  house 
and  politely  turn  their  backs  while  the  girls  changed  their  shoes,  they  having 
carried  their  fine  ones  rather  than  to  soil  them  by  the  long  walk.  The  same 
was  done  on  the  return,  except  in  wann  weather  or  just  after  a  rain,  when 
the  young  man  was  burdened  with  two  pairs  of  shoes  while  his  girl  would 
tuck  up  her  homespun  or  calico  thereby  exhibiting  a  pair  of  white  feet  en- 
tirely destitute  of  cover. 


PUTNAM    COUNTY,    INDIANA.  IO7 

Four  religious  denoininations  were  represented  among  the  early  settlers 
of  the  county.  They  were  the  Methodists,  Presbyterians,  Baptists  and  New 
Lights.  Being  without  meeting  houses  of  their  own,  they  at  first  met  for 
worship  at  the  cabins  of  some  of  their  number.  In  time  they  were  recognized 
by  the  board  of  county  commissioners,  who  ordered  the  town  agent  to  convey 
to  each  of  them  a  lot  in  Greencastle  on  which  they  were  authorized  in  each 
case  to  build  a  house  for  church  purposes. 

ORGANIZATION    OF   BAPTIST    CHURCH. 

It  is  impossible  to  determine  which  denomination  first  began  to  hold 
meetings  or  indulge  in  church  worship.  It  has  been  generally  accepted  that 
the  Methodists  were  the  earliest  to  attempt  an  organization,  but.  according  to 
the  following  record  recently  found,  the  Baptists  could  not  have  been  far 
behind : 

"A  council  called  to  convene  at  Greencastle  Saturday  before  the  first 
Sabbath  in  May.  1822,  for  the  purpose  of  organizing  and  constituting  a  regu- 
lar Baptist  church. 

"Council  composed  of  the  following  brethren:  Elder  J.  R.  Billings,  from 
Lamb's  Bottom  church,  and  Elder  Samuel  Arthur,  from  White  River  church, 
with  brethren  J.  R.  Robinson  and  Thomas  Johnson.  After  the  council  was 
organized  the  door  of  the  church  was  opened  for  the  reception  of  members. 
The  following  persons  were  received  by  letter;  John  C.  Sherrell.  Sister  Sher- 
rell,  Samuel  .\rthur.  John  Smith.  Charlotte  Smith,  John  Leatherman.  Polly 
Leatherman.  Jeremiah  DeVore,  Nancy  DeVore,  Jeremiah  Skelton,  Polly 
Skelton.  John  \\'.  Jones  and  .\lsy  Jones.  Then  the  hand  of  fellowship  was 
given  and  the  church  constituted  upon  the  following  articles  of  faith. 

"The  council  then  dissolved. 

"JOH.v  R.  BiLLiNcs.  Moderator. 
"Samuel  .Arthur.  Clerk." 

Elsewhere  we  learn  that  the  Baptists  held  meetings  at  the  house  of 
Michael  Wilson,  a  short  distance  west  of  Greencastle,  early  in  1823;  that 
John  Leathemian  and  Richard  Denman  preached  to  them  and  that  among 
their  members  were  Jubal  Deweese.  Thomas  Johnson  and  John  Miller,  some 
of  whom  lived  in  the  town  of  Greencastle.  the  others  on  land  nearby.  They 
also  held  meetings  at  the  cabin  of  James  Bird,  on  Walnut  creek  about  seven 
miles  northeast  of  Greencastle.  Eventually  they  spread  throughout  the 
county. 


io8  weik's  history  of 

The  Xew.  Light  detiomination,  although  somewhat  later  and  lesser  in 
numbers,  likewise  had  an  early  beginning.  As  is  well  known,  they,  in  time, 
owing  to  some  internal  differences,  suffered  more  or  less  division  in  their 
ranks — a  goodly  number  being  finally  absorbed  into  the  Christian  church,  as 
established  by  Alexander  Campbell.  The  first  campmeeting  in  the  county 
was  conducted  by  the  New  Lights  at  John  Sigler"s  place,  a  few  miles  north- 
east of  Greencastle. 

THE  PRESBYTERIAN"   CHURCH. 

The  organization  of  the  Presbyterian  church  in  the  county  August  12, 
1825.  was  due  to  the  labors  of  Isaac  Reed,  a  missionary  of  that  faith  who 
had  been  sent  west  by  the  Connecticut  Missionary  Society.  He  made  his  head- 
quarters in  Gosport,  Owen  county,  and  was  commissioned  to  journey  through 
the  wilds  and  fastnesses  of  western  Indiana  in  behalf  of  the  church.  It  was 
dangerous  and  exhaustive  work,  but  the  greater  the  hardships  he  encountered 
the  more  defiant  his  courage,  the  more  insuperable  his  zeal.  It  is  said  of  him 
that  he  was  graduated  from  Middlebury  College,  Vennont,  in  1812,  ordained 
to  preach  by  the  Transylvania  presbytery  in  Mercer  county,  Kentucky,  in  1818, 
and  moved  to  Indiana  the  same  year.  In  the  following  year  he  organized  the 
first  Sabbath  school  in  the  state  at  New  Albany.  The  church  he  organized 
in  Putnam  county  flourished  for  a  time,  but  eventually,  either  from  a  lack  of 
interest  or  the  competition  of  other  denominations,  went  out  of  existence. 

METHODISM  IN   PUTNAM   COUNTY. 

The  records  of  the  Methodist  Episcopal  church  show  that  in  the  fall 
of  1822  the  Eel  River  circuit,  which  included  the  counties  of  Owen,  Putnam 
and  Parke,  was  organized.  Samuel  Hamilton  was  the  presiding  elder  and 
William  Cravens  the  preacher  in  charge.  At  that  time  Indiana  was  a  part 
of  the  Missouri  conference.  During  the  conference  year  1823-24,  William 
Beauchamp  was  the  presiding  elder  and  John  Cord,  the  pastor  in  charge. 
In  1825  the  Illinois  conference  was  formed  and  Indiana  belonged  to  it.  The 
Eel  River  circuit  was  now  in  the  Madison  district.  John  Strange  officiated 
as  the  presiding  elder  and  John  Fish  as  the  preacher  in  charge.  Other  au- 
thorities credit  Stephen  Grimes,  a  local  preacher  at  Bloomington.  to  the  local 
circuit.  In  1826  Putnam  county  was  placed  in  the  Charlestown  district. 
James  Armstrong  was  the  presiding  elder  and  Daniel  Anderson,  a  man  de- 
scribed as  "of  iron   frame  who  traveled  the  district   from   Bloomington  to 


PUTNAM     COL'XTV.    IXDIAXA.  ICX) 

Crawfordsville,  who  could  swim  rivers  and  climb  mountains  to  reach  his 
appointment,  and  who  died  as  he  had  lived,  full  of  faith  and  the  Holy  Ghost." 
was  the  preacher  in  charge.  In  1827  James  Armstrong  was  continued  as 
presiding  elder  and  the  preacher  in  charge.  Daniel  Anderson,  was  now  pro- 
vided with  an  assistant  in  the  person  of  Stith  M.  Otwill.  A  year  later  finds 
James  Armstrong  still  presiding  elder  and  William  H.  Smith — destined  to 
spend  the  last  twenty  years  of  his  life  in  Greencastle — preacher  in  charge. 
His  assistant  at  the  time  was  Benjamin  C.  Stexenson.  a  brother  of  the  late 
Dr.  A.  C.  Stevenson.  In  1829  John  Strange  officiated  as  presiding  elder  and 
William  H.  Smith  is  returned  as  the  preacher  in  charge  of  the  circuit,  with 
George  Tea.se  as  assistant.  In  1830  Greencastle  appears  in  the  minutes  of 
the  conference  as  the  head  of  a  circuit.  John  Strange  is  still  presiding  elder 
and  William  Moore  becomes  the  pastor.  In  1831  the  Indianapolis  district 
was  formed.  James  Armstrong  presided  as  elder,  with  James  Hadley  and 
J.  H.  Hills  as  the  pastors.  1832.  John  Strange,  presiding  elder.  Daniel 
Anderson  and  L.  D.  Smith,  preachers;  1833.  Allen  Wiley,  presiding  elder,  Eli 
T.  Fanner  and  Henry  Deputy,  preachers;  1834,  Indiana  conference  formed. 
Vincennes  district.  James  L.  Thompson,  presiding  elder,  Thomas  J.  Brown, 
preacher;  1835.  Bloomington  district.  J.  Oglesby.  presiding  elder.  Thomas  J. 
Brown,  preacher;  1836,  S.  C.  Cooper,  presiding  elder,  Greencastle.  John  New- 
ell; 1837,  H.  S.  Talbott,  presiding  elder,  Greencastle  made  a  station.  James 
L.  Thompson,  pastor;  Greencastle  circuit,  Jonas  S.  Belotte.  pastor;  1838,  H. 
S.  Talbott,  presiding  elder,  Greencastle  station,  Ebenezer  Patrick,  Greencastle 
circuit.  H.  \'redenburg  and  W.  H.  Smith,  pastors;  1839,  Greencastle  district, 
E.  R.  Ames,  presiding  elder,  Greencastle  station.  John  S.  Bayless.  circuit,  H. 
X'redenburg  and  R.  C.  Rowley,  pa.stors ;  1840.  Greencastle  station.  Hawlev  B. 
Beers,  circuit.  Isaac  Owens,  Jacob  Miller,  pastors;  1841,  Greencastle  station, 
Isaac  Owens;  1842,  Greencastle  station,  Ebenezer  Patrick  and  J.  M.  Stallard. 
preachers;  1843,  Greencastle  station,  John  Daniel. 

Daniel  is  said  to  have  been  one  of  the  most  effective  preachers  of  his 
time  and  locality.  Very  earnest,  very  vehement,  he  easily  electrified  and 
swaved  his  audience  at  will.  His  zeal  was  like  an  unquenchable  fire.  A 
member  of  one  of  his  early  congregations  related  in  after  years  that  at  one 
time  in  the  old  church  in  Greencastle  he  was  exhorting  sinners  to  flee  from 
the  wrath  to  come  and  after  exhausting  himself  without  making  the  desired 
impression  on  his  hearers,  he  mounted  a  step  at  the  foot  of  the  pulpit  and 
at  the  very  top  of  his  voice  cried  out.  "Wake  up.  my  brother,  you're  nearing 
helll     Don't  you  smell  the  brimstone?" 

In  1844  the  state  was  divided  into  two  conferences  and  Greencastle  fell 
to  the  North  Indiana.     E.  M.  Beswick  was  presiding  elder  and  .\inasa  John- 


no  WEIK  S    HISTORY    OF 

son  was  assigned  to  Greencastle  station.  In  1845  J-  C.  Smith  was  the  local 
pastor;  in  1846.  the  same;  in  1847,  John  H.  Hull.  Until  this  time  the  church 
in  Greencastle  stood  on  the  lot  at  the  corner  of  Indiana  and  Poplar  streets, 
but  it  was  far  too  small  and  the  congregation,  having  secured  a  lot  two  squares 
east  at  the  corner  of  Ephraim  street,  now  College  avenue,  erected  a  new 
church  building,  which  when  completed  was  the  largest  and  most  imposing 
church  edifice  in  Greencastle.  About  the  time  the  building  was  begun  a  suc- 
cession of  rains  had  flooded  all  the  streams  in  the  county  and  the  last  saw- 
mill had  been  washed  away.  No  lumber  could  be  had  short  of  Parke  county, 
and  that  required  a  trip  of  more  than  thirty  miles  over  mud  roads  sometimes 
almost  impassable.  At  this  juncture  two  men,  David  L.  Southard  and  Peter 
Albaugh,  volunteered  to  build  a  mill  for  the  purpose.  Mr.  Southard  went 
to  Cincinnati — it  is  said  the  journey  was  made  on  horseback  and  consumed 
almost  ten  days — and  bought  the  required  machinery,  which  was  shipped 
down  the  Ohio  river,  then  up  the  Wabash  to  Terre  Haute  and  from  there 
hauled  to  Greencastle  in  wagons.  Within  six  weeks  the  mill  was  in  operation, 
the  requisite  lumber  produced  and  the  building  went  on  without  further  mis- 
hap. The  pulpit  was  a  mammoth  strttcture,  being  over  seven  feet  high,  made 
of  solid  black  walnut  and  would  be  an  object  of  great  wonder  today.  In 
1859  the  pastor,  G.  M.  Boyd,  being  somewhat  of  a  mechanic  himself,  took 
down  the  old  altar  and  constructed  another  much  less  imposing  and  more  in 
keeping  with  the  times.  Miss  Ring,  a  special  friend  of  Doctor  Larrabee, 
undertook  the  unwelcome  task  of  raising  the  money  to  buy  a  bell  for  the 
church.  John  Hammond  gave  fifty  dollars,  supplementing  the  donation  with 
an  additional  twenty-five  dollars,  and  with  a  few  more  contributions  the  fund 
was  soon  complete. 

This  was  the  third  church  building  which  the  Methodists  had  erected  in 
Greencastle.  The  first  one.  built  of  logs,  stood  at  the  corner  of  Ephraim  and 
Franklin  streets  on  a  lot  which  had  been  given  to  the  church  by  the  county 
commissioners  in  May,  1833.  It  was  the  first  church  building  in  Greencastle. 
As  is  always  the  case  in  a  new  community,  certain  of  the  rougher  element, 
actuated  not  only  by  base  motives  but  by  a  spirit  of  mischief,  had  in  various 
ways  annoyed  the  new  congregation.  One  of  their  methods  of  interrupting 
the  meeting  has  come  down  to  us.  Arthur  McGaughey,  the  county  clerk, 
with  the  connivance  of  Washington  Walls,  David  Rudisill  and  other  char- 
acters, found  about  the  court  house,  one  Saturday  evening,  a  fresh  coon  skin. 
singed  the  hair  and  about  three  o'clock  in  the  morning  of  the  following  day 
attached  a  string  to  it  and.  starting  from  the  church,  dragged  it  over  the 
ground,  making  a  circuit  of  a  mile  or  two,  and  returning  to  the  church  where 


PUTNAM    COUNTY,    INDIANA.  Ill 

they  threw  the  pelt  out  of  sight  among  the  rafters  overhead.  Later  in  the  day 
during  services  at  the  church,  they  led  a  pack  of  hounds  to  a  point  southwest 
of  town  and  unleashed  them.  Almost  instantly  the  dogs  struck  the  trail  and, 
with  the  requisite  amount  of  noise  ten  or  fifteen  such  animals  on  a  fresh  scent 
of  game  could  make,  they  followed  the  circuit,  growing  more  and  more  demon- 
strative as  they  neared  town.  Reaching  the  church,  they  dashed  into  the 
open  doorway,  panting,  yelping  and  producing  a  commotion  on  the  part  of 
the  congregation  so  complete  and  instantaneous  that  the  meeting  adjourned 
without  the  formality  of  a  benediction. 

The  new  church  built  by  the  Methodists  in  1847  was  dedicated  by  Bishop 
Hamline  and  called  Roberts  Chapel.  The  ne.xt  year  the  conference  returned 
the  same  preacher,  John  H.  Hull,  who  filled  the  station  during  the  previous 
year.  In  1850  a  small  number  of  the  members  of  Roberts  Chapel  organized 
another  charge  and  built  a  one-story  brick  church  at  the  comer  of  Seminary 
and  Ephraim  streets.  Hayden  Hays  was  their  pastor.  Later  another  story 
was  added  and  the  building  dedicated  under  the  name  Simpson  Chapel. 

In  1849  and  1850  H.  N.  Barnes  was  assigned  to  Roberts  Chapel.  .A^  year 
later  Thomas  S.  Webb  came.  In  1S52  the  Northwest  Indiana  conference  was 
formed.  T.  S.  Webb  was  returned  to  Roberts  Chapel.  In  1853  came  G.  C. 
Becks;  1854,  James  Scott;  1855,  A.  G.  Chenoweth;  1856,  William  Willson; 
1857,  William  Willson  again;  1858,  G.  W.  Stafford;  1859,  G.  M.  Boyd;  i860,  • 
G.  M.  Boyd  again;  1861,  Thomas  S.  Webb;  1863,  Thomas  S.  Webb  again; 
1863,  C.  A.  Brooke;  1864,  C.  .A.  Brooke  again;  1865,  D.  F.  Barnes;  1866, 
Enoch  Holdstock;  1867,  J.  W.  Greene;  1868,  J.  W.  Greene  again;  Simpson 
Chapel,  D.  Holmes;  1869.  Roberts  Chapel,  J.  W.  Green;  Simpson  Chapel, 
A.  A.  Brown;  1870,  Roberts  Chapel,  C.  Skinner;  Simpson  Chapel,  A.  A. 
Brown.  In  1871  Roberts  and  Simpson  Chapels  were  consolidated  and  a 
mission  was  founded  in  the  south  part  of  Greencastle.  A.  A.  Gee  was  sent 
to  Roberts  Chapel.  In  1872  Doctor  Gee  was  returned  to  Roberts  Chapel,  W. 
C.  Davisson  assigned  to  the  new  mission  and  James  Spinks  to  the  Greencastle 
circuit.  In  1873,  Roberts  Chapel.  Nelson  Greene,  mission,  H.  A.  Buchtel, 
Greencastle  circuit,  W.  C.  Davisson;  1874,  Roberts  Chapel,  Samuel  Beck; 
south  charge,  H.  .A.  Buchtel;  1875.  Roberts  Chapel,  Samuel  Beck;  1876, 
Roberts  Chapel.  Samuel  Beck;  1877.  Roberts  Chapel,  Isaac  W.  Joyce;  18-8, 
Isaac  W.  Joyce. 

During  the  pastorate  of  Doctor  Joyce  in  1879  Roberts  Chapel  was  sold 
to  the  Presbyterian  church  and  a  new  building,  called  College  Avenue  church, 
erected  in  the  neighborhood.  Doctor  Joyce,  the  first  preacher  in  the  new 
charge,  remained  one  year,  being  succeeded  by  A.  Marine,  who,  in  1883,  gave 


11:2  WEIK  S    IIISTORV    OF 

way  to  J.  H.  Cissel.  The  latter  remained  till  1886.  AI.  M.  Parkhurst  served 
till  1890;  Salem  B.  Towne  till  1894;  James  H.  Holliiigsworth  till  1897;  Will- 
iam H.  Wise  till  1899  and  J.  S.  Hoagland  till  1909.  The  present  pastor  is 
Kirk  Waldo  Robbins. 

The  other  Methodist  charge  in  Greencastle,  known  as  Locust  Street 
church,  was  the  outgrowth  of  the  mission  established  in  1873  by  W.  C.  Davis- 
son,  who  afterward  became  a  missionary  in  Japan.  During  the  pastorate 
of  Rev.  H.  A.  Buchtel  in  1874,  a  new  building  was  erected  at  the  corner  of 
Anderson  and  Locust  streets.  Li  the  following  year  he  was  succeeded  by 
J.  V.  R.  Miller,  who  served  till  1876;  next  came  \V.  H.  Grim,  who  remained 
till  1879;  J.  L.  Pitner,  till  1880;  J.  W.  Webb.  1881  :  W.  R.  Halstead,  1882; 
W.  M.  Zaring,  1884;  Albert  Hurlstone,  1887;  T.  H.  Willis,  1892;  R.  R. 
Bryan.  1893:  L.  D.  Moore,  1895;  M.  A.  Farr,  1896;  J.  W.  Baker,  1898;  J. 
W.  Culmer,  1899;  W.  H.  Wylie.  1900,  and  J.  F.  O'Haver,  1903.  J.  M. 
Walker,  the  pastor  now   in   charge,   was  appointed   in    1908. 

E.KRI.Y    PRESBYTERIAN    EFFORTS. 

As  before  noted,  the  first  attempt  of  the  Presbyterian  church  to  obtain  a 
footing  in  Putnam  county  was  not  a  success.  After  the  efforts  of  Isaac 
Reed,  who  undertook  to  organize  the  church  in  August,  1825,  interest  in  the 
society  began  to  relax  and  finally  the  meetings,  which  had  been  held  in  the 
cabins  of  the  members,  ceased  altogether.  This  period  of  inaction  continued 
till  the  fall  of  1832,  when  Rev.  Samuel  G.  Lowry,  who  afterward  emigrated 
to  Minnesota,  commenced  preaching  by  special  permit  in  the  Methodist  church, 
once  and  sometimes  twice  a  month,  being  assisted  by  Rev.  James  H.  Shields. 
The  society  included  about  sixteen  persons  who  held  to  the  Presbyterian  be- 
lief. In  July,  1833,  he  organized  a  "Xew  School  Presbyterian  church."  con- 
sisting of  eighteen  members.  John  S.  Jennings  and  James  M.  Hillis  were  the 
first  eklers.  Later  Lucius  R.  Chapin.  James  Proctor.  "M.  W.  Hensley,  Jacob 
Daggv,  James  AI.  Grooms,  James  D.  Stevenson.  Charles  G.  Case,  R.  W.  Jones, 
Elias  Daggy  and  R.  S.  Ragan  served  the  church  in  like  capacity.  Mr.  Lowry"s 
services  ceased  in  1834  and  he  was  immediately  followed  by  W.  W.  Woods, 
who  remained  till  1837.  In  May,  1836,  the  town  agent  of  Greencastle,  on 
the  order  of  the  board  of  county  commissioners,  conveyed  to  the  trustees  of 
the  church  Lot  2;^  Iving  at  the  corner  of  Columbia  and  Jefferson  streets,  on 
which  the  congregation  at  once  built  a  brick  meeting  house,  which  was  dedi- 
cated in  September,  1836,  and  occupied  continuously  for  almost  twenty  years. 
In  i8si  the  erection  of  a  new  building  was  begun  on  the  lot  at  the  corner  of 


PL'TNAM     COCXTV,    IXDIAXA.  II3 

Jackson  and  Columbia  streets,  but  was  not  completed  till   18^14.     This  latter 
was  then  occupied  till  destroyed  by  fire  in  1876. 

After  Mr.  Woods  left  the  church  in  1837,  J.  R.  W'heelock.  James  H. 
Shields  and  Ransom  Hawley  filled  the  pastorate  till  1845.  After  them  came 
Thomas  S.  Milligan.  who  ministered  to  the  flock  until  1850.  being  succeeded 
by  T.  'SI.  Oviatt.  who  remained  in  charge  till  the  spring  of  1855.  ]\Ir.  Oviatt 
was  followed  by  Henry  A.  Rossiter.  whose  temi  of  service,  extending  from 
1855  to  1869.  was  longer  than  that  of  any  other  pastor.  In  1850  a  division  of 
the  church  occurred  and  the  Second  Presljyterian  church,  acting  under  dis- 
l^ensation  of  the  Old  School  assembly,  was  organized.  In  1850-51  they  erected 
a  brick  building  at  the  corner  of  Washington  street  and  College  avenue,  their 
first  pastor  being  J.  McCord.  From  1854  to  1870  they  were  ministered  to 
by  Dr.  E.  W.  Fisk.  In  i8fi8  they  sold  their  building  to  E.  T.  Keightley.  who 
soon  transferred  it  to  the  Catholic  church,  and  they  at  once  began  the  erection 
of  a  new  builcling  at  the  corner  of  Locust  and  Anderson  streets,  which  was 
later  transferred  to  the  Indiana  Female  College.  In  ?^[arch.  1870.  the  two 
congregations.  Xew  and  Old  school,  were  united  and  occupied  the  First 
church  building,  .\fter  the  consoli<lation  Dr.  Fisk  and  William  A.  Bosworth 
occupied  the  pulpit  two  \ears  or  until  187 J.  A.  W.  Williams  followed  till 
1S74:  Lucius  I.  Root,  1876;  George  G.  ^litchell.  1879:  George  ^^'.  Eainum. 
1889.  and  Harlan  P.  Corey.  189J.  Since  the  latter  date  the  pastors  in  suc- 
cession ha\e  been  Robert  M.  Dillon.  William  K.  Wea\er.  James  P.  Roth. 
-Vugustus  W.  Sonne  and  David  \'anDyke.  At  present  the  church  is  without 
a  pastor. 

Tlin:    CIIRISTIAX    CTITRCn. 

The  Christian  church  in  Putnam  county  harks  back  to  the  days  of  the 
Xew  Lights,  which  was  organized  in  1830  with  a  membership  of  several  per- 
sons, viz:  R.  S.  Tennant.  wife  an<l  daughter,  Peter  W.  Applegate  and  wife, 
and  Samuel  Ta\'lor  and  wife.  The  first  elders  were  Peter  W.  Applegate  and 
Samuel  Tavlor.  The  first  member  admitted  after  the  organization  of  the 
church  was  lohn  G  Tennant.  Soon  after  John  Reed,  \'.  K.  Reed.  Crawford 
Cole  and  others  joined.  Meetings  were  held  from  house  to  house  and  services 
were  led  by  such  preachers  as  Gilbert  Harney.  Michael  Coons,  John  OT\ane. 
John  Harris  and  others.  After  several  years  the  congregation  decided  to 
hold  meetings  in  Greencastle.  At  first  they  met  in  a  room  o\-er  a  store  on 
the  northeast  corner  of  the  public  S(|uare.  then  in  a  schriol  room  at  the  Count v 
Seminary  and  finally  in  the  court  house.  The  congregation,  under  the  nn'nis- 
(8) 


114 


WEIK  S    HISTORY    OF 


trations  of  such  men  as  John  B.  New,  Love  H.  Jameson,  A.  R.  Benton,  S. 
K.  Hoshour,  B.  K.  Smith,  Alfred  Flowers,  E.  P.  Goodwin,  James  E.  Mat- 
thews. Moses  E.  Laird.  Benjamin  Franklin,  M.  B.  Hopkins  and  Oliver  P. 
Badger,  was  constantly  growing  and  about  1S53  a  lot  was  purchased  at  the 
corner  of  Poplar  and  Indiana  streets  on  which  the  erection  of  a  commodious 
frame  church  was  begun.  The  building  was  dedicated  Sunday,  June  8.  1856. 
The  first  pastor  was  Oliver  P.  Badger,  a  man  of  great  piety  and  religious 
zeal  and  the  longest  continuously  active  resident  preacher  in  Greencastle. 
His  successors  in  charge  of  the  church  have  been  J.  W.  Cox,  Peter  Raines. 
S.  F.  Stimpson.  Alfred  Flower,  O.  F.  Lane.  W.  B.  Taylor,  H.  G.  Fleming,  O. 
C.  Atwater.  A.  H.  Morris.  O.  P.  Shront,  J.  E.  Powell.  Robert  Sellers  and 
Commodore  W.  Cauble.     The  present  pastor  is  J.  M.  Rudy. 

BAPTIST  ORGANIZATION. 

Although  one  of  the  oldest  church  organizations  in  the  county,  the  rec- 
ords of  the  Baptist  church  are  by  far  the  most  incomplete.  Originally  there 
were  several  congregations  of  the  denomination  in  the  county,  the  largest  one 
being  in  Greencastle.  March  3,  1837,  the  town  agent  was  ordered  to  convey 
to  the  trustees  of  the  church  a  lot  in  Greencastle,  on  which  they  erected  a 
brick  meeting  house.  This  they  used  till  1859,  when  they  purchased  another 
lot  on  the  corner  of  Water  and  Poplar  streets,  upon  which  they  erected  their 
present  church.  From  a  portion  of  the  record  of  the  minutes  of  the  church 
meetings  held  at  intervals  we  learn  that  from  1846  to  1850  John  G.  Kerr 
officiated  as  pastor,  that  he  was  succeeded  by  E.  W.  Crissey,  he  by  J.  Taylor, 
and  he  by  William  M.  Davis.     This  takes  us  down  to  1853. 

The  next  man  was  William  Freeman,  the  next  P.  H.  Evans  anrl  the  next 
J.  S.  Gillespie.  During  the  pastorate  of  the  last  named  in  1859  the  new 
church  was  built.  In  February.  1867.  the  records  of  this  church  were  de- 
stroved  by  fire  so  that  much  of  its  history  cannot  now  be  ascertained.  The 
church  being  financially  weak,  asked  for  and  received  material  assistance  from 
the  Baptist  Home  Missionary  Society.  Rev.  R.  M.  Parks  was  called  to  the 
pastorate,  but  before  the  close  of  his  first  year  the  church  building  was  almost 
completely  destroyed  by  a  cyclone.  This  was  a  heavy  blow  to  the  congrega- 
tion, but.'nothing  daunted,  they  resolved  to  rebuild  and  the  present  structure 
was  the  result.  For  some  time  the  church  was  without  a  pastor,  but  was  sup- 
plied till  1870  by  Rev.  Brown,  of  Terre  Haute.  During  the  pastorate  of  F. 
M.  Roberts,  who  came  about  this  time,  an  organ  was  purchased  for  the  Sun- 
dav  school,  which  unfortunately  caused  a  serious  division  and  consecjuent 


PUTNAM    COUNTY,    INDIANA.  II5 

loss  in  membership.  ^Ir.  Rol)erts  resigned  within  a  year  and  was  succeeded 
bv  T-  S.  Gillespie,  who  served  till  1874.  His  successors  up  to  1890  were,  in 
succession.  A.  P.  Stout.  J.  R.  Edwards,  J.  \V.  Reed,  I.  H.  Wise  and  W.  W. 
Hicks.  Since  1890  the  church  has  frequently  been  without  a  pastor.  At 
present  Rev.  D.  B.  Landes  is  in  charge. 

CATHOLIC    CHURCH    OF    ST.    PAUL   THE    APOSTLE. 

We  come  now  to  the  oldest  church  of  all,  the  Catholic — often  called  the 
mother  church.  In  the  dissemination  of  religious  knowledge  and  instmction 
it  was  the  pioneer,  for  it  established  missions  among  the  Indians  in  Illinois  and 
Indiana  long  before  the  white  man  had  undertaken  to  settle  the  new  territory. 
"Her  missionaries,"  says  one  historian,  "traversed  the  country  from  the  Ohio 
river  to  the  Great  lakes,  preaching  salvation  to  the  red  man  and  teaching  him 
the  great  truths  contained  in  the  gospel  of  Jesus  Christ.  Wherever  a  tribe 
was  found,  there  the  humble  priest  of  the  Catholic  church  erected  the  altar  of 
God  and  celebrated  the  sacrifice  of  the  mass,  speaking  words  of  love  and  peace 
to  the  poor  untutored  sons  of  the  forest.  Many  of  these  noble  men  yielded 
up  their  lives  at  the  hands  of  those  they  came  to  save,  but  at  last  devotion  to 
the  cause  of  Christ  conquered  the  barbarian  and  love  for  the  'black  robe'  (as 
the  priest  was  called  by  the  Indians')  took  the  place  of  hatred  in  the  heart  of 
the  savage.  Ever  afterward  the  Catholic  priest  was  a  welcome  visitor,  his 
habit  being  his  only  defense.  His  coming  was  made  a  time  of  rejoicing,  and 
the  Indians,  gathering  around,  listened  eagerly  to  the  words  of  truth  as  he 
spoke  them  forth.  All  this  was  changed  by  the  dishonesty  of  the  white 
traders,  which  turned  the  Indian's  love  to  hate  and  ever  since  he  has  remained 
the  foe  of  the  white  man." 

The  history  of  the  Catholic  church  in  Greencastle,  known  as  the  church 
of  St.  Paul  the  Apostle,  dates  back  to  1848.  when  the  Rev.  Simon  LaLumiere, 
pastor  of  St.  Joseph's  church  in  Terre  Haute,  journeyed  to  Greencastle  and 
read  the  first  mass  in  an  old  log  school  house,  the  property  of  Clinton  Walls. 
a  short  distance  northeast  of  the  village  of  Limedale.  The  early  Catholics  of 
Greencastle  and  vicinity,  but  few  of  whom  are  now  living,  were  generally 
Irish  laborers  employed  in  the  construction  of  the  V'andalia  and  Monon  rail- 
roads and  for  a  long  time  religious  services  were  held  in  private  houses.  Other 
priests  beside  the  reverend  father  mentioned  attended  to  the  spiritual  needs 
of  the  mission  in  these  early  days,  among  whom  was  the  Rev.  Daniel  Maloney, 
from  Indianapolis.  The  first  resident  pastor  was  the  Rev.  William  Doyle, 
who  was  sent  here  bv  Maurice  de  St.  Palais,  the  bi.shop  of  the  diocese  of  Vin- 
cennes.     It  was  through  the  efforts  of  Father  Doyle  that  the  congregation 


Ii6  weik'-s  history  of 

came  into  possession  of  their  first  church  property.  This  consisted  of  a  prim- 
itive chair  factory  located  on  Locust  street,  between  Anderson  and  Seminary, 
which  they  purchased  and  con\erted  into  a  house  of  worship.  There  is  a 
■tradition  that  the  owner  of  the  property  in  (juestion.  a  Protestant,  was  so 
deeply  prejudiced  against  the  further  encroachment  of  the  Catholic  denomina- 
tion that  he  refused  to  sell  the  lot  to  them  and  that  the  conveyance  was 
effected  by  a  strategem,  the  owner.  Gustavus  H.  Lilly,  being  made  to  believe 
that  the  grantee  was  intending  to  use  the  place  as  a  vinegar  factory.  This 
could  easily  ha\-e  been  accomplished  by  means  of  a  bond  for  a  deed.  At  the 
date  of  this  transaction  the  Know-nothing  movement  was  at  its  height  and 
the  prejudice  against  foreigners  and  the  Roman  Catholics  knew  no  limit. 

Rev.  Edward  O'Flaherty  followed  Father  Doyle,  ministering  to  the 
flock  at  Greencastle  and  adjacent  missions  until  1856,  when  he  was  succeeded 
by  Rev.  Patrick  Highland.  In  i860  the  latter  priest,  being  somewhat  ad- 
vanced in  years  and  of  feeble  health,  gave  way  to  the  Rev.  Joseph  O'Reilly, 
under  whose  ministrations  the  church  made  rapid  and  substantial  progress. 
The  church  edifice  was  repaired,  walls  plastered,  altar  erected,  proper'  vest- 
ments secured,  a  steeple  erected,  surmounted  by  the  cross,  the  building  painted 
and  the  entire  structure  greatly  improved  in  appearance.  In  May,  1864, 
Father  O'Reilly  was  transferred  to  Cambridge  City  being  followed  by  Rev. 
Charles  Maugin.  In  April.  1866.  during  the  administration  of  the  latter, 
the  old-school  Presbyterian  church  building  was  purchased  and  remodeled. 
On  June  loth  the  building  was  blessed  by  Bishop  St.  Palais  and  consecrated 
to  St.  Paul.  Xear  the  close  of  the  year  1867.  Father  Maugin  was  succeeded 
by  the  Rev.  J.  Clement,  who  made  further  and  material  alterations  to  the 
church,  but  who  died  during  his  pastorate  in  1871.  Next  came  Peter  Bischof. 
who  served  till  1874;  Dennis  O'Donnovan  till  1877:  Thomas  Logan  till  Aug- 
ust. 1880:  Michael  Power  till  18S5.  when  Father  Logan  was  returned  and 
remained  till  1888.  He  was  succeeded  by  Joseph  Macke.  who  remained  a 
year  and  was  followed  by  the  present  pastor,  Thomas  A.  McLaughlin,  whose 
record  of  service  has  excelled  in  duration  that  of  any  of  his  predecessors. 
In  1853.  under  the  administration  of  Father  O'Flaherty.  a  mission  was  estab- 
ished  at  Bainbridge  and  the  members  of  the  church  there  have  been  ministered 
to  bv  the  resident  pastor  at  Greencastle  since  that  time.  The  church  there 
many  years  ago  was  consecrated  to  St.  Patrick. 

OTHER   CHURCHES. 

Several  attempts  to  organize  and  maintain  an  Episcopalian  church  in 
Greencastle  have  been  made,  but  without  material  success.  About  twenty  years 


PUTNAM    COUNTY.    IXDIAXA.  II7 

ago  the  membership,  though  limited  in  number,  built  a  neat  little  stone  church 
at  the  comer  of  Seminary  street  and  Taylor  avenue,  and  for  a  time  supported 
a  resident  pastor,  but  only  for  a  brief  time.  After  that  meetings  were  held 
once  a  month,  led  by  clerg\-men  from  other  places,  but  finally  services  of  all 
kinds  ceased,  the  building  was  sold  and  the  church  went  out  of  existence. 

There  are  three  colored  churches  in  the  county  and  all  are  located  in 
Greencastle.  The  oldest  is  Bethel,  the  African  Methodist  Episcopal  church. 
It  was  organized  about  1876.  and  met  over  a  store  room  on  the  public  square 
for  \ears.  but  about  twenty  years  ago  purchased  the  lot  on  Locust  street 
where  the  first  Catholic  church  stood  and  built  thereon  an  attractive  and  com- 
modious building  in  which  the  congregation  has  ever  since  worshipped.  It  is 
the  largest  colored  congregation  in  the  county.  Its  present  pastor  is  A.  E. 
Taylor.  There  are  also  two  other  colored  churches  in  Greencastle.  One  is 
Hinton  Chapel,  representing  the  Methodist  Episcopal  church.  The  congre- 
gation meets  in  a  small  brick  building  which  it  owns  on  Hanna  street.  The 
pastor  is  W.  \'.  Butts.  The  other  church  is  in  the  extreme  south  part  of  the 
cit\'  and  is  known  as  St.  Paul's  Baptist  church.  It  has  no  regular  pastor,  but 
at  least  once  a  month  it  holds  ser\ices  which  are  led  l)y  the  pastors  of  churches 
who  come  from  other  places. 

THE   FIRST  SrXD.W   SCHOOL. 

This  chapter  would  be  far  from  complete  were  no  mention  to  be  made 
of  that  marselous  and  now  universal  agency  for  the  dissemination  of  religious 
knowledge  and  the  useful  instruction  of  the  young — the  Sunday  school.  In 
the  hands  of  the  Misses  ^lyra  and  Elizabeth  Goulding,  of  Greencastle,  is  a 
small  book,  about  eight  by  ten  inches  in  size,  in  the  first  page  of  which,  written 
in  a  delicate  feminine  hand  and  now  almost  faded  from  sight,  is  the  following: 

"Greencastle  Union  Sabljath  School  Register. 
"1834. 
"April  13. — A  Sabbath  school  was  opened  ijy  the  teacher  of  the  day 
school  with  twenty  young  ladies  and  children,  most  of  whom  were  her  own 
scholars.  They  were  led  in  prayer  and  received  instructions  from  Matt.  18: 
1-4.  which  ha<l  been  previously  assigned  for  the  lesson.  G.  F.  Waterman  was 
present  and  expressed  his  approbation  of  the  manner  in  which  instruction  was 
given  and  his  willingness  to  become  a  teacher.  Matt.  18:21-35  ^^'^s  assigned 
for  the  ne.xt  lesson.  School  was  dismissed  to  meet  the  next  Sabbath  at  half 
past  eight  o'clock  in  the  morning." 


iig  weik's  history  of 

The  above  entry  was  penned  by  Myra  Jewett,  afterward  married  to 
John  S.  Jennings,  and  records  the  happenings  and  exercises  of  the  first  Sun- 
day school  ever  held  in  Putnam  county.  The  story  of  how  this  good  woman 
who,  leaving  the  attractive  and  congenial  surroundings  of  her  Massachusetts 
home,  chose  to  unite  her  fortunes  with  the  hardy  settlers  in  the  backwoods 
of  Indiana,  and  especially  how  she  came  to  organize  among  these  rude  pioneers 
that  great  agency  for  the  uplift  and  betterment  of  society,  the  Sunday  school, 
is  indeed  an  incident  of  rare  interest ;  and  it  is  so  admirably  told  in  a  paper  pre- 
pared and  read  bv  Miss  Helen  Hathaway  at  a  celebration  in  1878  of  the 
fortv- fourth  anniversary  of  the  founding  of  the  Sunday  school,  that  the  liberty 
is  taken  to  incorporate  a  portion  of  it  here.  After  reciting  the  facts  set  forth 
in  Miss  Jevvett's  diary  quoted  above.  Miss  Hathaway  says; 

"Alost  of  the  young  ladies  and  children  present  were  Miss  Jewett's  own 
scholars  in  the  school-room  which  stood  on  the  spot  now  occupied  by  Doctor 
Preston's  residence  (corner  of  College  avenue  and  Walnut  street).  The 
third  Sabbath  the  number  of  scholars  had  increased  to  thirty  and  Miss  Jewett 
was  assisted  by  Mr.  John  S.  Jennings  and  Mr.  G.  F.  Watennan,  a  lawyer  who 
had  come  to  this  place  from  Rhode  Island.  Three  others  aftenvard  entered 
the  school  as  teachers,  but  none  of  these  seem  to  have  been  permanent  teach- 
ers. On  Mav  15th  the  school  met  at  Mr.  Jennings'  house  and  continued  to 
meet  there  till  June  8th,  when  it  was  moved  to  the  Seminary,  a  one-story 
brick  building  of  two  rooms  standing  on  the  site  now  occupied  by  Mr.  Edward 
Hanemann's  residence.  The  school  had  increased  in  numbers  and  had  re- 
ceived a  donation  of  fi\e  dollars  from  the  school  in  Pepperell,  Massachusetts, 
Miss  Jewett's  former  home,  to  aid  in  purchasing  a  library,  and  the  agent  of 
the  American  Sunday  School  Union  donated  five  dollars  worth  of  books.  In 
July  a  meeting  was  held  at  ]\Ir.  Jennings'  house  for  the  purpose  of  effecting 
a  permanent  organization.  A  Sabbath  school  society  was  organized  with 
John  C.  Evans,  president,  and  G.  F.  Waterman,  vice-president.  Mr.  Jen- 
nings was  elected  superintendent  of  the  school  and  Miss  ^lyra  Jewett.  secre- 
tary, and  the  name  of  'The  Greencastle  Union  Sabbath  School"  adopted.  The 
society  held  a  Sunday  school  concert  for  prayer  on  July  14th  and  was  address- 
ed bv  John  Cowgill.  Esq..  on  'The  Importance  of  the  Sunday  School  to  our 
Town.  Countv  and  Xation."  These  concerts  were  held  monthly.  The  ofifi- 
cers  and  teachers  of  the  school  were  elected  by  the  society.  In  1835  a  set  of 
rules  for  the  government  of  the  school  was  adopted.  The  whole  number  of 
scholars  enrolled  during  the  first  year  of  the  school  was  eighty-nine  and  among 
them  we  notice  the  names  of  James  and  Leah  Gillespie,  John  R.  Mahan.  Wil- 
liam Ste\'enson  and  \'irginia  Walls,  now  ^Irs.  Lee.  one  of  our  present  teach- 


PUTNAM    COUNTY,    INDIANA.  I  I9 

ers.  In  September  of  this  year  the  school  lost  by  death  one  of  its  valuable 
teaciiers.  Mrs.  M.  Ste\enson.  and  in  this  month  the  school  was  visited  for  the 
first  time  by  a  minister  of  the  gospel.  There  was  an  eiifort  made  to  keep  up  a 
teachers'  meeting.  Init  it  seems  that  \ery  little  interest  was  manifested  by  the 
teachers.  In  ?v[arch.  1835,  a  Methodist  Sabbath  school  was  organized,  which 
tO()k  away  a  nnmlier  of  the  scholars  and  some  of  the  teachers.  However,  in 
-Vtigiist  the  ^chool  ninnbered  sixty  or  si.\ty-fi\-e  scholars  and  seemed  too  large 
to  be  accommodated  in  the  school  room.  On  the  roll  of  the  school  for  this  vear 
we  see  the  names  of  Bishop  Osborne,  ^\'illiam  Thornburgh  and  Eliza  Hen- 
sley.  Mr.  Jennings  held  the  office  of  superintendent  for  two  vears  and  was 
elected  by  the  society  for  the  year  1836,  but  soon  after  resigned  and  Milton 
\\  .  Hensley  was  elected  to  fill  the  place.  The  school  was  fre(|uently  omitted 
on  accoimt  of  sacramental  or  camp  meetings  or  absence  of  superintendent 
and  teachers  from  town.  It  was  much  encouraged  by  donations  from  time 
to  time  from  the  school  at  Pepperell,  Massachusetts.  On  September  11,  1836, 
it  was  moved  to  the  newly-built  Presbyterian  church,  at  the  corner  of  Colum- 
bia and  Jefferson  streets.  Something  of  a  harvest  seems  to  have  been  realized 
at  this  time  from  the  labors  in  the  school,  as  a  number  of  scholars  had  united 
with  the  church.  Xexertheless.  the  secretarv-  records  rather  discouraginglv 
that  a  large  luimlier  of  scholars  had  left  the  school  and  much  inconvenience 
was  felt  from  the  cold,  as  the  means  of  making  the  house  comfortable  were 
inadequate.  R.  W.  Jones  and  three  l)rothers  and  Lewis  Rutlisill  entered 
school  this  year.  In  January.  1837,  it  is  recorded:  'School  larger  todav  than 
for  two  years.  We  have  now  the  means  for  making  the  house  comfortable 
and  ue  ha\'e  a  minister  who  comes  and  talks  to  us. 

"The  whole  number  connected  with  the  school  then  was  seventy-six  and 
in  the  s[)ring  of  that  year  several  more  united  with  the  church  and  a  new 
librar\-  was  purchased,  .\mong  the  scholars  enrolled  that  year  were  Maria 
Walls.  Sarah  J.  Daggy  (now  Mrs.  Hawkins).  Hannah  Osborne  (now  the 
wife  of  Solomon  Claypool),  .Uldison  Daggy  and  William  Daggy.  The  pres- 
ent mayor  of  our  city,  Mr.  Lucius  P.  Chapin.  and  his  brother.  John  Chapin. 
also  entered  that  year.  In  1838  the  superintendent  resigned  and  for  three 
months  the  office  was  vacant,  different  members  of  the  school  being  called 
upon  to  conduct  the  e.xercises.  Mr.  Hensley  was  again  elected  to  fill  the  office 
for  the  remainder  of  the  year,  with  James  M.  Grooms  as  secretaiy.  In  No- 
vember of  that  year  Jarvin  C.  Grooms,  then  three  years  old.  entered  the  school 
and  has.  we  presume,  lieen  a  regular  attendant  diu'ing  all  the  }-ears  since  that 
time.  Edwin  Black,  with  two  brothers.  aLso  entered  at  this  time.  For  the 
\ear  1840  ]M.  W.  Hensley  was  elected  suiJeriutendent  and  we  belie\e  held  the 


I20  WEIK  S    HISTORY    OF 

.office  one  _\ear.  I)eiiig  succeeded  l)y  James  'SI.  (jrooms.  About  this  time  sev- 
eral of  the  teachers  and  scholars  went  over  the  creek,  north  of  town,  and 
organized  a  branch  school  with  Mr.  Jacob  Dagg_\-  superintendent.  In  the 
records  for  1843  are  fiiund  the  names  of  some  new  teachers  admitted,  among 
them  being  Addison  Daggy,  R.  L.  Hathaway  and  Elizabeth  Grooms.  Among 
the  minutes  for  March  we  notice  that  Mr.  Gookins  from  Terre  Haute  ad- 
dressed the  school.     *     *     *     * 

"In  1844  the  library  was  replenished  by  a  donation  of  two  hundred  vol- 
umes and  Jacol)  Daggy  was  elected  superintendent.  In  1845  Mr.  Jennings 
was  again  cliosen  superintendent  and  D.  C.  Proctor,  secretary  and  librarian. 
In  1846.  or  perhaps  a  short  time  previous  thereto,  the  Baptists  organized  a 
scho()l  nearbv.  which  took  away  some  of  the  scholars.  In  this  year  a  juvenile 
missionary  society  was  formed.  In  1847  the  officers  were  J.  M.  Grooms, 
superintendent.  D.  C.  Proctor,  secretaiy,  and  John  R.  ]\Iahan,  librarian.  The 
school  was  reported  in  a  flourishing  condition  and  a  library  of  one  hundred 
volumes  purchased.  On  Saturday.  May  ist.  the  school  celebrated  its  thir- 
teenth aimiversary  at  the  church.  The  Methodist  and  Baptist  schools  joined 
in  the  celebration.  Rev.  Cyrus  Xutt  opened  the  meeting  with  prayer  and 
Rev.  Mr.  Milligan  and  Rev.  Mr.  Carr  delivered  addresses,  after  which  all 
partook  of  refreshments  and  then  formed  a  procession  headed  by  the  Putnam 
Band." 

MYR-V    JEWETT. 

Interesting  though  it  may  be.  the  linntations  of  space  forbid  further  ac- 
count of  this  now  historic  Sunday  school :  but  we  cannot  pass  from  the  subject 
without  a  brief  word  respecting  the  memory  of  Myra  Jewett.  its  founder. 
She  was  bom  in  Pepperell.  Massachusetts,  in  1802.  and  was  the  oldest  in  a 
family  of  thirteen  children.  Her  sister  is  authority  for  the  statement  that 
'"the  limited  means  of  her  parents  made  it  a  difficult  matter  for  them  to  give 
their  laro-e  family  the  advantages  for  education  which  they  desired.  Init.  with 
that  persistent  energv  and  determination  which  has  always  been  a  stn^ngly 
marked  ciiaracteristic.  she  overcame  the  obstacles  that  lay  in  her  way.  Her 
great  ilesire  was  to  qualifv  herself  for  the  office  of  a  teacher,  that  she  might 
'do  g(ii)d.'  not  onlv  bv  imparting  to  the  youtli  that  knowledge  which  would 
prepare  them  fur  active  duties  of  life,  but  further  than  this,  that  she  might  by 
precept  and  example  incite  them  to  lives  of  unselfish  devotion  to  higher  and 
nobler  aims  than  simplv  living  for  their  own  enjoyment  or  for  the  gratification 
of  worldiv  ambition." 


PUTNAM    COLXTY.    INDIANA.  121 

For  a  time  she  was  a  \m\n\  of  Marv  Lvons.  who  made  the  scliijol  at  Aft. 
Holyoke  famous,  and  was  deeply  influenced  by  her  teachings.  Says  her  sister  : 
"She  tauglit  for  six  or  seven  years  in  her  native  state,  but  her  s\inpathies  were 
early  enlisted  bv  accounts  of  the  great  need  of  teachers  in  the  newly  settleil 
regions  of  the  'b^ar  West.'  as  Indiana  was  called  in  those  days.  But  a  jour- 
ne\-  fmm  Massachusetts  to  Indiana  at  that  time  was  a  far  different  affair  from 
what  it  is  now.  There  was  only  one  short  railroail  in  the  route  from  Albany 
to  Schenectad}-.  The  rest  of  the  journey  was  toilsome  and  tedious,  being  per- 
formed by  stage,  by  steamer  across  the  lake,  by  canal  and  by  private  con\'e\'- 
ance.  Her  traveling  companions  on  this  wearisome  journey  were  the  late 
Prof.  Caleb  Mills  and  a  Miss  Wvatt,  also  a  teacher.  Soon  after  her  arrival 
in  Greencastle,  she  rented  and  furnished  a  room  and  opened  her  school.  This 
school  she  continued  to  teach,  struggling  along  alone  amid  many  trials,  dififi- 
culties  and  discouragements,  for  three  vears,  when  a  younger  sister  came  to 
shai'e  her  lai)ors.'" 

The  school  was  not  a  pecuniary  success.  Miss  Jewett  found  at  the  close 
of  the  first  term  that  after  paying  her  board  and  the  expenses  of  the  school 
room  she  was  in  debt  one  dollar.  At  the  end  of  the  succeeding  term  she  had 
a  net  sm-plus  of  one  dollar,  but  at  the  close  of  the  third  term  she  again  faced 
a  tleficit  of  a  dollar.  After  this  for  one  or  two  terms  she  managed  to  make 
the  two  sides  of  the  account  balance.  There  was  scarcely  ever  a  surplus  again. 
"But  hers  was  a  true  missionan*'  work  and  this  was  a  labor  of  love."  con- 
tinues her  sister.  "But  she  was  not  satisfied  with  the  work  of  the  day  school 
merely  and  in  1834  she  gathered  together  a  few  of  her  scholars  and  some 
others  in  her  school-room  and  taught  the  first  Sabliath  school.  For  manv 
years — indeed  as  long  as  strength  pennitted — she  was  an  earnest,  faithful 
teacher,  always  at  her  po.'^t  and  always  enforcing  by  her  own  pure,  lovelv  and 
consistent  life  the  principles  which  she  endea\ored  to  instill  into  the  minds  of 
her  pupils. 

"In  the  sjjring  of  '836  she  was  compelled  in  conseijuence  of  ill-health,  to 
resign  tiie  schnol  entirely  to  her  sister,  but  upon  the  marriage  of  the  latter. 
June  7th.  she  again  resumed  the  office  <if  teacher,  which  she  continued  to  fill 
till  her  own  marriage  to  John  S.  Jennings,  .\ugust  13.  1841.  She  was  the 
mother  ni  two  children,  both  of  whom  died  in  infancy,  .\lwa_\-s  tlelicate  from 
a  child,  her  long  life  was  attended  by  much  suffering,  yet  in  all  these  manv 
long,  wearisome  ilays  of  languor  and  the  nights  of  pain  no  one  ever  heard  a 
murnnn-  nr  complaint  from  her  lips.  She  passed  from  earth  June  13.  18S0. 
Those  wIkj  attended  her  and  mini.stered  to  her  wants  can  testify  to  her  patient 
resignation  and  cheerful  submission  to  the  sufferings  which  slie  felt  were  sent 
b\-  the  lo\  ing  Tleax-enh-  Father  for  her  good.' 


122  WEIK  S    HISTORY    OF 

A  modest,  forbearing,  but  earnest  woman,  she  shrank  instinctively  from 
any  sort  of  public  contact.  She  strove  to  do  her  full  duty  without  popular 
acclaim.  When  ill  health  at  last  drove  her  into  the  privacy  of  her  home,  she 
welcomed  the  seclusion  it  insured.  It  was  a  congenial  retreat  and  there,  sur- 
rounded by  her  flowers,  of  which  she  was  devotedly  fond,  she  spent  the  few 
remaining  years  of  her  useful  and  beautiful  life  confidently  awaiting  the  sum- 
mons which  finally  comes  to  us  all.  So  lived  and  died  this  good  woman  and 
when  the  historian  of  the  future  shall  undertake  the  story  of  Greencastle  and 
Putnam  county  his  work  will  surely  come  to  naught  if  he  fails  to  include 
among  those  entitled  to  the  regard  and  veneration  of  posterity  the  patient 
zeal,  the  tolerant,  angelic  spirit  and  the  unswerving  devotion  of  Myra  Jewett. 


CHAPTER  VII. 

FRATERNAL    SOCIETIES    AXD    CLUBS. 

The  first  benevolent  or  fraternal  society  in  Putnam  county  of  which 
there  is  any  record  was  Temple  Lodge.  No.  47,  Free  and  Accepted  Masons. 
It  was  organized  May  28,  184J,  and  for  a  long  time  met  in  the  upper  story 
of  a  frame  building  on  the  south  side  of  the  public  square  near  the  present 
quarters  of  the  Central  National  Bank.  The  records  of  the  order  show  that 
the  following  were  the  first  officers:  Samuel  Taylor,  worshipful  master: 
John  Sala.  senior  warden:  William  L.  Hart,  junior  warden:  Lewis  H.  Sands. 
secretan.' ;  Samuel  Dicks,  treasurer:  C.  G.  Ballard,  senior  deacon:  Jesse 
Dicks,  junior  deacon:  Hiram  P.  Walker,  tyler:  C.  J.  Hand,  past  master; 
W.   C.   Larrabee.  cliaplain. 

It  is  recorded  that  at  the  installation  of  the  officers  Professor  Larra- 
bee delivered  an  address  of  such  weight  and  acceptability,  an  order  was 
made  that  it  be  furnished  to  the  editor  of  the  Greencastle  Visitor  for  pub- 
lication in  that  journal.  The  membership  at  the  date  of  organization  was 
not  in  excess  of  fifteen :  at  present  it  is  over  two  hundred.  The  officers 
elected  for  1910  are  as  follows:  Earl  C.  Lane,  worshipful  master:  M.  Syl- 
vester Miller,  senior  warden :  Benjamin  P.  King,  junior  warden ;  James 
]McD.  Hays,  treasurer:  Edward  E.  Caldwell,  secretary;  James  L.  Randel. 
senior  deacon :  Lawrence  H.  Athey,  junior  deacon ;  Eugene  Schmidt  and 
Jesse  D.  Hughes,  stewards;  Charles  W.  Huffman,  tyler:  James  L.  Ran- 
del. Jerome  M.  King,  William  B.  Vestal,  trustees. 

ROYAL    ARCH     MASON'S. 

Mav  16.  1S51.  Greencastle  Chapter,  No.  22.  Royal  Arch  Masons,  was 
organized.  The  original  officers  chosen  were :  P.  G.  E.  Hunt,  high  priest ; 
John  Plill.  king:  Peter  W.  Applegate,  scribe:  Henr\'  W,  Daniels,  captain 
of  thehost;  D.  L.  Hamilton,  principal  sojourner;  William  Turk,  royal  arch 
cai)tain :  .A.  \'.  H<nigh,  ma.'^ter  first  veil;  B.  F.  Hays,  master  second  veil: 
\N'.  C.   Larraliee.  master  third  x'eil. 

In  the  spring  of  1853  interest  in  the  chapter  began  to  wane  and  finally 
the  meetings  ceased  altogether.  This  condition  of  inactivity  continued  for 
years,   in    fact   until   October   29,    i860,   when   a   new  dispensation    fn^m   the 


124  WEIK  S    HISTORY    OF 

grand  chapter  was  received  and  meetings  were  renewed.  .\t  this  time  J. 
U.  L.  Feenister  was  high  priest:  B.  F.  Hays,  captain  of  the  host;  R.  W. 
Jones,  principal  sojourner;  A.  M.  Puett,  royal  arch  captain,  and  Samuel 
Catherwood,  secretary  and  treasurer. 

The  original  members  numbered  about  twenty-five,  but  the  list  has 
increased  until  today  it  includes  a  membership  of  one  hundred  sixty-nine. 
The  officers  chosen  this  year  are  as  follows:  Joseph  F.  Gillespie,  high  priest; 
William  F.  Baney.  king;  Deloss  F".  Albin.  scribe;  James  McD.  Hays, 
treasurer;  Edward  E.  Caldwell,  secretary;  M.  Sylvester  Miller,  captain  of 
the  host;  Fred  S.  ^NlcXary.  principal  sojourner;  Frank  S.  Bittles,  royal  arch 
captain;  William  H.  H.  Cullen,  grand  master  third  veil;  Gray  Potter,  grand 
master  second  veil;  Eugene  Schmidt,  grand  master  first  veil;  Charles  Huff- 
man, guard;  William  M.  Flouck,  Amos  E.  Ayler.  James  L.  Randel,  trus- 
tees. 

KNIGHTS    TEMPLAR. 

Ten  vears  after  the  organization  of  the  chapter,  a  commandery.  known 
as  Greencastle  Commandery,  No.  ii.  Knights  Templar,  was  founded.  The 
charter  was  dated  April  3,  1867,  and  the  following  officers  were  chosen: 
Sir  Henry  W.  Daniels,  eminent  commander;  Sir  Louis  Weik,  generalissimo; 
Sir  William  Daggv,  captain  general;  Sir  William  G.  Burnett,  prelate;  Sir 
Samuel  Catherwood.  treasurer;  Sir  James  i\IcD.  Hays,  recorder;  Sir  John 
W.  Reeves,  senior  warden;  Sir  Benjamin  Pritchard.  junior  warden;  Sir 
Benjamin  F.  Hays,  standard  bearer;  Sir  Elijah  T.  Keightley.  sword  bearer; 
Sir  John  A.  Crose.  warder;  Sir  Solomon  Henry,  sentinel. 

Up  to  the  year  1910  its  membership  had  almost  reached  a  hundred  and 
it  was  officered  as  follows:  Sir  A.  Evan  Ayler.  eminent  commander;  Sir 
R.  S.  Cow  gill,  generalissimo;  Sir  Raser  Bittles.  captain  general;  Sir  Lewis 
A.  Zaring.  senior  warden ;  Sir  James  ^^^  Carver,  junior  warden  ;  Sir  Clar- 
ence E.  Crawlev,  prelate;  Sir  Edwin  E.  Black,  treasurer;  Sir  James  McD. 
Hays,  recorder:  Sir  Edward  E.  Coffman.  standard  I^earer;  Sir  Emmett 
Greene,  sword  bearer;  Sir  David  W.  Campbell,  warder:  Sir  Charles  W. 
Huffman,  sentinel;  Sir  James  L.  Randel.  Sir  William  B.  Vestal.  Sir  William 
M.  Houck.  trustees. 

There  are  Masonic  lodges  in  other  parts  of  the  county  as  follows: 

Bainbridge  Lodge.  Xo.  J^.  at  Bainbridge :  Milton  Brown,  worshipful 
master:  ].  L.  McKee.  secretar}-. 

Roaclulale  Lodge.  Xd.  hoj.  at  Ruachdale :  Lon  L.  \\'orrell.  wnr-hip- 
ful  master:  Cecirgc  \\'.  Irwin,  secretary. 


PL'T.XAM     COr.VTV,    INDIANA.  I25 

Cloxerdak  Lodge.  Xo.  132.  at  Cloverdale ;  H.  C.  Foster,  worshipful 
master;  H.  B.  ^[artin.  secretan.-. 

Applegate  Lodge.  Xo.  155,  at  Fillmore;  Jasper  P'roctor.  worshipful 
master;  J.  W.  Randolph,  secretary. 

Morton  Lodge.  X'o.  4^39,  at  Morton;  S.  \'.  Thomas,  worshipful  mas- 
ter ;  D.  P.  Ale.xander.  secretary. 

Russellville  Lodge.  X'o.  141.  at  Russellville ;  Ernest  Simpson,  worship- 
ful nu.ster;  Joseph  Fordyce.  secretary. 

IXDEPr.XDENT    ORDER    OF    ODD    FELLOW'S. 

Following  the  Masons,  the  ne.xt  fraternal  order  estahlished  in  the  coun- 
ty was  the  Independent  Order  of  Odd  Fellows.  The  first  lodge  was  in- 
stituted at  Greencastle.  July  10.  1847.  It  was  called  Putnam  Lodge.  Xo. 
45.  Its  officers  were:  \V.  McClure.  noble  grand;  Elisha  Adamson.  \"ice 
grand;  Isaac  Dunn,  secretary;  Samuel  X'oel.  treasurer. 

The  lodge  is  still  in  a  flourishing  condition.  June  30,  1870.  another 
lodge,  known  as  Greencastle  Lodge.  X'o.  348.  was  established.  It  began 
with  a  membership  of  fifteen  as  follows;  Henry  Metzler.  Thomas  L  \^'al!s. 
G.  W.  Beauchamp.  Isaac  H.  INIorris.  Thomas  'M.  Bowman.  Charles  G.  B(3w- 
man.  Louis  Weik,  George  D.  Blakey.  James  Daggy.  Levi  Cohn.  Robert  AI. 
Black.  David  H.  Stevenson,  Heim-  C.  Perkins.  James  Hopkins.  Lorenzo 
D.  Crawley  and  .Albert  Allen.  Its  officers  at  present  are :  John  F.  Williams, 
noble  grand ;  Edw  ard  AVoodman,  \'ice  grand ;  F.  E.  Crawley,  secretary ; 
Charles  Kiefer,  treasurer. 

Outside  of  Greencastle.  Odd  Fellows  lodges  have  been  established  in 
various  parts  of  the  county.  At  present  lodges  are  in  existence  as  follo\vs : 

Roachdale.  A\'.  M.  Davis,  noble  grand;  Lon  T.  Grider.  secretar\-. 
Russellville.  R.  Ridlin.  noble  grand ;  W.  P.  Byrd.  secretary. 
Fillmore.  John  Jackson,  noble  grand;  Marion  Sinclair,  secretan-. 
Cloverdale,   J.   F.    Randsopher.   noble  grand ;  John   AVard,   secretary. 
Mt.  Meriflian.  Har\ey  Stone,  nibble  grand;  L.  F.  Knight,  secretar^•. 

KXIGHTS    OF    PYTHIAS. 

Januarv  J4.  187-'.  Eagle  Lodge.  X'o.  16.  Knights  of  Pythias,  was  es- 
tablished in  ("treencastle.     The  charter  members  numbered  seventeen,  as   fob 


126  WEIK  3    HISTORY    OF 

lows:  John  Gilmore,  H.  H.  Morrison,  Charles  W.  Talburt,  W.  W.  Dun- 
nington,  G.  H.  Brown,  W.  J.  Ashton.  J.  B.  McCormick,  J.  A.  Hill,  A.  Brock- 
way,  J.  F.  Darnall,  A.  R.  Brattin.  E.  Dunnington,  Charles  W.  Daggy,  D.  W. 
Brattin,  F.  Fordyce,  G.  M.  Black  and  J.  M.  Knight.  There  is  no  record  of 
the  first  officers.  The  lodge  still  continues  in  a  flourishing  condition,  meet- 
ing in  handsome  and  newly  equipped  quarters  and  has  an  active  membership 
of  about  one  hundred  and  fifteen.  Its  officers  chosen  in  January,  1910, 
are  as  follows:  Eugene  Hawkins,  chancellor  commander;  Charles  T.  Peck, 
vice  chancellor;  Thomas  T.  Moore,  prelate;  Ferdinand  Lucas,  master  at 
arms;  J.  Y.  Denton,  keeper  of  records  and  seal;  Roy  M.  Abrams,  master 
of  exchequer:  John  W.  Sutherlin,  master  of  finance;  W.  M.  McGaughey, 
inner  guard ;  J.  O.  Cammack,  outer  guard ;  A.  B.  Hanna,  C.  H.  Bamaby, 
J.   C.   Brothers,  trustees. 

MODERN   WOODMEN  OF  AMERIC.\. 

The  Modern  Woodmen  of  America  are  represented  by  seven  camps 
in  the  county.  Camp  No.  5616  is  at  Russellville,  No.  61 10  at  Roachdale, 
No.  7055  at  Bainbridge,  No.  7194  at  Clove rdale,  No.  9840  at  Fincastle,  and 
No.  1 1 155  at  Portland  Mills. 

Camp  No.  3349  at  Greencastle,  the  first  one  in  the  county,  was  organized 
November  13,  1S95.  The  charter  members  were  D.  W.  Alspaugh,  Thomas 
Abrams,  M.  J.  Beckett,  H.  R.  Callender,  P.  O.  Colliver,  A.  W.  Cooper,  G. 
W.  Cooper,  Albert  Daggy.  J.  S.  Dowling,  E.  G.  Fry,  F.  G.  Gilmore,  E. 
A.  Hamilton.  A.  B.  Hanna.  E.  L.  Harris,  W.  L.  Harris,  J.  M.  House,  C. 
K.  Hughes,  C.  W.  Landes,  F.  L.  Landes,  H.  C.  Lewis,  R.  L.  O'Hair,  O. 
F.  Overstreet.  \V.  E.  Peck,  H.  S.  Renick,  L.  A.  Steeg.  J.  B.  Tucker,  W. 
W.  Tucker.  J.  E.  Vermillion,  Jesse  \V.  Weik. 

The  election  of  officers  resulted  as  follows:  H.  L.  Renick,  venerable 
consul;  Albert  .\.  Dagg}-.  worthy  adviser;  E.  L.  Harris,  escort;  O.  F.  Over- 
street,  clerk;  Edward  G.  Fry,  watchman;  Louis  A.  Steeg,  sentry;  W.  W. 
Tucker,    physician. 

The  Greencastle  Camp  is  still  maintained,  the  membership  constantly 
increasing  in  number.  There  have  been  thirteen  deaths  since  the  camp  was 
first  established.  The  last  officers  elected  were:  Consul,  L.  D.  Snider;  worthy 
adviser.  W.  W.  Soper;  banker.  W.  M.  Blake;  clerk,  R.  A.  Confer;  escort, 
W.  G.  Adams;  watchman,  R.  K.  ^Michaels;  sentry,  L.  E.  Figg;  manager, 
Oscar  Obenchain :  physicians.  W.  \V.  Tucker.  C.  Sudranski. 


PUTNAM    COUNTY,    INDIANA.  12J 


FRATERNAL   ORDER    OF    EAGLES. 


March  12,  1907,  Greencastle  Aerie,  No.  1753,  Fraternal  Order  of 
Eagles,  was  organized.  It  has  almost  a  hundred  members.  Its  officers  are: 
Frank  Green,  worthy  president;  M.  D.  Ricketts.  past  worthy  president;  Wil- 
liam Sutherlin.  secretary;  William  Eiteljorg.  treasurer;  Fred  Johns,  worthy 
\-ice  president. 

The  Improved  Order  of  Red  Men  is  represented  in  the  county  by  a 
tribe  known  as  Otoe  Tribe,  Xo.  140,  established  at  Greencastle  March  28, 
1S92.  It  is  still  in  a  vigorous  and  flourishing  condition  and  is  gradually 
gaining  in  membership.  Its  officers  elected  for  1910  are:  Fred  Allen,  sachem; 
E.  McG.  Walls,  chief  of  records;  Edward  Hoffman,  keeper  of  wampum. 

ORDER  OF  BEN    HUR. 

The  Order  of  Ben  Hur,  represented  by  Greencastle  Lodge,  No.  102, 
was  organized  January  19,  1S98.  It  now  has  in  e.xcess  of  two  hundred  mem- 
bers and  is  governed  by  the  following  officers:  J.  1.  I'lgg,  chief;  Mary  Johns, 
judge;  Ella  flyers,  teacher;  Fred  Reising,  keeper  of  tribute;  Minnie  A. 
Kiefer,  scribe;  May  Crawley,  captain;  E.  Figg.  guide;  Kate  Jordan,  outer 
guard;  Louisa  Reising,  inner  guard. 

BENEXOLENT    AND    PROTECTIVE    ORDER    OF    ELKS. 

Greencastle  Lodge,  No.  1077,  of  the  Benevolent  and  Protective  Order 
of  Elks  of  the  L'nited  States  of  .America,  was  organized  in  the  city  of  Green- 
castle. Indiana,  on  June  27,  1907.  Charter  members:  J.  L.  Hamilton,  J. 
P.  Hughes,  John  F.  Cannon,  James  E.  Vermillion,  Charlie  T.  Conn,  J.  L. 
Randel,  C.  P.  Broadstreet.  Harry  M.  Smith.  Henr>-  S.  Renick.  Wm.  M. 
Sutherlin.  A.  Evan  Ayler,  Harry  Goldberg,  William  A.  Beemer.  Ernest  P. 
Wright,  James  L.  Watson.  Fred  C.  Hohn,  Frank  E.  Crawley,  Edward  C. 
Hamilton,  Flarry  B.  }*Iartin.  John  W.  Young,  Thomas  Brothers.  AVilliam 
P.  Ledbetter.  .Albert  Hann-ick.  C.  C.  Gillen,  John  S.  Dowling. 

The  first  officers  of  the  lodge  were:  E.xalted  ruler,  James  L.  Hamilton; 
esteemed  leading  knight.  James  P.  Hughes ;  esteemed  loyal  knight.  John  F. 
Cannon :  esteemed  lecturing  knight,  James  E.  Vermilion ;  secretary,  C.  T. 
Conn;  treasurer,  J.  L.  Randel;  trustees.  C.  P.  Broadstreet.  H.  Al.  Smith 
and  H.  S.  Renick;  tyler,  William  M.  Sutherlin.  The  present  officers  are: 
Exalted  ruler.  James  E.  Vermilion ;  esteemed  leading  knight,  James  L.  Wat- 


128  WEIK  S    lUSTORV    OF 

S(Mi;  esteemed  loval  knight,  C.  C.  Gillen ;  esteemed  lecturing  knight.  Rees 
F.  ]\[atson;  secretary.  Ernest  Stoner;  treasurer,  J.  L.   Randel ;  tyler.   Frank 

J.  Cannon.  Jr.;  trustees,  C.  P.  Broadstreet,  H.  M.  Smith  and  E.  B.  Lynch. 

The  lodge  has  increased  from  a  membership  of  twenty-seven  at  the  date 
of  institution  to  a  membership  of  two  hundred  and  one  within  three  years. 

LITER.XKV    .\.\'D    SOCI.VL    0RC..\NIZATI0XS. 

Not  onlv  Greencastle,  but  e\-ery  town  and  village  in  the  county,  has 
its  proportion  of  women's  clubs.  So  numerous  have  they  Ijecome  that  they 
have  exhausted  the  entire  nomenclature  of  literature  and  historv  in  the 
search  for  names  and  titles.  To  list  their  membership  or  even  attempt  to 
classify  them  would  swell  this  volume  to  undue  proportions,  but  as  it  hap- 
pens that  the  first  woman's  club  ever  organized  in  Indiana  was  in  Putnam 
countv  and  as  it  still  flourishes  like  a  green  bay  tree,  we  cannut  well  omit  the 
brief  recital  of  its  history  here.  February  14.  1874.  fifteen  of  the  good 
women  of  Greencastle,  believing  a  mutual  exchange  of  ideas  on  the  ques- 
tions of  the  day  would  be  helpful  and  productive  of  good  results,  met  at  a 
private  residence  in  the  town  and  organized  what  they  termed  the  Woman's 
Reading  Club  of  Greencastle.  The  idea  was  to  issue  books,  which  were  to 
be  read  and  dulv  reviewed  and  discussed :  but  ere  long  the  book  feature 
dropped  out  and  the  club  became  a  veritable  forum.  Avhere  all  questions 
that  in  anv  wav  warranted  the  intervention  or  judgment  of  the  women  of 
Greencastle  were  submitted  for  discussion.  The  name  thereafter  reduced 
itself  to  the  Woman's  Club  of  Greencastle.  Of  the  original  fifteen  charter 
members  less  than  half  are  living.  The  names  were:  Airs.  Hester  Downey. 
Mrs.  Fmily  Hovt.  Mrs.  Roxanna  Ridpath.  IMr':.  Mary  Flanimond,  Miss 
.\nna  O'Brieu,  Mrs.  T.  F.  Farp.  Mrs.  Jerome  Allen.  Mrs.  .\ll)ert  .\llen.  Mrs. 
R.  Andrus.  ^Mrs.  W.  D.  Allen.  Mrs.  J.  Wilcox.  Mrs.  J.  Tingley.  Mrs.  G.  J. 
Langsdale.   Miss   Elizabeth   .\nies  and   Miss   Fannie   Donnohue. 

The  membership  is  limited  to  thirty  members.  The  club  still  meets 
fortnightly  in  the  parlor  of  Woman's  Hall.  DePauw  University.  Its  present 
officers  are;  Mrs.  J.  R.  Miller,  president:  Mrs.  S.  J.  Washburn,  first  vice- 
l)resi(lent:  Mrs.  J.  G.  Dunbar.  ..•second  vice-president:  Mrs.  E.  F.  Edwards, 
third  vice-president:  Mrs.  S.  A.  Hays,  recording  secretary:  Airs.  J.  H. 
Smvthe.  corresponding  secretary:  Mrs.  F.  A.  Arnold,  treasurer:  Mrs.  J. 
P.  D.  Tohn.  Mrs.  W.  F.  Swahlen.  critics :  Miss  Josephine  Donnohue.  coun- 
cil member. 

In  the  lifetime  of  the  late  Jerome  Allen,  of  Greencastle.  he  invited  to 
hishiimedne  evening  a  ciMiipany  of  gentlemen  representing  the  literary,  com- 


PUTNAM    COUNTY,    INDIANA. 


129 


mercial  and  agricultural  interests  of  the  community  to  discuss  with  them  the 
propriety  of  forming  a  society  or  organization  on  the  order  of  the  Woman's 
Club.  The  result  of  the  meeting  was  the  Gentlemen's  Club,  which  adopted 
a  constitution  and  was  duly  organized  December  14,  1891.  The  following 
were  the  charter  members :  H.  A.  Gobin,  P.  S.  Baker,  S.  A.  Hays,  L.  AI. 
Underwood,  S.  B.  Town.  Jesse  \V.  \\"eik,  C.  A.  Waldo,  H.  H.  Mathias,  H. 
B.  Longdon.  J.  C.  Ridpath.  W.  C.  Bronson,  J.  R.  Weaver,  T.  C.  Hammond. 
G.  C.  Smythe.  .\lbert  Hurlstone,  .\lbert  Allen,  Jonathan  Birch  and  Jerome 
Allen. 

Dr.  John  Clark  Ridpath  was  elected  president  and  Henrv  B.  Long- 
don, secretary-.  The  present  officers  are  J.  P.  Allen,  Sr..  president,  and  Jack- 
son Boyd,  secretary.     The  membership  is  also  limited  to  thirty. 

On  December  13,  1902,  a  branch  of  the  Daughters  of  the  American 
Revolution,  known  as  Washburn  Chapter,  was  organized  in  Greencastle. 
As  the  memijership  is  limited  to  the  descendants  of  those  who  fought  or 
materially  aided  the  cause  of  the  Americans  in  the  Revolution,  thote  en- 
titled to  admission  were  necessarily  small  in  number.  The  charter  members 
numbered  thirteen,  as  follows:  Mrs.  Blanche  Allen.  Miss  Ella  Beckwith  Miss 
Emma  Beckwith,  Mrs.  P.  O.  Cole,  :\Irs.  Louise  Denman,  Miss  Laura  L. 
Florer.  ^Jrs.  Clara  Lammers,  Miss  Pearl  O'Hair,  Mrs.  Mary  W.  Renick.  Mrs! 
Caroline  H.  Swahlen.  :\Iiss  Anna  M.  Washburn,  Mrs.  Lida  G.  Massey  and 
-Mrs.  Lelia  W.  DeMotte.  The  order  has  continued  in  active  operation  and 
is  membership  has  increased  to  about  thirty-f^ve.  It  meets  once  a  month 
during  eight  months  of  the  year,  and  in  every  reasonable  wav  strives  to 
perpettiate  the  memory  of  our  Revolutionary  ancestors  and  keep  alive  the 
fires  of  patrotism  in  every  part  of  the  land.  Its  last  officers,  elected  in  De- 
cember. u)oq.  are  as  follows:  Mrs.  Lelia  W.  DeMotte.  regent:  Mrs.  Caro- 
line H.  Swahlen.  vice-regent:  Mrs.  Ferdinand  J.ucas.  recorrling  secretary 
Mrs.  Xellie  Ander.son.  corresponding  secretary;  Mrs.  Clara  Lammers.  regis- 
trar: Miss  Laura  Florer.  historian:  ^Jrs.  Anna  .\.  Smith,  treasurer. 

r.R.VXD  ARMY  OF  THE   REPfBLIC. 

The  memon-  of  the  Civil  war  period  and  the  histor>-  of  the  heroic  deeds 
of  the  soMiers  of  that  immortal  struggle  are  kept  alive  by  the  Grand  Armv 
of  the  Republic.  In  Putnam  county  the  first  post,  known  as  Greencastle 
Post.  Xo.  ir.  was  organized  September  12.  1879.  The  first  officers  chosen 
were.  George  J.  Langsdale.  commander:  James  F.  Fee.  senior  vice-com- 
mander: James  .\.  Jackson,  junior  vice-commander;  John  M    Ivni"-ht 

(<))  —  .^     .   .ur- 


I30 


WEIK  S    HISTORY    OF 


geon :  Patterson  ATcNiitt.  chaplain;  M.  J.  Cooper,  officer  of  the  day;  Benja- 
min WilHams,  outer  guard ;  Jesse  Richardson,  adjutant. 

The  order  was  very  popular  and  its  numbers  increased  until  it  in- 
cluded at  one  time  over  two  hundred  members,  but  as  none  but  actual  Union 
soldiers  are  entitled  to  admission  and  as  the  veterans  are  rapidly  crossing  to 
the  "camp-ground"  on  the  other  side  of  the  great  river,  its  ranks  are  di- 
minishing.    In  a  few  brief  vears  the  order  will  be  extinct. 


CHAPTER  MIL 


BANKS   AND   BANKING 


Putnam  count v  had  not  long  been  settled  until  there  came  a  need  for 
a  place  where  the  people  might,  with  safety,  deposit  their  surplus  funds. 
Banks  of  exchange  had  not  yet  become  general  in  the  state,  but  as  most  peo- 
ple arriving  in  the  county  were  possessed  of  a  little  money  they  sought  a 
safe  place  to  deposit  the  same  until  they  could  find  an  acceptable  investment. 
The  only  safe  in  the  county  was  in  the  store  of  Capt.  W.  H.  Thornburgh 
and  there  most  of  those  who  had  surplus  funds  were  accustomed  to  deposit 
their  spare  money.  It  is  not  tmfair  to  state  that  these  deposits  were  a  dis- 
advantage to  the  Captain,  because  he  was  not  an  accurate  bookkeeper  and 
allowed  the  deposits  to  mingle  with  his  own  funds  so  that  he  finally  came 
to  over-estimate  his  own  wealth  and  indulged  in  some  degree  in  specula- 
tive investments.  The  result  was  inevitable,  but  to  the  Captain's  credit  be 
it  said  he  paid  eveiy  depositor  in  full,  without  the  loss  of  a  dollar. 

The  first  bank  was  a  broker's  office  established  about  1854  by  Augustus 
D.  Wood,  on  the  south  side  of  Washington  street  between  Indiana  and  Vine 
streets  in  Greencastle.  He  was  joined  by  Major  W.  D.  Allen,  and  ere  long 
they  moved  to  a  building  in  the  northeast  corner  of  the  public  square  and 
opened  up  for  business  as  the  Exchange  Bank.  In  a  short  time  the  concern 
was  incorporated  under  the  same  name  and  proceeded  to  do  business  under 
the  free  bank  law  of  Indiana.  Its  capital  was  fifty  thousand  dollars  and 
W.  D.  Allen  was  its  president.  Later  the  banking  office  was  removed  to  a 
building  on  the  south  side  of  Washington  street  in  the  block  east  of  the  court 
house,  where  it  continued  to  do  a  prosperous  business  till  the  winter  of 
1866-67  when,  owing  to  the  speculations  of  its  officers,  it  closed  its  doors 
and  its  presitlent  executed  a  mortgage  to  its  depositors  to  secure  their 
claims. 

Shortly  Ijefore  this,  on  the  opposite  side  of  the  street.  E.  T.  Keightley, 
in  connection  with  William  W.  Brown.  S.  Legate  and  George  Legate,  had 
started  a  private  bank,  which,  with  limited  capital,  secured  a  fair  share  of 
the  community's  business  for  several  years.  About  1871  the  Farmers  Bank 
was  organized  and  opened  up  for  business  in  the  room  on  the  southeast 
corner  of  the  square,  now  occupied  by  the  Owl  Drug  Company.     Some  of  the 


132 


WEIK  S    HISTORY    OF 


Stockholders  of  the  Keightley  bank  were  interested  in  it.  In  the  fall  of 
1873,  occasioned  by  the  disastrous  panic  of  that  period,  it  was  unaiale  to 
meet  its  obligations  and  closed  its  doors. 

The  next  private  bank  in  Greencastle  was  the  Putnam  County  Bank, 
operated  bv  W.  E.  Stevenson.  D.  E.  Williamson  and  John  W.  Earp.  It 
was  organized  later  in  the  eighties,  but  was  never  incorporated.  It  was  in 
operation  for  about  two  years  only. 

The  only  other  banks  at  the  county  seat  are  the  First  and  Central  Na- 
tional. The  First  National  was  organized  under  the  United  States  national 
bank  law  February  24,  1863.  For  several  years  its  banking  office  was  in 
a  room  on  the  east  side  of  the  public  square,  but  about  1870  it  built  its  own 
building  which  it  still  occupies  at  the  corner  of  Indiana  and  Washington 
streets.  Its  first  officers  were  Thomas  C.  Hammond,  president,  and  Jerome 
Allen,  cashier,  and  they  remained  uninterruptedly  at  the  head  of  the  con- 
cern until  a  few  days  before  the  expiration  of  its  second  charter,  a  period 
of  fortv  years.  When  Mr.  Hammond  vacated  the  presidency  he  was  suc- 
ceeded by  Alfred  Hirt,  who  still  fills  the' office.  Andrew  Hirt  is  the  cashier. 
The  charter  of  the  Central  National  Bank  was  granted  April  7,  1883.  Dewitt 
C.  Bridges  was  the  president  and  D.  W.  Lovett,  cashier.  For  a  time  it  oc- 
cupied a  room  on  Indiana  street  in  the  block  south  of  the  court  house,  but 
soon  after  it  erected  its  own  building  on  the  southwest  corner  of  the  public 
square,  where  it  still  continues  in  business.  Robert  L.  O'Hair  is  the  presi- 
dent and  James  L.  Randel,  cashier.  The  Central  Trust  Company,  another 
financial  institution  in  Greencastle,  was  established  May  i,  1900.  Its  pres- 
ident is  Robert  L.  0"Hair  and  James  L.  Randel  serves  as  secretary. 

The  Bainbridge  Bank  was  established  December  i.  1904,  by  F.  P.  and 
C.  M.  ^lofifett,  who  came  to  Bainbridge  a  short  time  before  that  date  from 
Westfield.  Illinois,  where  they  had  been  successfully  engaged  in  the  banking 
business.  During  the  first  year  here  the  business  was  conducted  in  a  room 
at  the  corner  of  Washington  and  Main  streets,  but  shortly  afterwards  the 
bank  occupied  its  own  building,  a  substantial  cement  block  structure.  The 
bank  has  had  a  steady  and  substantial  growth  from  the  first.  James  M. 
Reeds,  formerly  cashier  of  the  First  National  Bank  of  Coatesville.  became 
identified  with  the  Bainbridge  Bank  as  vice-president  on  January  i,  1909. 
F.  P.  Moffett  is  president  of  the  bank  and  his  son.  Charles  M.  ^Moffett,  is 
cashier. 

Other  banks  in  the  county  are  the  Coatesville  Bank,  established  in  1902, 
the  Bank  of  Cloverdale.  established  in  igoi,  the  Roachdale  Bank,  establish- 
ed in  1892.  and  the  Russell ville  Bank,  also  established  in  1892. 


CHAPTER  IX. 


JOURNALISM  IN  PUTNAM  COUNTY. 


The  date  the  first  newspaper  was  pubhshed  in  Putnam  countv  cannot 
be  accurately  determined.  As  late  as  the  summer  of  1837  nothing  of  the 
kind  had  been  attempted,  for  we  find  that  in  certain  divorce  suits  filed  at 
that  time  and  which  required  notice  by  publication,  orders  were  made  di- 
recting the  re(iuisite  notices  to  be  published  in  the  Indianapolis  Gazette  and 
also  the  Bloomington  Republiean.  Tradition  says  that  John  C.  Childs 
launched  the  first  newspaper  enterprise  in  the  county  in  1830  and  called  it 
The  Hoosier  and  that  in  1S34  he  sold  it  to  John  W.  Osborn.  The  latter 
changed  the  name  to  the  Ploiu  Boy.  As  no  files  of  the  paper  have  been 
presen-ed  the  present  generation  knows  but  little  about  it  or  what  it  con- 
tained. It  was  presumably  a  weekly  and  it  is  said  that  along  uith  it  Osborn 
sent  out  gratis  an  "eight-page  sheet  in  pamphlet  form  called  'The  Temper- 
ance Advocate.'  which  was  the  first  temperance  paper  published  in  the  West." 
I\Ir.  Osborn  was  influential  in  establishing  and  locating  Asbury  University 
at  Greencastle  and  was  one  of  the  institution's  first  trustees.  Late  in  1837 
he  disposed  of  his  paper  to  Wilkins  Tannahill.  who  came  from  Xashvillc. 
Tennessee,  and  who  published  it  for  about  two  years,  when  it  was  sold  to 
William  J.  Burns.  Burns  changed  the  name  to  The  J'isitor  and  its  publi- 
cation continued  for  several  years.  It  is  said  that  Judge  D.  R.  Eckels,  be- 
ing an  ardent  and  enthusiastic  Democrat,  aljout  this  time  purchased  the 
use  of  two  columns  of  the  J'isitor  in  order  that  he  might  fill  the  same  with 
Democratic  literature.  In  184J  Eckels  succeeded  in  establishing  a  Demo- 
cratic paper  which  he  called  the  Indiana  Patriot,  placing  the  management 
of  it  in  the  hands  of  Samuel  Farley.  This  management  continued  until 
Eckels  went  to  the  Mexican  war,  when  the  paper  was  turned  over  to  James 
Hanna.  Meanwhile  Dr.  ^\^illiam  Mahan,  beginning  in  1844,  had  established 
the  JVeeklv  Herald,  which  was  published  for  a  period  of  about  two  vears 
and  then  suspended.  In  June.  1846,  the  Putnam  County  Chronicle  was 
founded.  A  copy  issued  March  18.  1S47.  being  No.  40.  A*ol.  I.  shows  that 
it  was  "edited  bv  \V.  .V.  McKenzie  and  published  even.'  Thursdav  bv  W. 
H.  H.  Lewis  at  the  ofiice.  fup-stairs)  on  the  Northeast  corner  of  the  Public 
Square.   Creencastle.   la."     The  temis  of  subscription   were  two  dollars   if 


134 


WEIK  S    HISTORY    OF 


paid  in  advance;  two  dollars  and  fifty  cents  if  paid  within  six  months,  and 
three  dollars  at  the  end  of  the  year.     The  paper  contained  four  pages,  eigh- 
teen by  twenty- four  inches  in  size,  six  columns  to  the  page.     Much  of  it  is 
devoted  to  the  news  of  the  Mexican  war,  and  at  least  two  columns  to  a  list 
of  counterfeits  of  the  various  kinds  of  bank  notes  then  in  circulation.     The 
local  advertisements  are  somewhat  limited,  but  considerable  space  is  given  to 
the  virtues  of  two  or  three  kinds  of  patent  medicines.     Dr.  L.  M.  Knight 
calls  attention  to  his  stock  of  drugs  and  R.  D.  ^McEwen  &  Company  to  their 
stock  of  dry  goods,  shoes  and  hardware,  including  a  consignment  of  "Hatha- 
way's  Patent  Hot  Air  Cooking  Stoves,  etc."  M.  F.  Barlow  was  the  hatter 
of  the  period  and  J.  B.  Dinwiddle  praises  the  virtue  and  superiority  of  the 
chairs  made  at  his   factory  on  "the  northeast  corner  of  the  public  square 
one  door  west  of  Mr.  Lee's  cabinet  shop."     A.  G.  Detrick  &  Company  and 
William  Kramer  compete  for  the  patronage  of  the  public  in  the  line  of  sad- 
dles and  harness  and  R.  D.  Anderson,  who  returns  his  "thanks  to  the  public 
for  its  generous  patronage"  in  buying  his  drugs,  also  calls  attention  to  his 
stock  of  iron  nails  and  castings  as  well  as  a  "superior  article  of  wines,  bran- 
dies, rum  and  whiskey,  for  the  sick  only."     William  Stewart  warns  the  pub- 
lic against  any  debts  contracted  by  his  wife,  Francis  Eleanor,  who  refuses 
any  longer  to  live  with  him;  and  Captain  Applegate  and  Henry  W.  Daniels, 
orderly  sergeant  of  the   Putnam  Yellow  Jackets,  publish  an   order  requir- 
ing the  company  to  "parade  on  Saturday  the  lOth  of  April  at  lO-A.  M.  at 
the  Armory  in  full  uniform."  Mathew  Simpson,  Daniel  Sigler,  Henry  Se- 
crest,  J.  F.  Farley.  W.  C.  Larrabee.  R.  L.  Hathaway,  Isaac  Ash.  John  M. 
Allison  and  W.  H.  Thornburgh  as  a  committee  unite  in  a  request  that  May 
1 8th  be  the  date  agreed  upon  for  a  "Railroad  Convention"  which  is  to  be 
held   in   Indianapolis.     The   railroad   question   was   evidently   becoming   the 
dominant  and  burning  issue  at  this  time,   for  elsewhere  in  the  paper  is  an 
article  copied  from  the  Wabash  Express  of  Terre  Haute  bearing  upon  that 
all-absorbing  topic.     It  is  recited  therein  that  "The  directors  of  the  Terre 
Haute  &  Richmond  Railroad  Company  had  their  first  meeting  on  the  4th 
of  March  at  Terre  Haute.     Chauncey  Rose,  Esq.,  was  unanimously  chosen 
president  and  Thomas  I.  Bourne  secretary.     The  board  have  determined  to 
open  books  for  the  subscription  of  stock  at  an  early  day  in  April  in  Terre 
Haute,  Greencastle.  Richmond  and  Indianapolis;  and  at  St.   Louis,  Cincin- 
nati and  other  cities  as  soon  as  the  convention  which  is  to  assemble  in  May 
next,  at  Indianapolis,  shall  determine  on  the  best  plan  of  operations.     This 
road  across  the  state  of  Indiana  is  of  course  intended  as  a  link  in  the  great 


PUTXAM    COUNTY,    IXDIAXA.  1 35 

chain  of  railway  from  the  Atlantic  by  way  of  Baltimore  to  the  Mississippi 
river  at  St.  Louis." 

As  illustrative  of  the  best  and  swiftest  facilities  for  travel  and  com- 
munication at  that  period,  the  following  table  of  the  arrival  and  departure 
of  the  mails  at  the  Greencastle  postoffice.  published  in  the  same  number  of 
the  Chronicle.  March   i8,   1847.  's  in  point: 

ARRIVAL    AND    DEPARTURE    OF    JIAILS. 

"From  Bloomington  to  Crawfordsville  by  the  way  of  Putnamville  and 
Greencastle.  arrive  here  e\ery  Monday  and  Thursday  at  2  o'clock  P.  M.  and 
returns  next  day  at  about  10  A.  AI. 

"From  Greencastle  to  Rock\ilIe  every  Friday  leaves  Greencastle  at  6 
o'clock  A.  M.  and  returns  at  3  P.  M. 

"From  Greencastle  to  Jamestown  by  the  way  of  Eainbridge  and  Xew 
Maysville  leaves  every  Thursday  at  2  o'clock  P.  M.  and  returns  everv  Sat- 
urday at  3  o'clock  P.  M. 

THE    EXTRA    M.ME. 

"From  Greencastle  to  Putnannille  every  Tuesday.  W'eilnesday.  Fritlay 
and  Saturdav,  leaves  Greencastle  at  12  o'clock  M.  and  returns  same  davs 
at  3  P.  M.   ■ 

"There  will  be  no  mail  sent  to  Putnannille  on  Mondays  and  Thursda\s. 

"Jas.  Talbott,  p.  M." 

The  editorial  comments  are  somewhat  limited  and  without  especial 
significance.  .\s  a  ^^  hig  organ  the  paper  expresses  a  preference  for  holding 
the  congressional  convention  in  Terre  Haute,  on  April  30th.  but  in  no  other 
way  does  it  refer  to  politics  or  undertake  to  indicate  Whig  principles.  The 
leading  editorial  is  a  complaint  that  the  county  printing  goes  to  the  Patriot 
(Eckels'  paper)  instead  of  the  Chronicle  which  has  the  larger  circulation 
and  is  therefore  entitled  to  it  under  the  law.  One  of  the  most  significant 
things  in  the  paper  relates  to  the  matter  of  supplying  Greencastle  with  water. 
As  it  indicates  a  spirit  of  commercial  enterprise  anfl  civic  zeal  much  in  ad- 
vance of  the  day  it  will  not  be  without  interest  to  reproduce  the  article  en- 
tire.    Under  the  caption  "The  Water  Project."  the  paper  says: 

"We  understand  that  Mr.  Freeman,  of  Utica.  Xew  York,  who  is  now 
here,  has  made  a  proposition  to  our  town  council  to  bring  the  water  from 


136  WEIK  S    HISTORY    OF 

the  public  spring  on  to  the  public  s(iuare.  He  proposes  to  do  this  by  means 
of  a  pump  and  water  apparatus.  We  know  not  what  action  the  trustees 
of  the  town  will  take  upon  the  matter,  but  it  seems  to  us  that  it  should  at 
once  be  adopted.  Tiie  expense  would  be  small  compared  with  the  benefit 
which  our  citizens  would  derive  from  having  at  any  time  a  convenient  quan- 
tity of  water  almost  at  their  doors.  Upon  inquin,-  we  find  over  an  hundred 
families  either  directly  or  indirectly  dependent  upon  the  public  spring.  These 
are  under  the  necessity  of  carrying  water  through  mud.  in  some  instances, 
three  and  four  hundred  yards.  But  the  most  important  consideration  is  the 
convenient  use  of  water  properly  elevated  in  case  of  fire.  Should  a  fire  take 
place  it  might  lay  one-fourth  of  the  town  in  ashes  before  it  could  be  quench- 
ed. But  with  a  good  reservoir  of  water  on  the  square  and  a  small  engine 
we  could  almost  bid  defiance  to  the  flames.  The  difference  of  insurance 
that  would,  as  a  natural  consequence,  occur  would,  in  a  few  years,  pay  the 
expense  of  the  whole  project:  and  this  is  a  matter  to  be  considered  now. 
Delay  might  be  the  ruin  of  some  of  our  citizens  by  the  destruction  of  their 
property.  What  citizen  is  there  in  the  place  who  would  not  cheerfully  pay 
a  small  tax  to  promote  this  object?  A  little  reflection  must  convince  every 
one  that  it  is  not  only  expedient  but  that  it  is  a  measure  of  economy.  Let 
us  see.  Suppose  fifty  families  pay  thirty-seven  and  a  half  cents  to  get  a 
half  supply  of  water,  as  they  do  now — it  amounts  to  nine  hundred  and  sev- 
enty-five dollars  in  a  single  year;  nearly  sufficient  to  pay  the  expense  of  a 
permanent  water  apparatus.  But  perhaps  it  may  be  denied  that  it  costs  the 
weekh-  sum  named.  We  ask  who  would  take  it  to  carry  water  from  the 
public  spring  some  eighteen  or  twenty  times  a  week. 

"In  any  view,  then,  we  can  take  of  the  project  we  think  our  town  coun- 
cil should  move  in  this  matter.  If  they  think  the  citizens  will  not  sustain 
them  let  them  call  a  meeting  and  get  an  expression  of  public  opinion  with 
regard  to  it."' 

In  1848  John  Turk  launched  on  the  sea  of  journalism  a  new  paper  called 
The  Argus.  Its  political  inclination  is  not  remembered,  but  with  varying 
success  it  rode  the  waves  till  sometime  in  1853.  after  which  it  ceased  to 
appear.  In  Februarv.  1849.  C.  \\'.  Brown,  destined  to  a  long  connection 
with  the  newspaper  industry  of  Putnam  county,  made  his  first  appearance 
as  the  owner  and  publisher  of  the  Putnam  County  Sentinel.  In  size,  ap- 
pearance and  general  makeup  it  was  not  unlike  the  Chronicle  described  in 
the  preceding  paragraph.  The  advertisements  were  of  the  kind  suited  to 
the  period.  Special  prominence  is  given  t(j  the  schools.  In  the  issue  of 
.\ugust  J3.  1849.  \'ol.  I.  Xo.  26.  ]\lrs.  S.  E.  Stevenson  announces  the  open- 


PLTNAM     COL'NTY,    INDIANA.  137 

ing  of  her  I'emale  School,  and  Levi  Reynolds,  principal  of  the  County  Sem- 
inary, calls  attention  to  the  excellent  character  of  the  work  of  that  institution 
under  his  management.  The  Greencastie  Female  Collegiate  Seminary,  pre- 
sided over  bv  }ilrs.  Larrabee.  is  also  given  due  prominence,  assurance  being 
given  that  -The  institution  has  a  liberal  charter  with  collegiate  powers  and 
will  confer  all  the  degrees  usually  conferred  in  female  seminaries."  There 
are  a  number  of  foreign  or  outside  advertisements,  among  them  that  of  the 
-Western  Military  Institute  of  Georgetown,  Kentucky."  containing  a  column 
of  solid  matter  calling  attention  to  the  remarkable  combination  of  the  "science 
of  West  Point  Academy,  with  the  classical  literature  of  our  best  colleges" 
and  enumerating  among  the  names  of  its  faculty.  "James  G.  Blaine,  A.  B., 
adjunct  professor  of  languages." 

The  next  newspaper  enterprise  in  the  county  was  the  Pittnain  Repub- 
lican Banner,  founded  by  Albert  Patrick  in  1852.  Mr.  Patrick  continued 
in  the  publication  till  February,  1856.  when,  desiring  to  cast  his  lot  with 
the  people  of  "bleeding  Kansas,"  he  disposed  of  his  ownership  of  the  Banner 
to  Christopher  Brown  and  left  for  the  West.  Mr.  Brown  remained  at  the 
helm  till  February,  1865,  when  he  sold  the  office  anil  good  will  to  John  R. 
Rankin.  In  the  following  September  Rankin  sold  an  interest  to  L.  L.  Burke 
and  announced  that  the  management  of  the  paper  thereafter  would  be  di- 
vided. ":\[r.  Burke  assuming  the  editorship"  and  Mr.  Rankin  the  "supervi- 
sion of  the  mechanical  department."  In  January,  1866,  Rankin  and  Burke, 
tiring  of  their  investment,  sold  the  paper  to  Brown,  who  again  assumed  the 
editorship.  In  December  the  latter  disposed  of  his  interest  to  "J.  'M.  Til- 
ford,  late  of  the  Indianapolis  Journal."  but  the  ownership  soon  vested  in 
Samuel  E.  Tilford.  probably  a  son  of  the  former.  In  the  following  January 
George  I.  Langsdale  bought  an  interest  and  the  paper  was  thereafter  con- 
ducted under  the  joint  management  and  ownership  of  Tilford  and  Langsdale, 
with  Mr.  Langsdale  in  the  editorial  chair.  In  July.  1867,  Tilford  disposed 
of  his  interest  to  Langsdale  and  the  latter  became  sole  proprietor.  [Mr. 
Langsdale  was  a  very  strong  man  intellectually  and  well  equipped  for  the 
editorship.  Under  his  management  the  paper  took  on  new  life,  its  circu- 
lation increased  and  it  grew  in  strength  and  popular  favor  until  in  1890. 
when  it  was  purchased  from  Langs<lale  by  Millard  J.  Beckett,  it  was  ad- 
mittedh-  one  of  the  ablest  and  most  influential  county  papers  in  the  state 
Mr.  Beckett  in  1891  bought  the  Times  (which  had  been  founded  by  A.  J. 
Xeff  in  1882  )  of  .\.  A.  Smith  and  merged  it  with  the  Banner.  In  October, 
1808.  it  was  bought  bv  its  present  owner,  Harry  M.  Smith,  who  still  pub- 
lishes the  Banner  weeklv  and  also  a  daily  edition  under  the  same  name.  From 


1^8  weik's  history  of 

its  birth  until  1856  the  Banner  supported  the  Whig  party  and  since  that 
time  it  has  been  unwavering  in  its  adherence  to  the  principles  of  the  Re- 
publican party.  The  first  Democratic  organ  was  the  Press,  established  by 
Howard  Briggs  in  1858.  He  continued  its  publication  until  late  in  1887 
when  it  was  purchased  by  Frank  A.  Arnold,  who  was  then  publishing  the 
Star  and  merged  the  two  under  the  name  of  Star-Press.  The  Star  had  orig- 
inally been  founded  by  Mr.  Arnold  and  Heniy  J.  Feltus  in  May,  1874.  as 
an  independent  paper.  In  August,  1875,  Feltus  sold  to  Arnold,  leaving  the 
latter  in  sole  possession.  When  the  Star  and  Press  were  consolidated  in 
1885  the  paper  at  once  announced  its  unqualified  support  of  the  Democratic 
party  and  it  has  never  wavered  in  its  allegiance  to  that  party  since.  In  1903 
it  was  consolidated  with  the  Demoerat,  a  weekly  established  by  H.  B.  Mar- 
tin about  1893  and  subsequently  owned  by  F.  D.  Ader  and  R.  P.  Carpenter 
in  succession,  after  which  the  name-was  changed  to  The  Star  and  Democrat. 
It  is  still  issued  weekly  by  the  Star  and  Democrat  Publishing  Company.  The 
concern  also  publishes  a  daily  called  The  Herald. 


CHAPTER  X. 


INCIDENTS  OF  EARLY   HISTORY. 


We  are  told  by  those  who  have  studied  tlie  question  that  in  the  early 
settlement  of  the  county  the  people  almost  invariably  mo\'ed  westward  along 
climatic  parallels :  that  the  wave  of  immigration  which  began  in  New  York 
and  the  New  England  states  rolled  over  Pennsylvania,  Ohio  and  Indiana ; 
that  the  Maryland  and  Virginia  tide  swept  through  Kentucky  and  thence 
along  the  same  parallel  to  Missouri.  Such  doubtless  was  the  rule,  but  for 
some  strange  reason  it  did  not  apply  in  the  case  of  Putnam  county :  for  when 
the  New  York  or  Yankee  stream  neared  these  parts  it  was  sudtlenly  diverted 
and  in  its  stead  came  a  persistent  and  unvarying  influx  from  Kentucky.  The 
young  and  hardy  emigrant  from  the  blue-grass  country  was  by  some  mys- 
terious and  inscrutable  agency  drawn  across  the  natural  parallel  to  that  one 
spot  in  Indiana  where  blue  grass  had  long  before  aii[)eared  and  reached  its 
highest  perfection. 

Many  of  our  established  families  are  able  to  trace  their  lineage  through 
and  beyond  Kentucky :  and  it  is  no  discredit  to  them  that,  even  to  the  latest 
generation,  there  still  remain  traces  of  the  lofty  bearing,  knightly  hospitality 
and  hatred  of  their  Yankee  neighbors  which  was  so  marked  a  characteristic 
of  their  aristocratic  progenitors,  the  Cavaliers  of   Maryland   anfl   \'irginia. 

THE    STORY   OF   .\N    OLD   SETTLER. 

To  illustrate  more  vividly  the  character  and  purposes  of  those  who  laid 
the  foundations  of  our  agricultural  prosperity  and  success. —  for  we  are  above 
all  things  an  agricultural  county, — extracts  are  here  inserted  from  the  his- 
tory of  the  li\es  of  two  of  our  earliest  and  most  prominent  settlers;  and 
as  they  are  merely  types  of  many  others,  the  names  are  omitted.  The  first 
one  is  the  substance  of  a  paper  read  before  the  Putnam  County  Historical 
Society  as    follows  : 

"M the  father  of the  subject  of  this 

sketch,  was  a  native  of where  he  lived  until  he  had  grown 

to  the  full  stature  of  manhood.  Then,  being  a  man  of  positive  opinions 
and  a   in  faith,  he  naturalh'  turned  his  e\'es  toward  the 


I40  WEIK  S    HISTORY    OF 

American  colonies  where  he  could  exercise  his  religious  and  political  views 
as  best  suited  him.  He  landed  in  this  country  in  1775,  about  one  year  before 
the  Declaration  of  Independence.  He  settled  in  Virginia,  where  he  lived 
when  England  declared  war  against  the  colonies.  He  at  once  laid  down 
the  plow  for  the  sword  and  enlisted  in  the  army.  He  fought  under  the  com- 
mand of  General  Washington  for  a  short  time;  then  was  placed  under  Gen- 
eral Greene  and  was  with  him  in  all  his  battles  in  the  Carolinas  and  in  Vir- 
ginia. He  was  a  soldier  of  the  Revolution  for  seven  years,  remaining  faith- 
ful to  the  cause  until  peace  had  been  declared  and  the  United  States  had 
become  free  and  independent.  After  his  discharge  from  the  army  he  lived 
for  a  short  time  in  the  state  of  Virginia  and  from  there  went  to  Jessamine 

county,  Kentucky,  where  he  soon  after  was  married  to  Miss Four 

children  were  born  to  them,  three  daughters  and  one  son.  The  death  of  his 
first  wife  occurred    a  short  time  after  the  birth  of  the  last  child.     His  second 

marriage  was  to   about  1794,  by  whom  he  had  ten  children, 

five  sons  and  fi\-e  daughters.  His  descendants  now  number  more  than  one 
thousand  people. 

"The  subject  of  this  sketch  was  the  fifth  child  by  the  second  marriage 
and  was  born  July  5,  1804.  In  the  year  1812,  when  he  was  eight  years  old. 
his  father  died.  His  mother  survived  her  husband  many  years,  her  death 
occurring  October  i,  1839,  at  the  home  of  her  son  in  Putnam  county,  six  miles 

from  Greencastle.     At  the  age  of  fifteen  the  boy  went  to  live  with 

near  Mt.  Sterling.  Kentucky,  and  worked  for  his  board  and  clothing  for 
five  years.  During  this  time  he  went  to  school  about  three  months  of  each 
winter  for  four  winters,  obtaining  thus  all  the  school  education  he  ever  re- 
cei\-ed.  The  school  house  was  built  of  hewed  logs  with  a  large  fire-place  in 
one  end.  having  split  saplings  with  wooden  legs  for  benches  and  greased 
paper   for  window  panes. 

■'-\t  the  age  of  twenty  years,  on  March  5,  1825.  the  subject  of  this  sketch 
w  as  married  to  Miss  In  a  few  days  thereafter,  hav- 
ing loaded  on  a  pack  saddle  all  their  household  goods,  consisting  of  two  beds, 
three  plates,  two  teacups,  two  knives,  two  forks,  a  gourd,  a  stewkettle  and 
a  skillet,  the  wife  riding  another  horse  and  canying  with  her  all  their  wear- 
ing apparel  and  leading  the  pack-horse,  and  the  husband  following  on  foot. 
driving  a  cow  and  a  colt  which  his  father-in-law  had  given  him.  the  young 
couple  started  for  their  new  home  in  the  wilds  of  Estill  county,  Kentucky, 
on  the  Kentucky  river  seventy-five  miles  away.  They  took  two  days  for  the 
journev.  Arrived  at  his  destination,  the  young  farmer  traded  one  horse 
for  a  claim  of  al^out  twentv-five  acres.     This  trade  left  him  one  mare,  a  colt. 


PUTNAM     COUNTY.    INDIANA.  I4I 

one  cow,  a  young  wife  and  not  a  dollar  in  his  pocket.  He  at  once  determined 
to  better  his  condition  and  own  a  large  fami.  The  first  year  he  cleared  five 
acres  of  ground.  He  raised  five  crops  on  this  place.  All  the  iron  he  had 
for  tending  these  crops  was  the  point  of  his  shovel-plow  and  the  bit  in  his 
horse's  mouth.  After  he  had  raised  one  crop  his  brother-in-law  sold  him 
eleven  sows  and  pigs  on  credit  for  thirty  dollars.  He  drove  them  home 
eighteen  miles  and  turned  them  out  on  mast  in  the  mountains,  feeding  them 
occasionally  to  keep  them  from  running  wild.  That  thirty  dollars  of  debt 
worried  him  day  and  night  and  he  was  determined  to  pay  it.  In  order  to 
do  this  he  hunted  coons  on  winter  nights  for  their  hides,  which  he  sold  for 
ten  dollars.  His  wife  spun  yarn,  wove  cloth  and  made  him  an  overcoat, 
which  he  concluded  to  do  without  in  order  that  he  might  sell  it  for  twenty 
dollars  to  pay  his  debt.  He  now  had  the  thirty  dollars  he  owed  his  brother- 
in-law  and  walked  eighteen  miles  to  pay  it.  He  felt  chagrined  when  on 
reaching  the   latter's  house  he   refused  to  take   the  money,   saying:   'Now, 

I  don't  need  that  money  and  you  do.     You  take  it  and 

buy  some  calves  to  take  home  with  you."  He  did  so,  buying  ten  head,  driving 
them  home  and  turning  them  into  the  canebrakes. 

CATCHING   .A    PENITENT    THIEF. 

"The  third  year  our  subject  lived  in  the  mountains  he  met  with  a  loss 
which  led  him  into  an  interesting  and  almost  fatal  adventure.  .-\  young 
man  came  to  him  for  work  and  he  hired  the  applicant  for  the  season.  The 
second  day  after  doing  so.  while  he  was  away  in  the  mountains  looking  after 
his  hogs,  the  hired  man  stole  the  only  suit  of  clothes  he  had.  ten  coon  skins, 
se\'en  dollars  in  monev  and  his  canoe  and  put  off  down  the  river.  On  coming 
home  at  night  he  learned  from  his  wife  what  had  happened  and  immediateh- 
determined  to  catch  the  thief.  He  borrowed  a  canoe  of  his  nearest  neighbor 
and  started  down  the  river  for  that  purpose.  Se\'eral  miles  below,  a  large 
rock  lay  in  the  middle  of  the  river  with  a  swift  current  flowing  on  each  side 
of  it.  On  this  rock  his  canoe  lodged  in  such  a  manner  that  he  could  not  get 
it  oft'.  He  got  out  of  his  boat  and  managed  to  get  a  solid  footing,  but  having 
carefully  \iewed  the  situation  he  gave  up  all  hope  of  ever  getting  away 
alive  and  commenced  to  pray.  After  pra\-ing  for  some  time,  he  concluded 
forced  prayer  could  not  avail  much.  So  he  quit  praying  and.  plunging  into 
the  icv  water,  swam  ashore.  He  went  to  the  nearest  house  and  dried  his 
clothing.  At  daylight  he  set  out.  this  time  on  foot  down  the  river  bank  in 
search  of  his  man.     Four  or  five  miles  below  he   found  his  canoe  tied  to 


^"\ 


142 


WEIK  S    HISTORY    OF 


the  bank  bottom  up  and  knew  from  that  circumstance  and  from  the  swift 
current  in  the  river  that  the  thief  had  also  been  capsized  and  lost  all  the 
stolen  goods.  He  went  to  the  nearest  house  and  found  the  man  drying  his 
clothes.  He  took  the  refugee  in  charge  and  started  back  on  foot.  Thinking 
the  matter  over,  he  concluded  to  give  his  captive  the  choice  of  a  whipping 
or  a  trip  to  the  penitentiary.  The  man  chose  the  whipping.  He  accordingly 
tied  him  to  a  tree,  cut  a  good  switch  and  began  on  him.  He  whipped  a  while, 
then  talked,  telling  the  culprit  that  the  whipping  was  for  his  good.  He  re- 
peated the  castigation  till  they  were  both  worn  out.  Then  he  turned  the 
malefactor  loose  and  gave  him  some  good  advice.  As  the  hat  of  the  un- 
fortunate evil-doer  had  been  lost  in  the  river,  he  gave  him  his  own  and  went 
home  bareheaded.  Twenty  years  later  he  met  this  man  in  an  adjoining  state, 
with  an  interesting  family  around  him,  well-to-do  and  respected  by  all  his 
neighbors.  The  whipping  was  not  referred  to  by  either  party;  but  it  is  not 
at  all  improbable  that  the  timely  whipping  with  its  accompanying  advice 
made  a  man  of  the  unlucky  thief. 

G.\NDER-PULLING. 

"After  raising  five  crops concluded  that  the  moun- 
tains had  no  further  attraction  for  him  and  in  the  fall  of  1829  he  rounded 
up  his  hogs,  which  had  increased  to  one  hundred  seven  head,  and  his  calves, 
which  had  grown  to  be  good  sized  steers,  and  sold  the  entire  lot,  together 
with  twentv  acres  of  standing  corn  in  the  field,   for  five  hundred  dollars. 

His  father-in-law   ,  had  decided  to  emigrate  to  Indiana 

and  he  had  selected  Illinois  for  his  future  home.  He  hired  a  man  to  move 
him  and  he  himself  walked  behind  the  wagon,  driving  three  cows.  He  ar- 
rived in  Illinois  about  the  loth  of  October,  1829.  He  had  sent  his  wife  and 
two  children  with  her  father  to  Indiana.  He  entered  one  hundred  fifty-six 
acres  of  land  six  miles  south  of  Paris,  sowed  four  acres  of  wheat  and  com- 
menced to  build  him  a  cabin.  When  Sunday  came  he  found  there  was  not 
a  church  or  school  house  nearer  than  six  miles.  He  began  to  look  about  and 
see  what  class  of  people  he  was  to  make  home  and  rear  his  children  with 
and  found  them  congregated  on  Sunday  at  shooting  matches,  horse  races  and 
gander-pullings.  They  would  take  an  old  gander,  tie  his  feet  to  the  limb  of 
a  tree,  soap  his  head  and  neck,  then  go  back  fifty  yards  and  ride  as  fast 
as  their  horses  could  run  under  the  gander  and  catch  him  by  the  head :  who- 
ever pulled  the  head  off  received  the  gander  as  a  prize.  ]Men  were  pulled 
off  of  their  horses  oftener  than  heads  were  pulled  off  of  the  ganders.     As 


PUTNAM    COUNTY,    INDIANA.  I43 

the  young  fanner  from  Kentucky  had  been  taught  to  respect  the  Sabbath 
and  was  a  member  of  the  Methodist  church,  he  could  not  think  of  rearing 
his  children  in  such  a  community.  So  he  concluded  to  find  a  better  neigh- 
borhood. 

"About  the  last  of  October  he  came  over  to  Indiana  after  his  wife  and 
children.     The  first  Sunday   following  his  arrival  he  attended  church  in  a 

log  school  house,  where  he  met  such  men  as 

and    After  consulting  his  wife  and  comparing 

these  men  and  the  land  about  with  the  people  and  land  in  Illinois,  where  he 
had  taken  a  claim,  he  concluded  to  sell  out  and  locate  in  Indiana.       ^Ir. 

his  brother-in-law,  proposed  to  sell  him  eighty  acres 

of  his  land  for  two  hundred  dollars  and  then  give  him  an  additional  eighty- 
acre  tract  adjoining  it.     He  accepted  the  proposition.     These  one  hundred 

and  sixty  acres  form  a  part  of  his  present  home  farm,    miles  from 

Greencastle.  Immediately  after  the  purchase  he  left  for  Illinois  and  moved 
all  his  household  goods  on  a  pack  saddle,  arriving  at  his  new  Indiana  farm 
the  latter  part  of  October,  1829. 

CLEARING   L.\ND. 

'"The  first  thing  was  to  build  him  a  log  house  in  about  the  thickest  woods 
he  had  ever  seen.  By  spring  he  was  ready  to  move  into  the  cabin.  He  at 
once  went  to  work,  deadening  timber,  rolling  logs  and  burning  brush  bv 
night.  The  first  spring  he  succeeded  in  clearing  three  acres,  among  the 
stumps  of  which,  planting  in  June,  he  raised  a  good  crop  of  corn.  The 
second  year  he  cleared  ten  acres.  After  cutting  all  the  timber  down  and 
trimming  it  ready  for  rolling,  he  called  in  his  neighbors  and  thirtv  of  them 
came  to  help  him.  The  next  day  he  and  his  thirty  assistants  went  to  an- 
other neighbor  and  helped  him.  and  so  on  from  clearing  to  clearing.  And 
so  from  year  to  year  the  sturdy  early  settlers  toiled  until  they  finally  suc- 
ceeded in  clearing  and  fencing  their  farms says  that  ofT 

of  the  fann  on  which  he  settled  when  he  came  to  Putnam  county  he  has  sold 
twelve  thousand  dollars  worth  of  walnut  and  poplar  timber  and  he  is  satis- 
fied that  he  destroyed  and  made  into  rails  an  amount  that  if  it  were  stand- 
ing todav  would  be  valued  at  not  less  than  twenty  thousand  dollars. 

'"The  early  settlers  were  all  poor  and  dependent  upon  selling  what  lit- 
tle thev  had  to  spare  to  new-comers  into  the  county.     .\t  one  time  at  a  Fourth 

of  lulv  celebration  they  were  very  much  discouraged  by  Judge 

declaring  that   the  country  would   soon   be   filled    up   with   inhabitants   and 


144 


WEIK  S    HISTORY    OF 


they  would  have  no  one  to  whom  they  could  sell  their  surplus;  but  as  the 
country  became  settled  their  markets  opened  and  the  Judge's  problem  was 
solved. 

"The  first  church   in   the   neighborhood  was  built  of  logs  on   the  site 

now  occupied  by    The  prominent  contributors  to   the 

erection  of  this  building  were  the  subject  of  this  sketch, , 

and Not  having  any 

money  to  donate,  the  first  mentioned  on  the  above  list  subscribed  a  cow, 
which  was  sold  for  eight  dollars,  the  money  thus  obtained  being  used  in 
the  construction  of  the  church.  The  inhabitants  attended  church  by  families 
in  wagons  drawn  by  oxen  some  of  the  men  walking  and  leading  the  oxen. 

"In  due  course  of  time   began  to  accumulate  some 

money  and  ere  long  had  bought  forty  acres  of  land  adjoining  his  home 
farm  for  one  hundred  dollars.  His  next  purchase  was  eighty  acres  for 
five  hundred  dollars.  And  as  he  could  spare  the  money  he  kept  adding  to 
his  farm  until  he  had  increased  it  to  five  hundred  and  fifty  acres;  this  was  in 
the  year  1847.  He  always  made  it  a  rule  never  to  buy  land  until  he  could 
make  a  partial  payment  and  see  his  way  to  pay  the  balance,  giving  his  note  for 
deferred  payments;  and  he  never  failed  to  meet  the  notes  when  due.  He 
was  never  asked  to  give  an  endorser  or  make  a  mortgage. 

"On  August   II,   1849,  the  angel  of  death  entered  the  home  of  Mr. 

taking  his  faithful  companion  who  had  patiently  borne 

wnth  him  an  equal  share  of  the  hardships  of  a  new  country.  She  left  him  a 
large  family  of  children,  consisting  of  seven  boys  and  three  girls,  all  of 
whom  are  living  except  two.     Three  years  later,  on   September    15.    1S52. 

he  was  married  to To  this  union  was  born  one  daughter 

and   one   son. 

••yi\- has  assisted  his  eight  sons  in  buying  more  than 

three  thousand  acres  of  land,  though  all  the  money  for  this  purpose  or  for 
any  other  purpose  advanced  to  them  has.  with  the  exception  of  eight  hun- 
dred dollars  each,  been  returned  to  him.  He  preferred  to  let  them  pay  for 
their  own  homes  that  they  might  better  appreciate  them.  He  attributes 
his  financial  success  largely  to  keeping  out  of  debt  and  avoiding  speculation 
and  has  tried  to  impress  the  same  rule  of  life  upon  his  sons." 

STORY    OF    .\    M.\RYI.AXD    TR.KVELER. 

The  account  of  the  other  early  settler  referred  to  in  the  opening  para- 
graph of  this  chapter  is  from  the  pen  of  his  son.  "My  father.''  relates  the 
latter,  "left  Fre<lerick  county.  INfaryland.  where  he  was  born,  in  1825.  main- 


PUTNAM    COUNTY,    INDIANA.  I45 

ly  because  of  slavery,  to  which  he  was  bitterly  opposed.  He  was  mounted 
on  a  large  and  fine  horse,  of  which  he  was  a  judge  and  great  admirer,  and 
seated  on  a  pair  of  old-fashioned  leather  saddle-bags,  in  which  he  carried 
all  his  belongings.  Being  deeply  interested  in  agriculture,  he  had  decided 
to  emigrate  to  a  country  where  he  could  get  the  four  most  important  ele- 
ments of  a  hrst-class  fami,  namely,  good  soil,  good  water,  lime-stone  rock 
and  good  timber.  He  journeyed  through  Kentucky,  halting  in  Clark,  Fa- 
ette  and  Bourbon  counties,  where  he  found  the  four  requisites,  but  the  dark 
shadow  of  slaver}-  was  as  objectionable  as  in  the  Maryland  location  he  had 
just  left.  He  kept  westward  and  ere  long  reached  Indianapolis  where  the 
means  he  had  would  have  purchased  a  wide  extent  of  land,  but  he  thought 
it  was  too  wet,  more  or  less  unhealthy,  and  not  up  to  his  standard.  Con- 
tinuing his  journey,  he  liked  the  appearance  of  the  coitntry  about  Danville. 
but  did  not  see  exactly  what  he  wanted.  Xight  overtook  him  two  miles  east 
of  Greencastle.  He  stopped  for  the  night  with  old  John  McXary,  at  whose 
house  a  large  gathering  of  neighbors  had  congregated  to  celebrate  the  in  fare 
of  one  of  McNar>'"s  children  who  had  just  been  married.  My  father  was 
much  pleased  with  the  manner  of  the  people,  especially  their  considerate 
attentions  to  a  stranger.  Xext  morning  by  sunrise  he  was  on  his  horse, 
headed  for  Greencastle,  expecting  to  arrive  there  in  time  for  breakfast.  He 
stopped  at  a  tavern  called  'Social  Hall,'  kept  by  one  King.  AX'hile  eating  his 
first  meal  in  the  embyro  city,  he  learned  from  King  that  the  upper  story 
of  his  house  was  unfinished  on  account  of  a  lack  of  monev  and  that  he  want- 
ed to  sell.  Before  leaving  the  table  a  bargain  was  struck  and  before  the  next 
meal  my  father  was  himself  the  proprietor  of  "Social  Hall"  and  held  an  op- 
tion on  two  vacant  lots  nearby.  His  travels  had  ended  antl  he  soon  began 
to  acquire  farnnng  land  near  the  town.  At  that  time  there  was  much  valu- 
able land  still  subject  to  entr>-  at  the  United  States  land  office.  :\Iv  father's 
selections  there  and  his  purchase  of  small  tracts  located  by  others  composed 
the  main  part  of  his  landed  possessions.  He  had  evidently  found  in  the 
soil  and  climate  of  Putnam  county  the  requisite  he  had  been  seeking,  and 
in  time  became  the  largest  land  owner  in  the  county." 

THE   ORIGIN    OF    BLUE    GR.\S.S. 

Tliere  are  good  grounds  for  the  belief  that  the  blue  grass  of  Putnam 
county  and  the  adjacent  area  is  an  original  Indiana  product  and  not.  as  is 
generalh-  supposed,  an  importation   from  Kentuck\-.     To  at  least  two  per- 
(10) 


j^Q  weik's  history  of 

sons  from  the  Hoosier  state — Hon.  Henry  S.  Lane,  of  Crawfordsville.  and 
Col.  Thomas  Dowhng,  of  Terre  Haute — Henn.-  Clay  declared  that  the  seed  of 
the  original  blue  grass  which  has  made  Kentucky  famous  came  from  Indiana. 
When  Colonel  Dowling  visited  Mr.  Clay  and  asked  for  a  handful  of  the 
seed  of  the  real  Kentucky  blue  grass  to  take  home  with  him.  the  proprietor 
of  "Ashland"  smiled  and  then  reminded  his  visitor  that  blue  grass  was  in- 
digenous to  the  soil  of  central  Indiana,  which  was  a  limestone  base  with 
•a.  super-stratum  of  clav,  and  that  the  Kentucky  soldiers  in  the  early  Indian 
wars,  returning  from  Ft.  Harrison  on  the  Wabash,  found  it  growing  in  pro- 
fusion there  and  brought  the  seed  back  home  with  them. 

But  whether  that  be  true  or  not,  it  is  certain  that  Putnam  county  is 
entitled  to  some  distinction  as  the  leading  blue  grass  county  of  the  state.  Our 
earlv  settlers  realized  the  advantages  of  that  remarkable  plant,  its  wonderful 
nutritious  value  and  the  profitable  returns  it  yielded  when  properly  fed  to 
li\-estock.  The  result  was  that  our  people  were  among  the  earliest  and  at 
one  time  the  greatest  producers  of  high-grade  cattle  in  the  state.  Space 
here  will  not  allow  the  list  of  all  their  names,  but  prominent  among  them 
Avere  such  men  as  Dr.  A.  C.  Stevenson,  Andrew  M.  Lockridge,  Joseph  Al- 
len. Wilson  Yates,  James  McMurray.  B.  F.  Corwin,  Daniel  Thornton,  Charles 
Brido-es,  Col.  A,  S.  Farrow,  Alexander  Bryan,  Ambrose  D.  Hamrick,  Frank 
P.  Nelson,  Jesse  Hvmer,  William  B.  Peck.  Thomas  C.  Hammond  and  Simp- 
son F.  Lockridge.  The  earliest  and  the  most  conspicuous  in  his  efforts 
to  utilize  the  wealth  of  blue  grass  and  improve  the  breed  of  cattle  was  Dr. 
Alexander  C.  Stevenson.  He  was  a  real  student  of  agriculture,  having  for 
vears  been  president  of  the  State  Agricultural  Society,  as  well  as  a  genius 
in  the  development  of  our  livestock.  Even  while  he  was  still  living  in  Green- 
castle  and  practicing  medicine,  he  was  deeply  interested  in  livestock.  "He 
lived."  relates  one  of  the  early  residents  of  Greencastle,  "in  a  two-story  log 
house  just  outside  the  corporation  line,  northwest  of  town  and  on  a  lot  north 
of  James  M.  Groom's  residence.  He  had  a  large  barn  and  when  I  was  a 
bov  I  used  to  go  there  and  admire  the  fine  specimens  of  the  short-horn 
breed  of  cattle,  descendants  of  stock  purchased  of  the  Owens  family,  and 
which  traced  back  to  the  famous  Kentucky  importation  of  1817.  The  Doc- 
tor was  a  remarkable  man  for  his  time  and  a  diligent  student  of  the  stock 
c|uestion.  I  have  witnessed  him  in  del^ate  when  called  to  the  floor  by  remarks 
of  such  men  as  Lewis  F.  Allen,  of  Buffalo,  New  York.  George  M.  Bed- 
ford and  William  Warfield  of  Kentucky,  and  he  invariably  acquitted  him- 
self  with   credit.'' 


PL'TXAM    COUNTY,    INDIANA.  I47 

EARLY    IMPORTATION    OF    CATTLE. 

Doctor  Stevenson  ven-  early  realized  that  our  own  livestock  was  not  up 
to  the  requisite  standard  and  that  great  improvement  could  be  made  bv 
the  introduction  of  some  of  the  recognized  pure  breeds  from  abroad.  He 
argued  that  with  the  abundance  of  luxuriant  blue  grass  then  in  the  country, 
great  profits  could  be  realized  if  only  the  right  strain  of  stock  was  secured: 
and  he  proposed  to  his  neighbors  and  friends  that  they  combine  and  purchase 
the  requisite  stock  in  Europe  and  ship  to  this  country.  But,  however  fav- 
orably his  neighbors  were  impressed  with  the  idea,  none — with  a  single  ex- 
ception— were  willing  to  join  him  and  he  therefore  embarked  in  the  enter- 
prise himself.  July  2,  1853.  he  sailed  from  Philadelphia  for  England,  where 
he  spent  some  time  traveling  over  the  country,  examining  the  various  herds 
and  studying  the  livestock  question  from  every  point  of  view.  With  the 
primitive  and  inconvenient  arrangements  on  shipboard  and  elsewhere  for 
shipping  cattle  across  the  Atlantic  in  that  day,  it  was  not  only  an  expensive 
but  more  or  less  hazardous  undertaking.  The  Indiana  State  Journal  and  the 
Indiana  Farmer  published  numerous  letters  from  the  Doctor  in  which  he 
described  his  journey  and  the  many  strange  and  oftentimes  interesting  ex- 
periences that  befell  him.  He  bought  stock  here  and  there,  mostlv  the 
short-horns  and  Durham  cattle,  and  collected  them  at  the  town  of  [>arling- 
trjn..  From  the  latter  place  he  drove  them  across  the  country  to  Liverpool, 
where  he  secured  passage  for  himself  and  proper  shipping  facilities  for  his 
stock  on  one  of  the  west-bound  vessels  sailing  from  that  port.  The  passage 
across  the  Atlantic  in  the  fall  was  somewhat  rough,  but  in  due  time  he 
reached  the  United  States  without  the  loss  of  a  single  animal. 

The  arri\'al  of  the  herd  in  Greencastle  is  chronicled  in  the  Putnam 
Banner.  There  were  two  bulls:  one  named  "Prince  of  Wales."  was  turned 
over  to  Joseph  .\llen,  who  was  interested  in  the  enterprise :  the  other.  "Fan- 
cy Boy."  was  retained  by  Doctor  Stevenson.  There  were  also  four  heifers 
The  Banner  \ery  significantly  observes  that  "The  cattle  imported  bv  Doctor 
Stex'enson  to  this  countrv-  are  not  for  sale.  They  were  purchased  near  Darl- 
ington. England,  of  three  different  breeders,  are  all  beautiful  roans,  except 
one  which  is  red,  and  are  but  distantly  related,  so  that  the  produce  may  be 
lired  together  for  some  time  to  come."  Doctor  Stevenson  also  brought  home 
with  him  from  England  two  pigs  of  the  Leicester  breed,  purchased  from 
Robert  Thornton  of  Stapleton.  The  boar  he  named  "Prince  Albert."  In 
the  columns  of  the  Indiana  Farmer  the  Doctor,  recommending  them  t<j 
his  farmer  friends,  is  ver}-  enthusiastic  in  their  praise.     Describing  them,  he 


148  weik's  history  of 

says :  "In  color  they  are  white  with  an  occasional  small  discoloration  in  the 
skin  but  none  in  the  hair,  it  being  uniformly  white.  The  hair  is  fine,  short 
and  very  thin  o\er  the  body.  The  legs  are  short  and  straight  and  the  bone 
small.  The  head  is  small  and  tapering  to  the  nose,  face  straight,  ears  small 
and  narrow ;  in  many  cases  they  are  erect — in  some  they  pitch  a  little  for- 
ward. The  body  is  long  and  finely  barreled,  being  in  the  boar  almost  a 
cylinder.  They  have  great  depth  through  the  shoulders  and  hips.  The  eye 
is  lively  and  quiet.  In  disposition  they  are  exceedingly  quiet.  They  have 
a  great  propensity  to  take  on  fat  at  any  age  and  their  usual  weight  at  twelve 
months  old  is  from  three  hundred  to  three  hundred  and  fifty  pounds." 

EARLY    AGRICULTUR.\L    FAIRS. 

The  spirit  of  emulation  and  enterprise  in  agricultural  products  and  live- 
stock very  early  manifested  itself  among  the  settlers  in  Putnam  county  and 
as  it  developed  it  tended  to  draw  to  the  county  from  other  localities  and 
even  from  abroad,  as  already  related,  some  of  the  best  and  finest  stock  to 
be  had  in  the  country. 

"The  first  fair  for  the  exhibition  of  stock,"  related  a  former  historian 
of  the  county,  "was  held  September  7,  1837,  on  the  ground  north  of  the 
public  square  in  Greencastle  where  the  Presbyterian  church  formerly  stood. 
It  was  but  little  more  than  a  show  of  livestock,  held  on  the  open  ground  and 
without  fees.  A  committee  passed  judgment  on  the  merits  of  the  animals 
exhibited,  but  no  premiums  were  paid.  The  horse  owned  by  Col.  A.  S. 
Farrow  was  adjudged  the  best  in  that  department,  but  the  other  winners 
on  that  day  cannot  be  remembered.  In  1838  or  1839  another  fair  was  held 
on  an  open  lot  near  the  present  site  of  the  east  college  building  of  DePauw 
University.  At  this  exhibition  a  bull  called  'Tecumseh.'  owned  by  Anderson 
B.  Matthews,  took  the  premium  in  that  class." 

PUTN.\M   COUNTY  AGRICULTURAL  SOCIETY. 

The  Putnam  County  Agricultural  Society  was  organized  about  1850. 
There  are  no  records  e.xtant  from  which  to  obtain  the  first  list  of  officers, 
but  from  a  list  of  premiums  awarded  at  the  third  annual  fair  held  in  Green- 
castle, October  5-7,  1853,  we  find  the  names  of  the  following  prominent 
as  committees  on  awards,  etc. :  A.  S.  Farrow,  Elijah  Tennant,  William  S. 
Farrow,  G.  Bondurant.  .\.  ]\IcCoy,  William  S.  Ray,  Benjamin  Purcel.  Wil- 
liam L.  Hart,  Robert  Allen.  E.  Van  Skoike.  Henry  Smith.  R.  S.   Farrow, 


PUTNAM    COUNTY,    INDIANA.  I49 

James  Evans.  A.  D.  Hamrick,  A.  Bowen,  A.  C.  Stevenson,  \V.  H.  Thorn- 
burgh,  A.  J.  Darnall,  H.  T.  Wakefield,  John  Hammond,  A.  D.  Bilhngsley, 
G.  W.  VVolverton,  WiUiam  Brown.  James  Crawford,  John  S.  Jennings,  Tur- 
pin  Darnall,  John  S.  Allen,  Elijah  McCarty.  John  W.  Nance,  Andrew  M. 
Lockridge,  O.  P.  Badger,  J.  N.  Rynerson,  W.  \V.  Yates,  William  ]\Iat- 
kins,  Edward  Crow.  John  Cowgill,  Henry  Secrest  and  R.  S.  Ragan.  In 
February.  1854,  the  society  accepted  an  offer  of  five  acres  of  land  by  B. 
F.  Corwin  and  Daniel  T.  Thornton  at  Bainbridge  and  decided  to  hold  the 
fair  in  that  town  in  October.  January.  1855.  the  following  officers  of  the 
society  were  chosen,  as  published  in  the  Greencastle  Banner:  President,  John 
A.  IMatson ;  vice-president,  O.  P.  Badger;  treasurer,  John  S.  Jennings;  cor- 
responding secretary,  Albert  G.  Patrick;  recording  secretary,  Thomas  E. 
Talbott;  directors.  James  Allen,  James  McMurray,  Nicholas  West,  C.  Fosher, 
J.  Franklin  Darnall,  W.  W.  Yates,  C.  Gibson.  Richard  M.  Hazlett.  Thomas 
Leach,  A.  D.  Hamrick,  Samuel  E.  Parks,  A.  J.  McCoy,  I.  N.  Rynearson,  A. 
C.  Stevenson,  Joseph  Allen,  Anderson  Johnson.  Higgins  Lane,  T.  C.  Ham- 
mond. E.  Y.  Tennant.  and  James  AI.  Robertson.  In  the  last  \i-eek  in  Septem- 
ber, 1855.  '^he  fair  was  again  held  in  Greencastle  on  a  tract  of  land  south- 
west of  town  owned  by  John  A.  Matson  and  which  was  leased  for  ten 
years.  Soon  after  this.  Prof.  Miles  J.  Fletcher,  of  Asbury  University,  was 
chosen  president  of  the  Agricultural  Society  and  under  his  progressive  man- 
agement the  fair  enterprise  took  on  new  life.  It  was  still  held  on  the  Matson 
place  and  so  continued  till  1862,  when,  owing  to  the  agitation  resulting  from 
the  war  and  the  generally  unsettled  condition  of  the  country,  it  was  deemed 
wise  to  suspend  it  for  a  time.  A  fair  was  meanwhile  held  at  Russellville, 
called  the  L'nion  Fair  because  it  was  the  joint  work  of  people  who  lived  in 
the  three  counties  nearby,  but,  for  the  reason  assigned,  everything  in  the 
nature  of  an  agricultural  fair  was  held  in  abeyance  at  the  county-seat.  In 
1868  the  Agricultural  Society  was  re-organized  and  a  new  set  of  officers 
chosen.  Fairs  were  again  held  each  fall,  part  of  the  time  on  the  Matson 
place  and  later  on  the  Lockridge  land  east  of  Greencastle,  until  along  in 
the  eighties  when  public  interest  in  the  matter  began  to  wane  and  the  in- 
difference became  so  pronounced  that  it  was  finally  decided  to  discontinue 
further  efforts  to  keep  the  enterprise  alive. 

VALUES    OF    LANDS    AND    CROPS. 

But  even  though  the  time-honored  county  fair  may  ha\e  gone  out  of 
fashion,  interest  in  agriculture  and  the  development  of  livestock  has  not. 
Our  fanners  are  more  strenuously  than  e\'er  striving  to  increase  the  products 


I-O  WEIK  S    HISTORY   OF 

of  the  soil.  From  data  and  figures  collected  by  the  United  States  during  the 
census  of  1900  we  learn  that  there  are  2,883  farms  in  Putnam  county  of  an 
average  size  of  1044  acres;  twelve  farms  are  under  three  acres;  six  over 
1,000  acres;  54.7  per  cent  of  farm  lands  is  cultivated  by  the  owners;  19.7 
by  share  tenants ;  7.9  by  cash  tenants  and  the  remainder  by  owners  and  ten- 
ants together. 

The  total  acreage  of  farm  lands  is  301,039;  the  value  of  the  land,  $8,076.- 
430;  buildings,  $1,813,480;  implements  and  machinery,  $271,300;  hvestock, 
$1,762,252.  Of  cattle  there  are  27,572  head;  horses,  10,193;  mules,  1,585; 
sheep,  27,784;  hogs,  57.711;  value,  sales  of  livestock,  $852,339.  Of  dairy 
products  there  were  2,422,917  gallons  of  milk  and  485,790  pounds  of  butter. 
In  this  same  year,  1900,  we  had  under  cultivation  55,398  acres  of  corn, 
yielding  2,025,000  bushels;  4,490  acres  of  oats,  with  112,020  bushels;  wheat, 
28,074  acres,  254,290  bushels;  clover  hay,  15,188  acres.  18,069  tons;  timothy 
hay.  18.230  acres  20,011  tons;  potatoes,  23,610  bushels;  sweet  potatoes,  1,622 
bushels;  miscellaneous  vegetables,  615  acres,  value  $27,461.  In  the  line  of 
fniits,  we  had  95,933  apple  trees,  9,623  cherry  trees,  45-945  peach  trees, 
7,242  pear  trees,  11,800  plum  trees  and  14,922  grape  vines,  and  we  gathered 
35,970  quarts  of  blackberries,  2,840  currants,  5,340  gooseberries,  38,310  rasp- 
berries and  19.220  strawberries. 


CHAPTER    XL 

THE    TOUXSHIPS    OF    rUTXA.M     COCXTY.* 
JACKSOX   TOWXSHIP. 

Jackson  township  is  formed  of  the  full  congressional  township  i6  north, 
range  3  west,  embracing  the  northeast  corner  of  Putnam  county,  and  is 
bounded  on  the  north  by  ^Iontgonier\-  county,  on  the  east  by  Hendricks 
county,  on  the  south  by  Floyd  township,  on  the  west  by  Franklin  township. 
It  is  divided  diagonally  from  northeast  to  southwest  by  the  Walnut  fork  of 
Ee!  river,  familiarly  known  as  "Walnut."  The  other  principal  streams  of 
the  township  are  Lick  creek,  in  the  north.  Rock  branch,  in  the  east,  and 
Clear  creek,  in  the  southeast.  There  are  many  other  small  streams,  but  not 
of  sufficient  importance  to  deser\e  special  notice.  The  land  near  the  streams 
is  either  hilly  or  gently  undulating,  originally  covered  with  a  heavy  growth 
of  timber,  among  which  the  sugar-maple  and  poplar  predominate,  though  in- 
terspersed with  white  oak.  chincapin.  oak.  black  walnut  and  sycamore,  im- 
mediately along  the  stream,  as  well  as  some  hackbeny  and  honey  locust. 

The  soil  on  the  untlulating  lands,  near  the  streams,  is  a  rich,  clav  loam; 
but  back  from  the  streams  it  is  wet  anil  cold,  interspersed  with  more  elevated 
portions.  It  is  in  this  township  that  the  swamp  lands  of  Boone  extend  into 
Putnam  county.  The  soil  is  very  productive.  The  black  lands,  especially, 
when  properly  drained,  produce  large  crops  of  corn  and  other  cereals. 

William  Welch  and  John  Smith  built  their  cabins  in  section  34.  about 
the  year  18^5  or  i8_'6.  being  the  first  settlers  of  the  township.  George  Suth- 
erlin  contests  with  these  two  the  honor  of  making  the  earliest  pennanent 
settlement  in  the  township.  In  the  year  182 j.  Othniel  Talbott.  from  Shelbv 
county.  Kentucky,  settleil  in  Jackson,  where  he  found  a  Mr.  Crabtree  and 
Mr.  Brown.  Garrison  Thompson  and  John  John.son.  father  of  the  late  J.  B. 
Johnson,  of  Greencastle.  also  came  in  18^7.  In  182S  came  James  Chitwood. 
Levi  Woods.  Martin  BIythe  and  Henr\'  Harmon,  and  about  one  vear  later 
James  Proctor  settled  in  the  township.     Within  the  next  two  years  tiiere  was 

*Cre(lit  for  the  towng!iii)  sketches  in  this  chapter  is  due  the  late  Gilliim  Ridpath, 
who  published  a  brief  but  very  entertaining  historical  account  of  Putnam  county  in 
1S79  and  from  whose  worl;  the  greater  part  of  the  material  in  this  chapter  was  ob- 
tained. 


152  WEIK  S  HISTORY  OF 

a  large  increase  of  population.  Among  those  who  came  at  that  time  may  be 
mentioned  John  Keith,  John  Boyd,  Wilson  Warford,  William  Elrod,  Wil- 
liam Hillis,  Edward  and  Isom  Silvey,  John  Blake,  James  Goslin.  James  Dun- 
can, John  Leach.  William  Beecraft.  Isom  George,  James  Mooreland,  the  ]Mc- 
Clouds.  the  Pinkertons.  the  Rileys  and  the  Barneses.  This  period  also  em- 
braces the  arrival  of  three  more  of  the  Talbott  pioneers,  Capt.  John  S.  Tal- 
bott,  Lorenzo  Talbott,  Aquila  Talbott.  In  1831  and  1832  there  was  a  large 
immigration,  embracing  Richard  Biddle,  Rev.  John  Case,  George  Keith, 
James  Dale,  S.  Shackleford,  George  and  Harvey  Jefiferies,  Jacob  Crosby,  John 
and  William  ^Miller,  and.  perhaps,  others  equally  worthy,  who,  with  equal 
heroism,  struggled  with  the  hardships  of  pioneer  life. 

David  Johnson,  son  of  John  Johnson,  born  on  section  34,  March  8,  1828, 
was  the  first  white  child  born  in  the  township. 

The  first  who  died  was  the  daughter  of  Wilson  Warford.  She  was 
buried  east  of  New  Maysville,  in  a  lot  on  section  26.  which  is  yet  used  as  a 
grave-yard. 

The  first  marriage  was  that  of  Jesse  Evans  and  Miss  Bartima  Welch. 

In  the  spring  of  1831  the  first  school  was  taught  by  Mark  Hardin,  in  a 
log  building  on  section  26. 

John  Crabtree  was  the  first  blacksmith.  His  shop  was  on  the  bank  of 
Walnut  creek. 

John  S.  Talbott  kept  the  first  store.  In  1832  he  commenced  to  sell  goods 
in  a  log  building  on  section  2". 

The  first  mill  erected  in  the  township  was  built  by  Joseph  Hillis.  The 
next  mill  was  erected  by  George  Sutherlin.  the  ne.xt  by  .Abraham  Hillis.  The 
first  named  and  the  last  were  on  \\'alnut.  the  second  on  a  small  tributary. 
The  last  named  ground  corn  only,  the  other  two  ground  wheat  also. 

D.  Barnes  and  Othniel  Talbott  were  the  first  ju.stices  of  the  peace,  fol- 
lowed by  Thomas  Watkins,  John  C.  Goodwin.  George  Stringer.  Wallace 
Perrv,  L.  T.  Herod.  O.  Owsley.  James  [Moreland  and  Jesse  Kendall,  the 
last  named  having  filled  the  office  three  different  times,  amounting  in  all  to  a 
term  of  twenty-five  years. 

The  first  postmaster  was  John  5.  Talbott.  the  office  having  l^een  estab- 
lished in  his  store  in  the  year  1832.  He  was  followed  by  William  Long.  John 
H.  Roberts.  William  Epperson.  R.  C.  Bo\-d  and  Jesse  Kendall. 

Dr.  William  Long,  who  located  in  the  township  in  the  year  1S34.  was 
the  first  physician. 

The  Methodists  held  the  first  meetings  in  the  township,  at  the  house 
of  lohn  Johnson,  under  the  ministry  of  Rev.  William  Smith.     Shiloh  church. 


PUTNAM    COUNTY.    INDIANA.  153 

on  the  east  bank  of  W'alnnt.  erected  by  this  denomination  about  the  year  1834, 
was  the  first  structure  of  the  kind  in  the  township.  Rev.  Thomas  J.  Brown 
dedicated  the  building  and  preached  the  first  sermon  within  those  venerated 
walls.  Lorenzo  Dow,  E.  Wood.  L.  Smith,  Joseph  White  and  Eli  Farmer 
were  the  pioneer  Methodist  preachers  of  Jackson  township. 

The  Regular  Baptists  organized  a  congregation  here  about  1S3J.  John 
Case.  William  Hogan  and  Carter  Hunter  were  among  their  first  preachers. 
For  many  vears  their  church  Iniilding  was  located  on  the  farm  of  Jesse 
Eggers.  The  second  house  of  worship  in  the  township  was  built  at  Xew 
INIavsville  bv  this  denomination,  soon  after  the  town  was  laid  out. 

The  organization  of  the  ^Missionary  Baptists  in  the  township  dates  from 
1841.  Elders  Palmer.  Davis.  Kirkendall  and  Rhinerson  were  among  the 
first  pastors  of  this  congregation. 

The  Christian  church  was  organized  in  1839,  by  Nathan  Waters  and 
Gilbert  Harney.  In  1840  they  erected  a  church  at  New  Maysville,  which  was 
occupied  until  1856.  when  they  built  their  present  house  in  the  same  village. 
The  early  preachers  of  this  denomination  were  Elders  Thomas  Lockhart. 
Oliver  P.  Badger.  Wilson  Barnes.  Coombs.  Blankenship  and  O'Kane. 

There  are  two  villages  within  the  bounds  of  Jackson  township.  Xew 
INIaysville  is  located  on  sections  27  and  34.  It  was  laid  out  in  1832.  by  Rich- 
ard Riddle,  on  land  owned  by  John  Johnson,  William  Welch  and  Aquila 
Talhott.  The  place  was  named  by  Richard  Biddle.  after  Maysville.  Mason 
county.  Kentuck}'. 

The  postmasters  at  Xew  ^Maysville.  with  dates  of  appointment,  are  as 
follows:  John  S.  Talbot,  June  14.  1S34;  William  Long.  November  27,  1839; 
John  B.  Mayhall.  X'ovember  9.  1841  :  J.  H.  Johnston.  Octolier  24,  1844;  Jesse 
Kendall.  July  6,  1846;  John  H.  Roberts.  October  20.  1853;  B.  F.  Mills,  April 
8,  1854:  Robert  C  Boyd.  December  29.  1854:  William  W.  Epperson,  Decem- 
ber 18.  1856;  Jesse  Kendall.  April  7.  1859;  John  W.  Sutherland.  August  i, 
1879:  William  E.  Vendling,  April  2-.  1885:  L.  B.  Mills.  May  3.  1889;  L.  T. 
Buchanan.  May  15.  1893:  Leonidas  B.  ^lills.  April  9.  1897. 

Fort  Red.  now  called  Barnard,  is  located  on  sections  i  and  12.  and  was 
laid  out  by  William  DeMoss  in  1876. 

Perhaps  John  Johnson  did  as  much  as  any  other  for  the  moral  and  re- 
ligious training  of  the  people,  as  he  had  four  sons  who  were  circuit-riding 
preachers,  and  his  family  was  of  unimpeachable  character.  In  regard  to  its 
moral  status.  Jackson  stands  as  high,  perhaps,  as  any  other  township  in  the 
county.  ne\er  ha\ing  hatl  a  representative  in  the  penitentiary,  or  e\'en  in  the 
county  jad.      The  township  has  ne\er  contained  a   saloon.      Three   of   the 


154 


WEIK  S    HISTORY    OF 


leading  religious  denominations  have  a  fair  representation  in  the  township. 
In  politics  the  township  is  overwhelmingly  Democratic;  especially  is  this 
true  of  the  north  and  northwest  side  of  Walnut:  on  the  southeast  side  of 
the  creek  the  parties  are  more  equally  divided. 

FR.VNKLIX    TOWNSHIP. 

Franklin  township,  lying  in  the  middle  of  the  north  tier  of  townships 
in  Putnam  county,  comprises  congressional  township  i6  north,  range  4  west, 
and  is  bounded  on  the  north  by  Montgomery  county  and  on  the  east  by  Jack- 
son township,  on  the  south  by  Monroe  township,  on  the  west  by  Russell  town- 
ship. Its  surface  is  rolling,  presenting  to  the  view  a  varied  appearance.  The 
township  is  drained  by  Raccoon  creek  in  the  north.  North  Ramp  creek  through 
the  center,  and  South  Ramp  creek  in  the  southwest,  all  of  which  take  a  west- 
ward course.  The  soil  of  the  township  is  very  fertile,  producing  five  crops 
of  grain  and  grass.  The  township  was  originally  well  supplied  with  timber, 
consisting  principally  of  poplar,  walnut,  oak,  hickory,  beech  and  ash.  The 
Louisville,  New  Albany  &  Chicago  railroad  crosses  the  township  north  and 
south,  nmning  through  the  eastern  tier  of  the  sections,  and  the  Cincinnati, 
Hamilton  &  Dayton  railroad  crosses  it  east  and  west.  The  township  has  one 
incorporated  town,  Roachdale.  and  two  villages.  Fincastle  and  Carpenters- 
ville.  It  is  inhabited  by  an  enterprising  class  of  farmers  who,  improving  its 
natural  advantages,  have  placed  it  in  the  front  rank  of  the  townships  of 
Putnam. 

Franklin  township  was  not  settled  until  1824.  two  years  after  the  organi- 
zation of  the  county.  In  that  year.  James  Gordon  and  William  Elrod  settled 
in  that  part  of  the  county,  lieing  the  first  to  make  their  way  thither.  They 
were  joined  the  next  year  by  Garrett  Gibson  and  James  Fiddler.  In  i8j6 
came  Da\id  Barnes,  Thomas  House,  David  House.  Joshua  Burnett.  William 
Giddons.  John  Miller.  Samuel  Osbom  and  Thomas  Batman.  The  new- 
comers for  18J7-28  were  James  Makemson.  the  LaFolletts.  the  Henkles.  Mr. 
Brothers  and  Thomas  Grider.  During  the  ne.xt  year.  John  Dickerson.  A. 
Osbom.  Samuel  and  Isaac  Brown  arrived,  and  were  joined  in  1830-31  by 
James  Stephens.  George  Wright,  the  Catherwoods.  Jesse  Hymer.  James  E. 
Edwards.  Philip  Carpenter.  A.  S.  Farrow  and  others. 

The  first  habitation  of  the  white  man  in  the  township  was  erected  in 
the  thirty-sixth  section  by  the  first  white  inhabitant.  James  Gordon.  The 
first  blacksmith  forge  that  rang  its  peals  in  that  neighborhood  was  put  up 
and  worked  in   1828  bv  Philip  Lemon.     The  first  store  was  kept  by  Philip 


PUTNAM    COUXTY.    INDIANA.  155 

Carpenter,  and  was  located  south  of  the  site  of  Carpentersville  in  the  year  of 
1 83 1.  The  first  white  child  bom  in  the  township  was  James  Gordon,  son  of 
Anderson  Gordon.  The  first  school  was  taught  by  a  man  named  Elliott  in 
1839,  in  the  neighborhood  of  Fincastle.  William  Elrod  was  the  first  justice 
of  the  peace.  Henry  Rogers  located  here  in  183J.  and  became  the  first  prac- 
titioner of  medicine  in  the  township. 

The  first  church  organization  was  effected  by  the  Presbyterians,  who 
at  an  early  day  held  meetings  at  the  house  of  George  Pearcy.  in  section  i, 
Monroe  township,  but  soon  removed  into  a  church  on  section  32,  in  Franklin. 
This  congregation  was  under  the  pastoral  charge  of  Rev.  James  H.  Shields. 
The  Presbyterians  now  have  a  house  of  worship  and  a  good  membership  at 
Carpentersville.  The  Christian  denomination  next  organized  about  the  year 
1827.  Elders  Coombs.  Haney.  Harris  and  Girder  were  among  their  first 
preachers.  Their  present  church  edifice  is  located  at  Fincastle.  The  Regu- 
lar Baptists  were  organized  in  1829,  at  James  Fiddler's  house  by  Rev. 
Xathan  Keeney.  They  at  present  have  a  fair  membership,  who  worship  in 
a  church  building  in  section  21.  For  some  cause  the  Methodists  did  not  push 
their  organization  into  Franklin  as  early  as  into  other  townships  of  the 
county.  Their  history  is.  therefore,  more  meager  than  that  of  other  denomi- 
nations. They  have  a  church  at  Carpentersville.  where  they  are  represented 
by  a  good  membership.     They  have,  also,  a  brick  church  at  Fincastle. 

Carpentersville.  situated  near  the  southeast  comer  of  the  township,  on 
the  Louisville,  Xew  .Albany  &  Chicago  railroad,  was  laid  out  about  the  year 
1840  by  Philip  Carpenter,  who  had  been  carrying  on  a  tan  yard  there  for 
several  vears  prior  to  that  time.  Logan  Sutherlin  was  the  first  merchant  and 
a  Mr.  Bradford  the  first  blacksmith.  William  King  taught  the  first  school 
and  Doctor  Cross  was  the  first  physician.  The  Meth(vlist  Epi.scopal  church 
was  the  fir.st  organized,  and  the  Presbyterians  followed  soon  afterward.  Both 
of  these  denominations  now  have  church  edifices  in  the  village. 

The  postmasters  at  Carpentersville,  with  dates  of  appointment,  have 
been  as  follows  :  Ezra  Whitney,  May  23.  1850 :  J,  B.  Cross,  October  30.  185 1 ; 
.A.  R.  Hyde.  June  21,  1S53;  Philip  Carpenter,  July  i.  1854:  Robert  M.  Ram- 
sey, .April  18,  1861:  .\.  L.  Goodbar.  March  5,  1863:  James  Turner,  .April  5, 
1864:  Z.  T.  Moffett.  May  29,  1865;  .Archie  Brown,  January  17.  1866:  George 
H.  McKee,  .April  3,  1867:  Joseph  .A.  Patton.  Augu.st  21,  1867:  John  A.  Brown, 
Februarv  13,  1868:  John  T.  Cline,  November  19.  1869:  James  M.  Taylor. 
-August  27.  1875:  \\'illiam  T.  Smith,  January  28,  1876:  George  W.  Corwin, 
February  18.  1879:  W.  F.  Gar\-er.  .April  2.  1S80:  William  D.  Parker,  Sep- 
tember 14,  1883:  E.  B.  Cline.  October  2.  1888:  William  D.  Parker,  .\ugust 


156  WEIKS    HISTORY    OF 

3.  1889:  George  A.  Hutchins,  July  9,  1890;  B.  B.  Cline,  June  27,  1893; 
Marcus  A.  Pickel,  May  21,  1897;  Nina  I.  Dawson,  May  3,  1909. 

Fincastle,  located  in  the  western  part  of  this  township,  was  laid  out  in 
the  year  1838  by  John  Oberchain.  A  store  was  soon  opened  by  Allen  Pier- 
son,  and  a  blacksmith  shop  by  the  Conner  brothers.  The  school  was  taught 
by  Wilson  Turner,  who  was  also  the  first  resident  physician. 

The  postmasters  at  Fincastle  have  been  as  follows :  David  Fosher, 
October  21,  1847:  R.  W.  Moss,  ?klarch  6,  1850;  Charles  B.  Bridger,  June  11, 
1853;  S.  J.  Ritchey,  June  23,  1855;  William  B.  Cunningham,  April  3,  1857; 
Discontinued  November  20,  1858;  Robert  L.  Bridges  (Re-Est.),  February 
15,  1877;  Thomas  L.  Grider,  April  5,  1881  ;  Jesse  B.  Fosher,  February  16, 
1883;  Zaccheus  Grider,  June  18,  1884;  James  B.  Shannon,  July  9,  1885; 
Calvin  Harris,  January  24.  1889;  Thomas  L.  Grider,  January  17,  1890; 
Ora  G.  Edwards,  May  4.  1893;  James  F.  Edwards,  May  25.  1895;  H.  C. 
Fosher,  October  26,  1895;  Thomas  L.  Grider,  September  13,  1897;  discon- 
tinued Januan*^  14,  1905. 

The  town  of  Roachdale,  located  in  the  northeastern  part  of  the  town- 
ship, is  the  latest  accession  to  the  list  of  towns  in  the  county.  It  was  incor- 
porated shortly  after  the  completion  of  the  Indianapolis,  Decatur  &  Spring- 
field railroad,  March  25,  1882.  As  the  latter  road  crossed  the  Louisville, 
New  Albany  &  Chicago  railroad  at  this  point,  the  town  naturally  experienced 
a  very  rapid  growth,  and  has  steadily  held  its  own  ever  since.  Its  first  town 
officers  consisted  of  the  following:  John  W.  Hargrave,  Sam  B.  Sweeney, 
Justice  M.  Ghormly,  trustees;  Samuel  J.  Hennon,  clerk,  John  H.  Grantham, 
treasurer;  John  Pinnell,  marshal. 

The  present  officers  are:  John  H.  JeiTries,  Judson  Lindley,  J.  W'.  San- 
ders, trustees ;  R.  E.  Greene,  treasurer  and  clerk ;  L.  C.  Cummings.  marshal. 

There  are  four  churches  in  the  town.  Methodist,  Christian,  Presbyterian 
and  Baptist.  A  beautiful  and  commodious  school  building,  with  modern  con- 
veniences, was  built  several  years  ago,  containing  seven  class  rooms  and  pro- 
visions for  a  commissioned  high  school.  The  school  board  consists  of  C.  C. 
Collins,  president;  G.  ^^'.  Irwin,  secretary-,  and  C.  F.  Rice,  treasurer. 

The  following  fraternal  orders  are  represented :  ^Masons :  Levi  S. 
Worrell,  worshipful  master:  Otto  K.  Henry,  senior  warden:  Sam  W. 
Dodds.  junior  warden :  O.  A.  Shepard.  treasurer :  G.  W.  Irwin,  secretary ; 
Fred  L.  McAmick.  senior  deacon:  John  T.  Sutherlin.  junior  deacon:  \\'illard 
Gough.  J.  Ed  Crosby,  stewards ;  Scott  Wyatt.  tyler. 

Knights  of  Pythias :  John  Sutherlin.  chancellor  commander :  Thomas 
Sutherlin.  vice-commander:  E.  W.  Webster,  prelate:  Oliver  Bales,  master  of 


PUTNAM    COUNTY.    INDIANA.  1 57 

work;  D.  A.  Smith,  keeper  of  records  and  seal;  I.  E.  W'eddle,  master  of 
finance:  Amos  W'endling.  master  of  exchequer;  Ben  Dean,  inside  guard;  John 
Oakley,  outside  guard. 

Odd  Fellows ;  William  Davis,  noble  grand ;  Charles  Mclntyre,  vice- 
grand;  Ernest  Thompson,  J.  B.  Gough,  secretaries;  B.  L.  Hall,  treasurer; 
M.  A.  Eggers.  warden;  Jesse  Young,  conductor;  William  Radford,  inside 
guard;  Amos  Wendling.  outside  guard:  C.  L.  Airhart.  chaplain. 

Modern  Woodmen:  W.  C.  Banies.  venerable  consul;  C.  T.  Miller, 
worthy  adviser;  R.  E.  Greene,  clerk;  G.  D.  luppenlatz.  banker. 

The  only  bank  in  the  town  is  called  the  Roachdale  Bank.  O.  A.  Shepard 
is  president ;  Joseph  Cline.  cashier,  and  Margaret  Hanna,  assistant  cashier. 
The  weekly  paper  is  called  The  Roachdale  Nezcs  and  is  edited  by  L.  L.  Ware 
and  R.  E.  Greene.  The  postmaster  is  Charles  McGaughey.  There  is  an  elec- 
tric light  plant,  two  sawmills,  a  large  elevator  and  the  Putnam  Veneer  & 
Lumber  Company,  all  doing  a  profitable  and  thriving  business.  In  popula- 
tion the  town  ranks  next  to  Greencastle. 

The  postmasters  at  Roachdale,  with  dates  of  their  appointment,  have  been 
as  follows:  William  B.  Lewis,  February  3,  1880;  William  B.  Lewis.  Feb- 
ruarv-  24.  1880;  F.  M.  Ghormley.  July  6.  1880;  George  'SI.  Cook.  January 
23,  1882;  Francis  M.  Ghormley.  April  10,  1882;  John  T.  Cline,  December 
II.  1884:  George  Justice.  May  3,  1889:  John  Dodd.  .\pril  5.  1893;  George 
Justice,  May  i,  1897;  Charles  McGaughey,  March  21,  1904. 

RUSSELL   TOWNSHIP. 

This  township  was  originally  a  part  of  Clinton,  but  in  182S  Clinton  was 
divided,  and  Russell  was  formed  as  it  now  stands.  It  occupies  the  northwest 
corner  of  the  county,  and  is  bounded  on  the  north  by  Montgomer}-  county, 
on  the  east  bv  Franklin  township,  on  the  south  by  Clinton  township,  on  the 
west  bv  Parke  county.  This  township  is  composed  of  congressional  town- 
ship 16.  range  5.  The  streams  that  drain  Russell  are  Raccoon  creek  and 
Ramp  creek,  with  their  several  tributaries,  all  taking  a  southwestward  course. 
The  timber  is  of  an  excellent  quality,  and  of  a  variety  similar  to  that  of  the 
neighboring  townships.  The  soil  is  excellent,  especially  in  the  northern  and 
northwestern  portions,  the  county  around  Russellville  being  charming  in 
its  natural  character,  and  finely  improved.  The  southwestern  portion  is  con- 
siderable broken,  though  the  soil  is  good,  and  there  are  many  fine  farms. 
The  township,  upon  the  whole,  is  considered  one  of  the  finest  in  the  countv. 

Russell  township  was  one  of  the  first  settled.     David  Swank,  who  came 


WEIK  S    HISTORY   OF 


in  1820  and  built  his  cabin  on  what  is  still  known  in  the  neighliorhood  as 
the  "Swank  fann/'.in  the  northeastern  part  of  the  township,  was  the  first 
settler.  In  the  same  year  came  Allen  Elliott,  who  settled  on  Big  Raccoon, 
near  the  center  of  the  township;  Austin  Puett.  who  settled  near  the  site  of 
Portland  Mills ;  and  Clark  Butcher,  who  also  settled  on  Big  Raccoon. 

In  1 82 1  came  John  Anderson.  John  Westfall.  Christian  Landis.  Andrew 
Robertson,  B.  Rosencranze.  William  Sutherlin,  John  Gleason,  Samuel  Steele, 
Thomas  Thompson.  Jacob  Beck  and  a  brother.  John  Doherty  and  Andrew 
Boyd.  John  Fosher  built  his  cabin  on  Ramp  creek  and  removed  his  family 
thither  in  1822.  The  year  1822  marks  the  arrival,  also,  of  John  Guilliams, 
Jacob  Bickle  and  .\.  B.  Denton.  From  1822  to  1825.  Mark  Homan.  R.  V. 
Garrott.  Thomas  Page.  I.  Aldridge.  Jacob  Stid  and  Thomas  Norman  became 
residents  of  the  township. 

Within  the  next  five  years,  the  ancestors  of  the  Wilsons,  the  Evanses, 
the  Clodfelters.  the  McGaugheys.  Spencers.  Burketts.  Forgeys.  Blakes  and 
manv  others  were  added  to  the  pioneer  population. 

The  first  birth  which  occurred  in  the  township  is  a  matter  of  dispute. 
The  priority  belongs  either  to  a  child  of  Christian  and  IVIatilda  Dearduff.  or 
to  Miss  Guilliams.  the  wife  of  John  McGaughey.  who  was  born  about  the 
year  1823.  The  first  marriage  was  that  of  John  Guilliams  and  Miss  Lydia 
Fosher,  which  took  place  in  July.  1822.  They  were  married  by  the  Rev. 
Mr.  Ouinlet.  The  manner  in  which  this  wedding  was  conducted  serves  to 
illustrate  the  character  of  the  times,  and  the  simple  habits  of  the  pioneers. 
Mr.  Guilliams,  who  was  busily  engaged  in  plowing  com.  made  arrangements 
with  his  intended  wife  that,  on  the  day  of  the  marriage,  when  the  preacher 
should  arrive,  and  she  should  be  ready,  she  should  inform  him  of  the  facts. 
In  due  time  the  preacher  came,  and  a  child  was  dispatched  to  notify  the 
groom  that  all  things  were  ready.  Hitching  his  horse  in  the  field,  he  repaired 
to  the  house  where  the  ceremony  was  performed,  when  he  retumetl  to  his 
labor,  as  though  nothing  unusual  had  taken  place. 

Daniel  Anderson,  who  ministered  unto  the  people  of  the  township  dur- 
ing the  years  of  1824  and  1825,  was  their  first  preacher.  He  was  followed 
by  William  H.  Smith.  Lorenzo  Dow.  and  others  of  the  noble  band  which  they 
represent.  The  first  school  house  was  built  on  the  farm  of  John  Fosher.  in 
1823.  in  which  the  first  school  was  taught  the  same  year.  The  first  mill  in 
the  township  was  built  by  Jacob  Beck  and  was  long  known  as  Beck's  Mill. 
This  was  erected  in  1820  and  1821.  The  buhrs  of  this  mill  were  made  by 
John  Guy.  from  a  boulder  which  lay  near  the  mill  site.  The  ne.xt  was 
Swank's  Mill,  built  in   1823.     James  Secrest  opened  at  Blakesburgh  the  first 


PUTNAM    COUNTY,    IXDIAXA.  1 59 

Store  from  which  goods  were  sold  in  Russell  township.  In  1823  John  Fosher 
established  a  tan-yard  on  Ramp  creek,  which  was  the  first  in  this  portion  of 
the  county.  Col.  James  Blake  erected  a  '"Sang  Factory"  at  the  same  place, 
and  operated  it  from  1826  to  1830.  This  factory  gave  employment  to  all 
who  were  not  otherwise  employed,  in  digging  "sang."  which  fountl  a  ready 
market.  Jesse  Blake,  also,  had  an  interest  in  this  factor}-.  The  first  church 
was  built  at  Russellville  in  1830.  When  the  town  was  laid  out  in  iSj8. 
arrangements  were  made  for  the  erection  of  a  church,  which  was  completed 
two  years  later.  The  first  Fourth  of  July  celebration  was  held  on  the  farm 
of  John  Dougherty,  near  Portland  ]\lills.  in  1S28.  Gen.  George  K.  Steele 
acting  as  marshal  of  the  day.  Drs.  James  B.  Clark.  Copeland.  Winslow. 
Rogers  and  John  Slavens  were  the  first  practicing  physicians  in  this  com- 
munity. 

The  only  town  in  Russell  township  is  Russellville.  It  was  laid  out  in 
i8j8.  but  was  not  incorporated  until  early  in  the  eighties.  About  that  time 
it  was  reached  by  the  Indianapolis.  Decatur  &  Western  railroad,  which  so 
added  to  its  population  that  it  was  deemed  proper  to  make  an  incorporated 
town  of  it.  In  early  days  its  leading  citizen  was  Jacob  Durham,  who  emi- 
grated frr;m  Kentucky  and  set  up  the  first  blacksmith  shop.  Later  he  became 
the  village  merchant,  was  postmaster,  justice  of  the  peace  and  filled  various 
places  of  trust  and  responsibility.  As  a  business  man  ]\Ir.  Durham  was  very 
successful.  Although  his  early  educational  advantages  were  somewhat  mea- 
gre, yet  he  was  a  man  of  unusually  sound  judgment  and  intelligence.  He 
was  alike  shrewd,  industrious  and  enterprising.  He  bought  groceries  in  Xew 
Orleans,  iron  in  Pittsburg,  and  dry  goods  in  Philadelphia.  These  all  reached 
Montezuma  by  water,  and  were  carted  overland  to  Russellville.  His  son 
recalls  seeing  his  father  set  out  for  the  market  in  Philadelphia,  making  the 
entire  trip  on  horseback.  He  accumulated  a  snug  fortune,  much  of  which 
was  represented  by  some  of  the  finest  farming  lands  in  the  county.  About 
i860  he  retired  from  active  business  and  removed  to  Greencastle.  where  he 
resiiled  in  a  beautiful  suburban  home  till  his  death.  August  11.  1864. 

The  present  town  officers  are :  Robert  Brumfield.  Romulus  Boyd.  Roy 
Carter,  trustees;  John  Oliver,  marshal:  Samuel  Brown,  treasurer:  George 
Scott,  clerk. 

There  are  three  churches.  Methodist.  Presbyterian  and  Christian,  and 
a  handsome  new  school  building  with  provisions  for  the  lower  grades  and 
four  grades  of  high  school  work.  Russellville  is  also  plentifully  supplied 
with  secret,   fraternal  and  benevolent  orders. 


x6o  WEIK  S    HISTORY    OF 

The  Masonic  Lodge,  Xo.  141.  of  which  Ernest  Simpson  is  worshipful 
master  and  J.  N.  Fordyce,  secretary. 

Odd  Fellows,  Lodge  No.  841 ;  W.  P.  Byrd,  noble  grand;  Jonathan  Tage, 
secretary. 

Knights  of  Pythias,  Lodge  No.  310:  Samuel  Cox,  chancellor  com- 
mander; Burton  Long,  keeper  of  records  and  seal. 

Modern  Woodmen,  Camp  No.  5616:  R.  S.  Redlen,  venerable  consul; 
Thomas  Walden,  clerk. 

Ben  Hur,  Court  No.  60:  James  Fordyce.  chief;  Frank  Kennedy,  sec- 
retary. 

The  newspaper  of  Russellville  is  published  weekly  and  called  The  Search- 
light. Erasmus  Parrett  is  the  editor.  There  is  one  bank  called  the  Russell- 
ville Bank,  of  which  James  Durham  is  president  and  Ernest  Durham,  cashier. 

The  commercial  and  industrial  facilities  of  the  place  are  represented  by 
one  flouring  mill,  two  sawmills,  an  elevator,  lumber  yard,  two  hardware 
stores,  three  general  stores,  one  grocery-  store,  two  restaurants,  three  barber 
shops,  a  furniture  and  undertaking  store,  meat  market,  drug  store,  millinery 
store,  shoe  shop  and  blacksmith  shop.  Three  physicians  guard  the  health 
of  the  inhabitants,  who  number  approximately  five  hundred. 

The  list  of  Russellville's  postmasters  and  the  dates  of  their  appointment, 
follows:  Jacob  Durham.  March  29,  1832;  James  B.  Brumfield,  August  5, 
1850:  William  H.  Durham,  May  5.  1853:  James  L.  Wilson,  February  24, 
1865:  Uriah  Brown,  April  24,  1866;  Joseph  H.  Orear,  May  8,  1867;  Joseph 
T.  Hopkins,  November  12,  1867;  William  M.  Darter,  April  27,  1882:  Wil- 
liam ^L  Darter.  December  5,  1882:  William  H.  Long,  June  26,  1885;  Wil- 
liam H.  Long,  September  3,  1885;  L'riah  Brown,  January  3,  1889:  J.  W. 
Har^-ey,  June  10,  1889;  Charles  W.  Winn.  July  27.  1893;  J.  R.  Whitson, 
June  14.  1897;  Nelson  F.  Scribner.  June  22,  1901. 

CLIXTOX    TOWXSIIIP. 

Clinton  township  joins  Russell  on  the  south,  and  is  the  preceding  con- 
gressional township  of  the  same  range.  It  is  bounded  on  the  north  by  Russell, 
on  the  east  1)v  Monroe,  on  the  south  by  Madison  township  and  on  the  west  by 
Parke  count  v.  .\  small  p(3rtion  of  Clinton  is  a  little  rough  and  broken, 
though  most  of  it  lies  well,  and  the  township  altogether  is  a  fine  body  of 
land  and  very  well  improved. 

The  first  entrv  of  land  in  this  township  was  made  by  Ashbury  Van- 
dever.  on  Tune  17.   1821:  the  next  by  Roan  Irwin.  July  22,   1S21  ;  the  third 


PUTNAM     COUNTY.    INDIANA.  l6l 

by  Sampson  Sutheiiin.  August  2.  1S21  ;  the  fourth  by  Israel  Limler.  October 
8.  1S21.  Some  of  the  entries  of  the  year  1822  were  made  by  the  following 
named,  in  the  order  in  which  they  are  given:  Alexander  Johnson,  Abner 
Goodwin,  John  Holt.  John  Dougherty.  Isaiah  Vermillion.  Andrew  McG. 
Walker.  Andrew  J.  Walker  and  James  Peakle. 

Among  the  old  settlers  are  named  James  Johnson.  Arthur  Walker. 
Thomas  Hart.  Edward  Xewgent.  Wilson  Spaulding,  Oliver  McCoy.  Moses 
Spurgeon,  Stephen  C.  Burk.  Jonathan  Manker,  ^lichael  Etter.  James  Craw- 
ford, Oliver  Tally.  Eli  Brackney,  Robert  Johnson.  John  Butler.  Isaiah  Rat- 
liff.  William  C.  Butcher.  Jonathan  Bee.  Judge  William  McKee.  Scady  Chand- 
ler. Daniel  Herron.  William  Angel.  Mr.  Shonkwiler,  John  Xewgent,  Mrs.  Ed 
Xewgent,  John  Raglan,  Luke  Gardner.  Charles  X'ewgent.  Clark  Hamilton 
and  H.  L.  Hamilton.  Andrew  Sigler  and  Rev.  Turpin  Darnall  were  also 
among  the  earliest  settlers  of  this  township. 

The  first  birth  in  the  township  was  that  of  John  Sigler,  son  of  Andrew 
and  Sarah  Sigler.  on  December  15.  1825.  Andrew  Sigler  and  Sarah  Heady 
were  the  first  persons  married  in  the  township.  The  first  blacksmith  was  a 
man  named  Twigg.  The  first  grist-mill  was  put  up  in  the  year  1825  by  Cap- 
tain Goodwin,  on  Little  Walnut  creek.  Like  many  others  of  those  early 
days,  it  was  a  kind  of  wet-weather  mill  and  could  run  only  when  the  hea- 
vens gave  a  supply  of  water.  Capt.  William  H.  Thornburgh,  so  well  known  to 
the  citizens  of  Putnam  county,  taught  the  first  school  in  Clinton  township  at 
Captain  Goodwin's  mill.  The  first  physician  in  the  township  was  Doctor 
Hubbard,  who  lived  where  Dr.  R.  S.  Hamihon  resided. 

The  first  church  organized  in  this  township  was  the  Predestinarian  Bap- 
tist. This  took  place  about  the  year  1S31.  and  was  conducted  by  Rev.  Tur- 
pin Darnall.  of  Bainbridge.  John  Leatherman  and  Jesse  McClain  were 
among  the  earliest  ministers  of  this  congregation.  A  house  was  soon  built 
and  the  organization  was  kept  up  for  a  number  of  years,  but  it  is  now  dis- 
banded and  the  house  has  gone  to  decay.  The  Methodist  Episcopal  church 
was  organized  about  the  year  18,52.  by  Rev.  William  C.  Smith,  and  a  log 
h(juse  was  built  a  year  later.  Revs.  Wood.  DeMott.  Beck.  Preston  and 
Wright  were  the  early  ministers  of  this  church.  A  few  years  later  two  other 
Methodist  churches  were  organized  in  the  township  and  the  log  houses  were 
erected.  All  three  of  these  buildings  have  been  replaced  with  frame  ones  of 
suijstantial  character.  About  forty  years  ago.  the  Tunker  denomination  or- 
ganized a  church  in  this  township  and  built  a  good  frame  hou.se  of  worship, 
where  they  still  hold  regular  service.s. 
(II) 


X62  WEIK  S    HISTORY    OF 

In  Clinton  township  there  are  three  villages,  Portland  Mills,  Morton 
and  Clinton  Falls.  The  first  named  is  an  old  town,  and  is  so  situated  that  a 
part  of  it  is  in  Clinton  and  a  part  in  Russell  township.  Putnam  county,  and 
a  part  in  each  of  two  townships  in  Parke  county. 

The  postmasters  at  Clinton  Falls  have  been  as  follows :  L.  K.  Dille, 
August  31.  1S74:  William  R.  Mead,  January  19.  1875;  William  H.  Boswell, 
June  12.  1877;  ^I-  ^V.  Spaulding,  August  27,  1879;  James  T.  Brady,  Decem- 
ber 15.  1880;  William  Davis,  February  18.  1884;  J.  T.  Tucker,  August  21, 
1885;  A.  D.  Miller,  April  19,  188S;  C.  W.  Batchelder,  June  10,  1889:  John 
T.  Craig,  December  30,  1890;  Priscilla  M.  Vennillion,  May  19,  1893;  Charles 
W.  Keyt.  June  3.  1897;  postoflice  discontinued  August  31,  1901.  At  Morton 
they  have  been:  Andrew  Dierdorf,  October  9,  1855;  James  Nicholson,  De- 
cember 6,  1855;  Thomas  I.  Darnall,  July  17,  1857;  Melvin  McKee,  August 
19,  1857;  John  M.  Wilson,  October  19,  1859;  Martin  Frank,  November  4, 
1864;  Walter  Sewall,  August  12,  1868;  George  W.  Hanna,  May  31,  1878; 
Robert  H.  Whitted,  January  30,  1885;  M.  E.  Thomas,  May  25,  1885;  R.  H. 
Burkett,  November  26,  1887;  Thomas  J.  Mount,  February  14.  1889; 
Charles  M.  Bettis,  May  31,  1889;  A.  V.Thomas,  April  5,  1893:  C.  L. 
Clodfelter,  March  21,  1895;  Christian  Crodian,  July  22,  1897;  dis- 
continued January  14,  1905.  The  postmasters  at  Portland  Mills,  and 
dates  of  appointment,  are  as  follows :  Samuel  M.  Hart,  September 
15,  1851;  William  C.  Dickson,  January  15,  1853;  Henry  Baker,  No- 
vember 6,  1854;  Jesse  D.  Alexander,  April  29,  1859;  John  Cook,  June 
■  25,  1861 ;  John  M.  Hart.  August  i,  1862;  James  T.  Scott,  April  5.  1864:  A. 
E.  Ramsay,  January  25,  1875;  Andrew  French.  August  i.  1876;  Abraham 
H.  Carver,  May  16.  1881;  Philip  Kendall.  December  13,  1881 ;  John 
O'Meara,  August  3,  1885;  ]\Iathew  F.  Hanner.  July  21,  1886;  Reeve  C. 
Peare,  October  19,  1887;  R.  C.  Peare,  December  7.  1888;  John  S.  Alexander, 
May  3,  1889;  F.  S.  Hamilton,  April  i,  1893:  John  T.  Carpenter.  May  31, 
1895;  John  S.  Alexander,  iMay  18,  1898;  William  Torn  July  12,  1902;  dis- 
continued December  31,  1904. 

MONROE  TOWNSHIP. 

This  township  was  one  of  the  first  settled  and  is  one  of  the  best  in  the 
county.  It  is  congressional  township  15,  range  4.  and  is  bounded  on  the  north 
bv  Franklin,  on  the  east  by  Floyd,  on  the  south  by  Greencastle.  and  on  the 
west  bv  Clinton  townships.  The  surface  is  mostly  level  in  the  north  part, 
but  more  rolling  in  the  south.     The  soil  is  a  rich  black  loam,  superimposed 


.PUTNAM    COUNTY.    INDIANA.  1 63 

upon  a  yellow  clay  subsoil.  Like  the  rest  of  the  county.  Monroe  was  origin- 
ally covered  with  a  splendid  growth  of  \aluable  timber,  most  of  which 
has  been  cut  and  sold.  The  streams  of  the  township  consist  of  a  few  branches 
of  Big  and  Little  Walnut,  the  latter  just  cutting  the  southeast  corner  in  sec- 
tion 36.  The  township  is  well  improved.  It  has  many  gravel  and  macad- 
amized roads :  one  of  the  most  important  runs  north  from  Greencastle.  and 
another  west  from  Bainbridge.  Along  these  roads  lies  some  of  the  finest 
country  in  Putnam  county;  and  the  farms  are  well  improved,  presenting  the 
evidence  of  care  and  skill  on  the  part  of  their  owners. 

The  first  settlers  were  Jesse  and  Rollin  James,  Elias  Gibson  and  John 
Powell,  who  built  their  cabins  in  1821.  in  the  western  part  of  the  township, 
not  far  from  where  Brick  Chapel  now  stands.  In  1822  came  Isaiah  Vermil- 
lion, Thomas  Heady,  Barnabas  Frakes.  George  W.  Howlett  and  Philip 
Ford.  During  the  next  two  years.  Levi  Stewart.  John.  Abner  and  O.  Good- 
win and  George  Pearcy  became  citizens.  Within  the  years  1825  and  1826 
they  were  joined  by  William  Randall,  James  \V.  Hillis.  Joseph  Logan.  Mr. 
McCorkle.  William  H.  Thomburg,  Andy  Sigler.  Captain  Tumbrick,  Jona- 
than, Aaron  and  Henry  Myres,  Mr.  Glover.  John  and  George  Jackson,  Mr. 
Baileys.  Thomas  Benge,  William  Moss.  Reuben  Slavens.  Edward  Parish, 
Andrew  Byerly.  Joseph  Heath,  Philip  Slater.  Hudson  and  Eli  Brackney, 
Robert  N.  Allen,  Thomas  Starks.  Mr.  Busey.  John  Allen.  Mr.  Penny.  Abra- 
ham Leatherman  and  Luke  Gardner.  The  years  1827  and  1828  mark  the 
arrival  of  Robert  C.  Brown.  Addison  and  Josiah  Lane.  Samuel  Job.  Elswick 
Risk.  George  Gibson,  John  Frakes,  J.  and  P.  Clement  and  W.  Hansel.  There 
was  a  large  increase  of  population  in  the  following  two  years,  among  whom 
were  James  Montgomery.  Daniel  Chadd,  James  Fisk,  Phelan  and  Corbin 
Priest,  James  O'Hair.  John  Brown.  Henry  Foster.  Alexander  Tolin.  Peter 
Graves.  John  Gilkey,  Hiram  B.  Slavens.  Alexander  Farrow.  Thomas  Tins- 
ley.  William  Garrett,  Sharp  Spencer.  Mrs.  Brothers  and  her  son.  Robert 
Brothers,  and  Mr.  Dale.  Among  these  who  came  soon  afterward  may  be 
named  the  Darnalls.  the  Starrs,  the  Thorntons  and  the  FyfFes. 

Among  the  other  old  settlers  were  William  Randall,  Mathew  McCorkle, 
Elizabeth  Howlett,  James  O'Hair,  John  Frakes,  James  Fisk,  Corbin  Priest. 
Robert  Brothers,  John  Slavens.  Charles  B.  Bridges,  James  Gordon.  John 
Starr.  Samuel  Damall.  Mr.  Thornton,  Andrew  Byerly.  Alexander  Tolin  and 
Josiah  Lane. 

The  marriage  of  George  Johnson  and  Susannah  Tomlinson  was  the 
first  in  the  township. 


164  vveik's  history  of 

The  first  blacksmith  was  John  Jackson,  who  built  a  shop  in  section  3J. 
on  the  farm  now  owned  by  Sylvester  O'Hair.  Thomas  Heady  was  the  first 
justice  of  the  peace.  Then  came  Reuben  Slavens  and  Alexander  Tolin  as 
his  successors  in  office.  The  first  person  who  died  in  the  township  was  a  man 
named  Lane.  He  was  buried  on  the  farm  of  George  W.  Howlett.  The 
Brick  Chapel  grave-yard  is  one  of  the  oldest  in  the  tciwnship,  and  has  a 
beautiful  location.  There  is  a  grave-yard  near  the  home  of  William  Ran- 
dall, called  Randall's  grave-yard,  which  is  one  of  the  oldest  burying-places 
in  Monroe  township.  The  first  school  was  taught  by  George  Pearcy  in  sec- 
tion I.  north  of  Bainbridge.  About  the  year  1826,  Addison  Lane  taught  a 
school  near  the  site  of  Brick  Chapel,  which  was  the  first  in  that  neighborhood. 
He  was  followed  by  Joseph  Farley  Hiram  B.  Slavens  and  John  Slavens. 
The  Christians  held  the  first  meetings  in  the  township  at  the  house  of  George 
W.  Howlett  in  1823.  Gilbert  Harney  preached  and  conducted  the  services. 
This  house  was  used  as  a  place  of  worship  for  several  years  by  several  dif- 
ferent denominations.  Rev.  Benjamin  Jones,  a  Methodist  minister,  held 
services  also  at  the  house  of  Mr.  Howlett,  shortly  after  the  Christian  mee 
ings  at  the  same  place,  and  here  the  Methodist  church  was  organized  by 
Daniel  Anderson  and  Benjamin  C.  Stevenson.  This  must  have  taken  place 
in  the  conference  year  1826-27,  as  Anderson  and  Stevenson  were  then  pas- 
tors of  the  Eel  River  circuit.  Meetings  were  also  held  in  a  log  school  house 
that  stood  where  Brick  Chapel  now  stands.  The  first  church  building  was 
erected  by  the  Methodists  on  the  present  site  of  the  Montgomery  Chapel.  It 
was  a  small  brick  building  afterward  replaced  by  the  present  commodious 
edifice. 

Bainbridge  is  a  flourishing  town  on  the  Louisville,  Xew  Albany  &  Chi- 
cago railroad,  in  the  northeastern  comer  of  the  township,  occupying  a  part 
of  sections  i,  2,  11  and  12.  It  was  laid  out  by  Levi  A.  Pearcy  March  5, 
1831,  on  land  owned  by  Allen  Pearcy,  John  Elrod,  Thomas  Gordon  and  Ma- 
son Catherwood.  The  town  has  since  been  considerably  enlarged.  The  first 
and  second  additions  were  made  by  Mr.  Cooper.  J.  E.  and  D.  A.  Ouin  made 
the  ne.xt  addition,  and  then  came  Corwin  and  Thornton's  first,  second  and 
third  additions. 

Adam  Feather  was  the  first  blacksmith  in  the  place;  Joshua  Lucas  the 
first  tanner;  John  Cunningham  the  first  merchant;  James  D.  Carter  the  first 
saddler.  William  O.  Darnall  was  also  among  the  first  merchants.  D.  C. 
Donnehue  put  up  the  first  carding  machine  in  the  town,  and  was  also  the  first 
justice  of  the  peace  there. 


PL'TXAM     COL"NTV,    IXDIANA.  165 

The  first  church  organization  was  effected  by  the  Presb}terians.  The 
Methodist  church  was  established  mere  in  1844,  and  the  present  house  of 
worship  was  buih  in  the  year  1S46.  The  founding  of  the  Christian  church 
was  a  little  later  than  that  of  the  Methodist.  The  Baptists  have  a  congrega- 
tion there,  but  no  church  edifice.  The  Catholics  also  have  an  organization, 
and  a  place  of  worship. 

In  1847  Bainbridge  was  incorporated  as  a  town.  The  name  was  sug- 
gested by  the  late  Col.  John  Osborn,  who  then  lived  nearby  and  who  later 
moved  to  Clay  county,  in  honor  of  the  gallant  Commodore  Bainbridge  of 
the  United  States  Xavy.  The  present  olficers  of  the  corporation  are  Jesse 
O.  CoiYman,  A.  F.  Ford  and  Sherman  Murphy,  trustees;  Orlando  R.  Turnev, 
clerk  and  treasurer.  In  the  early  fifties  Bainbridge  took  on  new  life  and  for 
a  time  enjoyed  quite  a  boom  on  account  of  the  building  of  the  Louisville,  New- 
Albany  &  Salem  railroad,  now  the  "Monon  Route."  which  passed  through 
the  town.  It  was  at  that  time  one  of  Bainbridge's  citizens  conceived  and 
carried  to  a  successful  termination  the  idea  of  building  a  mammoth  grist- 
mill. It  was  one  of  the  largest  concerns  of  its  kind  in  this  part  of  the  state, 
but  the  enterprise  ended  in  a  financial  failure,  its  collapse  involving  a  number 
of  the  leading  citizens  of  the  village.  It  finally  passed  into  the  ownership  of 
a  Chicago  man.  who  operated  it  for  several  years,  shipping  the  greater  part 
of  its  output  to  Liverpool  and  other  European  ports.  It  was  the  onlv  mill 
that  ever  shipped  direct  to  Europe  flour  made  from  wheat  grown  in  Putnam 
county.  The  mill  is  still  standing,  though  its  capacity  is  much  reduced,  and 
supplies  the  wants  of  the  local  trade. 

Bainbridge  has  a  new  brick  school  building  erected  last  year.  It  contains 
all  the  modern  conveniences  and  is  both  a  beautiful  and  useful  addition  to 
the  town's  attractions.  Six  teachers  are  employed  who  teach  all  the  common 
and  high  school  grades.  There  are  also  five  churches  representing  as  many 
different  religious  denominations:  Catholic,  Presbyterian,  Methodist,  Chris- 
tian and  Christian  L'nion.  A  Masonic  lodge  was  organized  years  ago  in 
Bainbridge.  of  which  Milton  Brown  is  worshipful  master  and  James  L.  Mc- 
Kee  secretan.-;  also  a  lodge  of  the  Knights  of  Pythias,  of  which  William 
Brown  is  chancellor  commander,  and  Fred  Steele  is  keeper  of  records  and 
seal;  a  camp  of  Modern  Woodmen,  of  which  ^I.  F.  Parks  is  venerable  con- 
sul, and  Samuel  Ratcliff  is  clerk,  and  a  post — No.  463 — Grand  Army  of  the 
Republic,  of  which  John  \\"ilkinson  is  commander,  and  George  W.  Starr  is 
adjutant. 

The  town  has  one  newspaper.  Tlic  Bainbridyc  Xcws.  published  weekly, 
of  which  George  W.  Grames  is  the  editor  and  proprietor,  and  (5ne  bank,  called 


i66  weik's  history  of 

the  Bainbridge  Bank,  of  which  T.  P.  Moffett  is  president;  J.  M.  Reed,  vice- 
president,  and  Charles  AI.  Moffett  cashier.  There  are  also  the  following 
manufacturing  enterprises:  Glove  and  mitten  factory,  owned  by  Horace 
Pherson;  planing  mill  and  lumber  yard,  operated  by  Lockridge  &  x\shby; 
sawmill,  by  L.  C.  Priest,  and  two  factories  for  the  manufacture  of  cement 
blocks  and  castings  operated  by  Allee  &  Welch  and  Albert  Hubbard  &  Son, 
respectively. 

Bainbridge  has  a  population  of  about  five  hundred.  AbotiC  two  years 
ago  a  commercial  club  was  organized  to  attract  capital  and  new  people  to 
the  place  and  to  that  end  a  tract  of  land  was  bought,  platted  and  annexed  to 
the  town.  Several  lots  have  been  sold  and  a  number  of  houses  are  being 
built.  The  intention  is  to  donate  suitable  ground  for  factory  sites,  etc.  The 
officers  are  Milton  F.  Darnall,  president,  and  Charles  M.  Moffett,  secretary. 
The  following  have  served  as  postmaster  at  Bainbridge :  Joshua  H. 
Lucas,  February  13,  1835;  D.  C.  Donnohue,  February  13,  1841 ;  Abiathar 
Crane,  December  10,  1851;  A.  J.  Darnall,  November  i.  1853;  William  W 
Gill,  January  31,  1855;  Charles  M.  Nye.  June  23,  1855;  John  W.  Cooper, 
February  6,  1856;  William  B.  Walls,  November  27,  1856;  Thomas  L.  Ellis, 
August  4,  i860;  Amos  K.  Payne,  April  15,  1861  ;  Mary  E.  Darnall,  January 
5,  1864:  B.  F.  Duncan,  May  31,  1866;  Mary  E.  Darnall,  June  12,  1866; 
Marv  Ellis.  February  25,  1868;  Mary  E.  Darnall,  Alarch  25.  1869;  Carleton 
McDaniel,  July  18,  1882;  George  W.  Hansel,  May  25,  1885;  C.  C.  Coffman. 
May  3,  1889;  Milroy  Gordon,  June  20.  1893;  Thomas  J.  Gordon,  July  3, 
1894:  Anna  M.  Gordon.  December  8.  1900;  James  F.  Smith,  September  11, 
1903;  Glen  D.  Lemberger,  February  13,  1909.  At  Brick  Chapel,  which  was 
discontinued  as  a  postoffice  on  February  28.  1905.  the  following  named  served 
as  postmasters:  L.  L.  Maxwell.  April  28.  1873:  F.  G.  Albin.  January  5, 
1874;  Willis  P.  Wood,  July  14,  1874;  discontinued  November  5,  1875: 
re-established  May  8,  1876;  William  M.  Smith,  May  8,  1876;  R.  M.  Baker. 
November  10,  1876;  William  N.  Scobee,  July  9,  1877;  R.  F.  Oakley.  Septem- 
ber 16.  1879:  James  L.  Fisk,  January  16.  1883;  John  Slavens.  March  9, 
1883;  George  S.  Frank.  July  28.  1885;  J.  W.  S.  Wyatt.  February  17,  1887; 
William  T.  Overbey.  June  15,  1889;  Robert  S.  Harbison.  April  18.  1890; 
Michael  Rising.  January  10.  1896. 

FLOYD    TOVVXSHIP. 

This  township  is  the   full  congressional  township   15.   range  3.   and  is 
bounded  on  the  north  bv  Jackson  township,  on  the  east  by  Hendricks  county. 


PUTNAM    COUNTY,    INDIANA.  l6j 

on  the  south  by  Marion,  and  on  the  west  by  Monroe  township.  The  soil  is 
good  and  compares  favorably  with  the  best  townships  of  the  county.  Its 
surface  is  rolhng,  but  becomes  broken  along  the  streams,  which  are  Walnut 
fork  of  Eel  river,  Warford's  fork,  Monachal's  fork  and  their  branches,  all 
running  in  a  southwest  direction.  The  valuable  timber  of  this  township 
consists  of  poplar,  walnut,  oak.  maple,  ash,  elm  and  hickory.  Tl  most 
peculiar  feature  of  the  county  is  the  sandy  ridge  in  this  township.  It  e.xtends 
north  and  south  a  distance  of  three  miles,  at  an  elevation  of  forty  feet  above 
the  surrounding  level.  The  composition  is  of  sand  and  gravel,  and  is  en- 
tirely different  from  any  other  geological  deposit  in  the  vicinity. 

The  first  settler  was  Joseph  W.  Warford,  who  located  on  section  33 
in  the  year  182 1.  In  1822  came  Wilson  L.  Warford,  Washington  Weather- 
ford.  Readie  Akers,  Isaac  Monnett,  Lawson  Monnett  and  Reuben  Smith. 
During  the  year  1823  Thomas  Purcell,  Cuthbert  Daniels,  William  Aldridge, 
Thomas  Higgins  and  Harrison  Monnett  became  pioneers  of  the  township. 
From  1824  to  1826  came  G.  Xorrill,  Zachariah  Melton,  Mr.  Rowlett,  Wil- 
liam Collings,  S.  Collings,  Har\ey  CoUings,  .-\.  L.  Collings,  Abraham  Wise 
and  his  sons  San  ford  and  Shadrach  Wise.  The  years  from  1827  to  1830 
brought  George  Monachal,  Anderson  B.  Matthews  and  his  father-in-law,  John 
Heavin.  A.  Pickett.  William  and  Aquila  Pickett,  J.  M.  and  H.  B.  Pickett. 
Isaac  Yates,  Mr.  Howard.  Thomas  Ogle,  Joseph  E\'ans,  William  Arnold, 
James  Miller.  J.  Kinder,  Moses  Lewis,  E.  Tarburton,  J.  L.  Bird,  J.  C.  Wil- 
son. I.  J.  Wilson.  A.  Wilson,  L.  Gibson.  J.  Westhart,  J.  Kurtz  and  William 
Todd.  The  ne.xt  three  years  witnessed  the  arrival  of  John  Gregory.  Doctor 
Stadley,  Jacob  McVey,  Jacob  Hoffman,  Cooper  Wilson,  James  Robinson. 
Dr.  Josias  H.  Robinson,  John  H.  Herod,  Charles  Hunter,  Thomas  Ellis, 
Lewis  Ellis  and  James  Ellis.  Between  1834  and  1839,  Joshua  Iddings,  .Archi- 
bald ?vliller,  John  Craver,  Martin  and  Enoch  Wright,  Thomas  Job.  Henry 
Wain.  Thomas  Randall.  John  Millman,  Levi  Owen,  James  Shoemaker,  George 
Hansell.  Elijah  Wilkinson,  Samuel  Shinn,  John  Shinn,  Jacob  Millman, 
Stephen  Brown,  \\'esley  Figg,  J.  W.  Chatham.  Thomas  Job,  son  of  Samuel 
J(il).  Harrison  Monnett.  Sanford  Wise.  Harvey  Collings,  William  Todd. 
Susan  Hunter,  Delphia  Busby,  Francis  Hughes,  Joshua  Iddings,  Stephen 
Brown,  Archibald  Miller.  Wesley  Figg.  J.  W.  Chatham  and  Sarah  Ellis  and 
Thomas  Job. 

The  first  marriage  in  Floyd  was  that  of  Wilson  L.  Warford  and  Nancy 
Monnett.  daughter  of  Isaac  Monnett.  This  occurred  in  1823:  and  an  inci- 
dent in  connection  with  the  wedding  that  is  worthy  of  recording  was  that  the 
fainilv  had  no  Hour  to  make  bread,  and  therefore  the  feasi  had  to  he  en- 


1 68  weik's  history  of 

joyed  without  that  necessary  article  of  food.  Deha  W'arford.  born  in  18^4, 
was  the  first  white  child  born  in  that  township.  The  first  who  died  was  a 
daughter  of  Joseph  Warford,  in  1822.  She  was  buried  on  the  home  fann, 
once  owned  by  Vincent  Day.  This  was  the  first  grave-yard  in  the  township, 
but  it  has  not  been  used  for  many  years.  The  first  sawmill  was  built  bv  An- 
derson B.  Matthews,  on  section  2i3-  in  the  year  1829.  Within  the  ne.xt  year 
he  added  a  grist-mill.  These  were  water  mills,  and  stood  on  Warford's  fork. 
Mr.  Ogle  built  a  saw  and  grist-mill  on  Walnut,  in  this  township,  in  the  year 
1834  or  1835.  William  Arnold,  who  had  a  shop  in  section  20,  in  1828,  was 
the  first  blacksmith.  Dr.  William  Matthews,  son  of  Anderson  B.  Matthews, 
was  the  first  resident  physician  in  Floyd.  He  located  in  the  south  part  of  the 
township,  and  became  quite  a  noted  man  in  his  profession.  The  Doctor  was 
author  of  several  medical  works  and  correspondent  of  some  leading  journals 
in  the  country.  At  a  later  day,  he  remo\ed  to  Mason.  Effingham  county, 
Illinois,  where  he  died  some  years  ago. 

In  the  year  1838  John  Millman.  Sr.,  erected  on  section  26  a  factory  for 
the  manufacture  of  fur  and  wool  hats,  in  which  he  continued  to  carry  on  busi- 
ness until  the  year  1863,  a  period  of  just  a  quarter  of  a  century.  During  this 
time  he  manufactured  hats  by  the  hundred  and  by  the  thousand,  and  hauled 
them  in  wagon  loads  to  neighboring  counties  where  they  were  exchanged 
for  furs  and  pelts.  He  was  a  prominent  member  of  the  American  Fur  Com- 
pany, and  collected  furs  in  large  quantities,  which  he  hauled  in  wagons  to 
the  company's  depot  at  Detroit,  Michigan.  Mr.  Millman  was  a  man  of  great 
experience  in  his  business,  and  a  splendid  workman,  having  produced  from 
his  factory  hats  which  were  worn  for  thirteen  years  in  succession.  It  was  a 
claim  of  the  old  gentleman  that  he  made  the  first  hat  ever  worn  by  Bishop 
Simpson  of  the  Methodist  Episcopal  church.  The  last  hats  he  manufactured 
were  sent  to  Scottsboro.  Tennessee,  during  the  Civil  war.  to  be  worn  bv  the 
Union  soldiers.  This  old  pioneer  was  a  great  lover  of  his  countr\-.  having 
sent  three  sons  to  the  Mexican  war.  and  five  to  the  Union  army  in  1861.  He 
died  in  the  centennial  year,  at  the  age  of  eighty-seven  years,  and  was  buried  in 
sight  of  his  factory. 

Andrew  B.  Matthews  was  the  first  justice  of  the  peace,  holding  the 
office  in  1828.  and  continuing  in  the  same  until  the  time  of  his  death.  He 
ser\ed  for  a  number  of  years  as  president  of  the  county  board  of  magi.strates. 

Daniel  Anderson  preached  the  first  sermon  in  this  township,  in  the  year 
1822  or  1823.  at  the  house  of  Joseph  Warford,  which  was  a  place  of  worship 
for  a  number  of  years.  These  meetings  were  held  by  the  }ifethoitist>.  who 
at  an  early  day  built  "Wesley  Chapel"  and  "Pleasant  Grove."     Their  first 


PUTNA\t    COUNTY,    INDIANA.  169 

minister  was  followed  by  S.  Otwell.  William  H.  Smith,  Lorenzo  Dow,  Mr. 
Grimes,  A.  L.  Collings,  H.  Collings,  Isaac  Owen,  Mr.  Cord  and  Matthew 
Simpson,  with  probably  others  worthy  of  record,  if  their  names  could  be 
recalled. 

The  Protestant  Methodists,  under  the  leadership  of  Harvey  Collings, 
organized,  and  now  have  two  churches  in  the  township. 

The  first  Sabbath  school  was  organized  in  1844.  by  Harvey  Collings. 

The  history  of  the  Regular  Baptists,  in  Floyd,  dates  from  the  year 
1S26,  in  which  they  formed  a  society  and  built  a  house  of  worship  called 
Enon.  the  same  being  the  first  structure  of  the  kind  in  the  township.  They 
also  built  the  second  church  in  the  township  and  named  it  Palestine.  This 
denomination  now  has  here  three  houses  of  worship.  Charles  and  Carter 
Hunter,  of  Marion  tow-nship,  preached  the  first  Baptist  sermons  in  Floyd 
in  the  year  1826.  They  were  followed  by  J.  Cost,  Spencer  Collings  and 
Thomas  Broadstreet,  who  rank  among  the  early  Baptist  ministers  of  this 
part  of  the  county. 

The  Cumberland  Presbyterians  have  a  church  in  this  township,  though 
their  organization  is  of  later  date. 

The  village  of  Groveland,  situated  on  sections  2  and  3,  was  laid  out  by 
Benjamin  F.  and  Daniel  Summers,  March  18,  1854. 

The  following  postmasters  have  served  at  Groveland :  Henry  B.  Pick- 
ett, July  19,  1852;  D.  T.  Summers,  June  21,  1854;  Benjamin  I.  Summers, 
Xovember  18,  1858:  Wilson  Fisher.  June  8,  1859;  J.  W.  Hanna,  December 
II.  i860;  Weakly  Mason.  October  18,  1861  ;  Elias  Horner,  April  30,  1862; 
Salmon  Hall,  March  25.  1865:  James  Turner.  December  26,  1876;  S.  M. 
Comer.  July  5,  1878:  Tames  Turner,  January  26,  1880;  Jonathan  Owens. 
July  10.  1885;  W.  M.  Owens.  April  17.  1888:  William  A.  Wood,  May  31. 
1889;  Joseph  E.  Graham.  October  26,  1891 ;  discontinued  February  14,  1905. 

MARIO.V    TOWNSHIP. 

Marion  township  lies  ininiecliate!\'  south  of  Floyd,  and  is  the  full  con- 
gressional township  14,  north,  range  3  west.  It  is  bounded  on  the  north  by 
Floyd  township,  on  the  east  by  Hendricks  county  and  Mill  Creek  township, 
on  the  south  by  Jefiferson  township,  and  on  the  west  by  Greencastle  township. 
Its  surface  is  gently  rolling:  the  soil  good,  and  finely  adapted  to  cultivation. 
The  supply  of  timber  was  at  one  time  abundant,  consisting  of  poplar,  walnut, 
white,  red  and  burr  oak.  hard  maple,  beech,  ash.  and  many  inferior  kinds, 
such  as  elm,  gum  and  sycamore,  with  a  plentiful  supply  of  hickorv-  on  the 


IJO  WEIK  S    HISTORY    OF 

more  level  portions.  This  township  is  drained  by  Deer  creek,  that  stream 
having  its  source  in  the  northeast  corner  and  traversing  the  entire  extent 
of  the  township  to  the  southwest  comer,  where  it  takes  its  leave  on  section  31. 
The  first  settler  in  Marion  township  was  Reuben  Ragan,  w-ho  first  came 
to  the  county  in  the  year  181 8  and  prospected  the  country  comprising  Put- 
nam and  surrounding  counties  during  that  and  the  following  year.  He  then 
returned  to  the  state  of  Kentucky,  whence  he  again  came  to  Putnam  in  the 
spring  of  1820,  staying  two  years  in  Greencastle  township,  west  of  the  city. 
He  entered  land  in  the  extreme  north  of  Marion  township  in  1822,  and  be- 
came a  permanent  resident  there  in  October  of  the  same  year,  continuing 
to  make  that  his  home  until  the  date  of  his  death,  August  19,  1869. 

In  October  of  the  year  1824  Mr.  Rag?n  built  a  hewed-log  house,  which, 
having  been  w^eather-boarded  and  plastered,  now  forms  the  front  portion 
of  the  family  residence,  and  is  the  oldest  building  in  Putnam  county,  having 
been  in  use  as  a  dwelling  for  more  than  eighty-five  years.  Like  all  of  the 
builder's  works,  it  was  well  done,  and  it  still  stands  firm,  with  the  probabil- 
ity of  still  withstanding  the  shocks  of  time  for  years  to  come.  Mr.  Ragan 
was  a  noted  horticulturist  and  possessed  a  fine  talent  for  his  occupation. 
He  sowed  seeds  for  an  orchard  on  the  farm  of  Mr.  Thomas,  west  of  Green- 
castle, in  the  spring  of  1820,  which  were,  doubtless,  the  first  seeds  of  the 
kind  to  take  root  in  the  soil  of  Putnam  county.  A  few  years  later  he  planted 
the  first  orchard  in  Marion  township.  He  is  still  remembered  by  his  neigh- 
bors as  a  man  of  vigorous  intellect,  pure  mind  and  unscrupulously  honest 
and  upright  in  all  his  dealings. 

From  the  time  of  Mr.  Pagan's  settlement  in  the  township  to  1824 
he  was  joined  by  Judge  Smith,  Henry  Wood,  Mr.  Davis,  John  Smith,  Silas 
Hopkins  and  Samuel  Hazelett.  In  the  years  1825  and  1826  came  William 
Bell,  John  Denny,  William  and  James  Smith,  Bryce  Miller,  Isaac  and 
George  Legg,  Jeremiah  Nichols,  Charles  and  Carter  Hunter,  Israel  Moss, 
John  Gregorv,  James  and  William  Denny.  Mr.  Acres,  Enoch  Stone,  William 
Nicholson  and  Thomas  Jackson.  Within  the  next  two  years  the  population 
was  increased  by  the  arrival  of  David  Wise,  Henry  Hunter,  Bailey  O'Neal, 
Daniel  Chadd.  John  Benefield,  John  and  James  Agee,  Daniel  Brewer,  Charles 
Knetzer,  Jacob  Shoptaugh,  Eli  Fry,  Henry  Keller,  Peter  Lunsford,  Daniel 
Bridge  water.  The  newcomers  for  the  years  1829  and  1830  were  Alexander 
Gorham,  Ambrose  Day,  Thomas  Jackson,  Sr.,  William  Frazier,  John  Run- 
yan,  Isaac  Hope,  Joseph  Ellis,  Anselm  Mason,  Henry  Shields,  Samuel 
Reeves.  There  probably  were  others  equally  worthy  of  mention.  Some  of 
these  here  named  entered  land,  and,  perhaps,  lived  near  Greencastle  before 


PUTNAM    COUNTY,    INDIANA. 


171 


settling  in   what   now   comprises    Marion    township.      Nearly   all   have    left 
here  large  families,  who  inherit  the  blessings  of  their  labors. 

Among  the  old  settlers  who  have  died  within  the  past  thirty  vears  were 
John  Smith,  familiarly  known  as  "Uncle  Jackey,"  Thomas  Jackson.  Mrs. 
Reuben  Ragan.  .Mrs.  Catherine  Smith.  Mrs.  Henry  Hunter.  Mrs.  James 
Denny.  .Afrs.  Willoughby  Leachman.  Samuel  Hazelett.  who  lived  near 
Stilesville.  and  Daniel  Brewer,  at  Coatsville.  The  last  named  was  born 
m  Holland  on  August  31,  1782.  and  came  to  Kentucky  when  two  years  old. 
From  that  state  he  removed  to  Putnam  county,  where  he  lived  until  almost 
a  hundred  years  old. 

On  December  18,  1824,  Arthur  A.,  the  son  of  John  Denny,  was  born, 
being  the  first  white  child  born  in  the  township.  Mr.  Denny  in  1850  moved 
to  the  Pacific  coast  and  was  one  of  the  founders  of  the  citv  of  Seattle.  He 
represented  Washington  Territory  in  Congress  in  1865-67.  The  ne.xt  birth 
in  the  township  was  that  of  America,  the  daughter  of  Samuel  Hazlett,  De- 
cember 24.  1824.     She  is  still  living  and  has  never  married. 

The  marriage  of  John  Smith,  son  of  John  Smith,  and  Miss  Willie 
Smith,  daughter  of  Judge  Smith,  was  the  first  that  occurred  in  the  town- 
ship. The  first  grist-mill  in  the  township  was  that  built  on  Deer  creek  by 
Samuel  Hazlett  as  early  at  1826.  It  stood  on  section  17.  It  was  in  1854 
that  .Mien  Burk  put  up  his  horse-mill.  James  Agee.  who.  in  1828.  had' a 
shop  in  section  20,  was  the  first  blacksmith.  Shortly  after  Agee  came  Isaac 
Hope,  who  erected  a  shop  near  the  old  family  residence  in  section  12.  The 
first  store  was  kept  by  Ahijah  Robinson  at  Nicholsonville  about  1845.  The 
first  postofiice  was  also  kept  by  Mr.  Robinson  at  the  same  place.  It  was 
afterward  removed  to  Fillmore,  but  for  several  years  thereafter  retained 
its  original  name  of  Nicholsonville.  William  C.  Hopwood  was  the  first 
resident  physician.  He  located  in  Fillmore  in  1853.  John  Dennv  was  the 
first  justice  of  the  peace.  He  was  followed  by  his  brother.  James  Denny, 
who  held  the  office  for  fourteen  consecutive  years.  Then  came  Tames  Mc- 
Achran.  James  Sill.  R.  M.  Hazelett  and  Jacob  P.  Cox  and  their 'successors. 

The  Regular  Baptist  church  was  the  first  organized  in  the  township. 
This  was  done  November  25,  1826.  at  the  house  of  William  Denny,  bv 
Charles  and  Carter  Hunter  and  wives,  Thomas  Broadstreet.  Enoch  Stone  and 
wife.  William  Nicholson  and  wife,  and  Isaac  Monnett.  They  finallv  built 
a  house  of  worship  on  the  farm  of  Carter  Hunter.  The  Missionary  Bap- 
tists were  organized  about  1841.  Elders  Jones  and  Arnold  were  among  their 
first  preachers.  They  have  a  good  frame  church,  called  Bethel,  two  and  one- 
half  miles  .southeast  of  Fillmore.     The  first  meetings  of  the  Christian  church 


172  WEIK  S    HISTORY    OF 

were  held  at  the  houses  of  Charles  Knetzer  and  Ambrose  Day.  This  was 
before  the  organization  of  the  church,  which  took  place  about  1839,  and  a 
building,  known  as  Old  Union,  was  erected  on  the  farm  of  Ambrose  Day 
in  1840.  John  M.  Harris  was  their  first  preacher,  followed  by  James  M. 
^Mathews.  Gilbert  Harney.  Xathan  Waters,  O.  P.  Badger.  Chatterton.  James 
and  Perry  Blankinship.  Cooms.  as  well  as  many  others.  They  have  a 
church  in  Fillmore,  which  was  erected  soon  after  the  town  was  laid  out. 
The  Methodists  organized  a  church  at  what  was  called  "Denny's  School- 
house,"  at  a  very  early  date.  John  Denny  was  an  active,  zealous  member 
of  this  congregation,  and  it  became  quite  a  flourishing  church.  In  1838 
meetings  were  held  at  the  houses  of  Matthew  Brann  and  others.  Rev.  Owen 
Owen.  Davis.  Hancock.  Forbes,  President  Simpson  and  Prof  Cyrus  Xutt 
were  the  first  preachers  of  this  organization.  The  first  Methodist  church 
was  built  on  section  16.  and  called  Mount  Carmel.  After  the  building  of 
the  new  church  in  Fillmore.  Mount  Carmel  was  given  or  sold  to  the  Regular 
Baptists.  Soon  after  the  erection  of  Mount  Carmel,  another  Methodist 
church,  named  Liberty,  was  built  on  the  farm  of  Abbott  Robinson,  in  sec- 
tion II.  This  building  remained  until  the  congregation  erected  an  elegant 
frame  building,  in  1871,  on  a  lot  given  for  that  purpose  by  Morris  Oliver. 

Fillmore,  the  only  village  in  the  township,  is  on  the  Terre  Haute  & 
Indianapolis  railroad,  six  miles  northeast  of  Greencastle.  It  was  laid  out 
in  1852  by  Benjamin  Nicholson,  James  Sill  and  Leonard  C.  Catterlin,  on 
land  then  owned  by  them,  but  formerly  forming  a  part  of  Richard  Sinclair's 
fami. 

The  first  store  in  the  town  was  kept  by  Hardin  &  Brown  in  1852.  fol- 
lowed bv  Benjamin  Xicholson,  Hardin  Wilcox  and  Moses  T.  Bridges,  gen- 
eral dealers,  and  William  D.  Smith,  who  kept  a  grocery  and  provision 
store.  Mr.  Bridges  did  verj-  much  toward  building  up  the  town,  having 
erected  a  hotel  and  in  many  other  ways  added  to  its  prosperity. 

There  are  also  two  churches,  one  Christian,  the  other  Methodist.  The 
Missionarv  Baptists  formerly  had  a  church  at  Fillmore.  The  building  is 
now  used  as  a  school  house. 

At  Fillmore  the  following  postmasters  have  served :  William  Matthews. 
August  10.  1848;  Abijah  Robinson.  November  19.  1849;  H.  H.  Wilcox. 
March  19.  1852:  ?vIoses  T.  Bridges.  January  21,  1854;  John  W.  Pierson. 
September  11,  1861;  John  W.  Pierson.  December  5,  1861 :  C.  A.  Matthews. 
Tune  12.  1863:  John  A.  Dicks,  September  24,  1864;  Thomas  J.  Siddens,  Jan- 
uary 18,  1867:  Elizabeth  Welch.  July  10,  1867;  Greenberry  Prather,  Sep- 
tember 13.  1871  :  Elizabeth  Nicholson.  May  10,  1872:  M.  A.  Brown.  June  2. 


PUTNAM    COL'N'TY.    IXDIAXA.  I J3 

1873;  C.  B.  McNary,  March  4,  1874:  M.  A.  Brann,  September  14,  1875; 
M.  H.  Reilly,  March  21,  1881  ;  A.  E.  Robinson,  October  18,  1883;  M.  H. 
Reilly,  March  7,  1884;  Harry  McNary,  May  25,  1885;  Julia  E.  Robinson, 
April  29,  1901. 

Bryce  W.  Miller  taught  the  first  school  in  the  township,  at  his  own 
cabin.  He  afterward  taugiit  at  the  neighbors'  houses — a  favorite  place  bein<y 
at  John  Smith's  in  what  was  called  a  three-faced  camp,  open  in  front  and 
built  up  with  logs  on  the  other  three  sides.  This  stood  on  section  16.  The 
next  was  a  three-months  school,  taught  by  Alfred  Burton,  in  a  log  cabin 
in  section  29.  that  some  one  had  built  for  a  dwelling  and  then  deserted.  This 
school  was  broken  up  by  a  man  named  Nat  Hammond,  who,  becoming  dis- 
satisfied with  the  school,  went  one  night  and  pried  down  the  chimney.  The 
first  school  building  was  erected  on  the  farm  of  John  Denny,  in  section  28. 
about  the  year  1828,  and  was  known  as  "Denny's  Schoolhouse."  John 
Evans  taught  the  first  school  in  this  house.  He  was  followed  by  Lawson  D. 
Sims  and  Thomas  C.  Duckworth,  who  taught  the  first  "six-months  school" 
in  the  township.  The  township  is  now  well  supplied  with  good  schools 
and  education  is  in  the  ascendency. 

GREEXCASTLE    TOWXSHIP. 

Greencastle  township  is  the  central  one  of  the  county,  exactly  coincid- 
ing with  congressional  township  14,  range  4,  and  is  bounded  on  the  north 
by  Monroe,  on  the  east  by  Marion,  on  the  south  by  Warren,  and  on  the  west 
by  Madison.  The  surface  of  the  township  is  generally  rolling,  thou^-h 
some  parts  along  Walnut  are  broken  and  some  in  the  eastern  portion  are 
flat.  The  soil  is  good  and  finely  adapted  for  all  kinds  of  agricultural  pur- 
suits suitable  to  its  latitude.  The  creek  bottoms  are  especiallv  productive. 
It  was  originally  covered  with  an  abundant  growth  of  as  fine  tim'uer  as 
could  be  found  in  any  part  of  the  country.  This  consisted  of  the  kinds 
common  to  such  soil.  The  yellow  poplar  and  the  black  walnut  were  espe- 
cially attractive.  With  these  were  the  other  kinds  common  throughout  the 
county. 

The  township  is  drained  by  Big  Walnut,  which  crosses  it  diaCTonallv 
from  northeast  to  southwest,  running  to  the  north  and  west  of  Greencastle. 
A  heavy  and  valuable  bed  of  limestone  underlies  the  entire  township,  o-jy- 
ing  character  to  its  topography.  The  township  was  one  of  the  first  settled 
and  is  finely  improved.  Enjoying  the  location  of  the  countv  seat  near  its 
center,  it  has  special  facilities  for  the  development  of  its  natural  resources 


174  WEIK  S    HISTORY    OF 

Greencastle  township  was  settled  in  1821,  by  John  Sigler,  Thomas 
Johnson,  John  Miller.  Benjamin  Jones,  Silas  G.  Weeks,  Jubal  Deweese, 
Amos  Robertson,  John  F.  Seller,  David  Deweese,  Jefferson  Thomas, 
Thomas  Deweese  and  Samuel  Rogers.  In  1822  and  1823  came  Abraham 
Coffman,  Solomon  Coffman,  Isaac  Legg,  Col.  Lewis  H.  Sands,  Gen.  Joseph 
Orr,  James  Talbott,  Amasa  Johnson,  Robert  Glidewell,  P.  S.  Wilson,  Eph- 
raim  Dukes,  John  W.  Clark,  William  B.  Gwathney.  Michael  Wilson,  John 
Butcher,  ^lasten  and  Spencer  Hunter,  William  Talbott.  Col.  Daniel  Sigler, 
Lawson  D.  Sims.  Matthew  Legg.  Rev.  John  Oatman,  Joshua  H.  Lucas, 
Greenberry  Mulinix.  Joseph  Thornburg.  Arthur  Mahorney,  Jacob  Butcher, 
Robert  Catterlin,  James  Trotter,  Elisha  King.  Samuel  D.  Chipman,  Arthur 
McGaughey,  Reese  Hardesty,  Col.  Mathew  W.  Bussey.  Jesse  Neese,  Henry 
Canote,  John  Lynch.  Thomas  Jackson,  Noble  Meyers,  John  McNary,  James 
Allen,  Lewis  Gibson,  Solomon  Tucker,  Jesse  Purcell,  Daniel  and  Samuel 
Chadd.  John  Peck,  Hiram  Catterlin,  Samuel  Hunter,  Edgar  Thomas.  James 
Duffield.  Mr.  Devoor,  the  Wrights,  Joseph  Thornberry,  John  and  Benjamin 
Cunningham,  and  their  father.  During  the  years  1824  and  1825.  George 
Secrest.  Clark  Burlingame  (a  Revolutionary  soldier),  and  his  sons.  Abel 
and  Spencer  Burlingame.  Gen.  John  Standeford.  James  Moore.  James  Day, 
Dr.  Enos  Lowe.  John  Gregory.  Joseph  F.  Farley,  George  F.  Waterman, 
Thomas  Johnson,  John  Lockhart.  and  William  Peck  became  citizens  of  the 
township.  The  next  two  years  brought  Isaac  Ash.  John  S.  Jennings. 
Ephraim  Blain,  Dr.  A.  C.  Stevenson,  Dr.  L.  M.  Knight.  Col.  John  R.  Mahan, 
Isaac  iVIahan,  Lawson  Seybold.  John  Hammond.  John  Cowgill.  Peter 
Rowlett.  William  Holland.  Philip  Carpenter,  Elisha  Knight.  John  Knight 
and  Wesley  Knight,  and  perhaps  many  others  whose  names  are  lost  among 
the  increasing  multitude  who  were  rapidly  filling  the  countr\-. 

The  histon,-  of  Greencastle  township  is  so  intimately  involved  with  that 
of  the  county  and  of  the  city  of  Greencastle,  that  but  little  remains  to  be 
told.  The  first  births  and  deaths,  the  first  physicians  and  ministers,  the 
first  business  enterprises  and  the  organization  of  the  religious  denominations, 
the  building  of  the  first  mills  and  factories  are  mentioned  elsewhere. 

The  postoffice  at  Greencastle  was  established  March  18.  1821.  and  Joshua 
H.  Lucas  was  appointed  postmaster.  His  successors  were  appointed  and 
served  as  follows:  Lewis  H.  Sands.  November  20.  1826;  James  Talbott, 
June  19,  1840;  James  Jones.  June  8.  1849;  John  Standeford,  May  i,  1850: 
James  Jones,  August  17.  1850;  Henry  W.  Daniels.  June  15,  1853:  Edward 
R.  Kercheval.  March  13.  1856;  Christopher  W.  Brown.  March  19.  i86r ; 
Edward  R.  Kercheval.  M^y  12.   1865:  John  Osborn,  July  12.  1866;  George 


PUTXAM    COUNTY.    INDIANA.  1/5 

J.  Langsdale,  June  24,  1874;  Willis  G.  Nefif,  March  29,  1885;  James  McD. 
Hays,  May  21.  1889;  Willis  G.  Neff,  February  7,  1894:  Lucius  P.  Chapin, 
Februan,-  12.  1898:  John  G.  Dunbar,  February-  3,  1902;  Albert  O.  Lock- 
ridge,  March  22.  1910. 

The  first  tannery  was  kept  by  Walter  and  Rosea  Wright,  who  were  fol- 
lowed by  the  Gillespies,  Milton  F.  Barlow  w-as  the  first  hatter.  Arthur 
Mahorney  was  the  first  justice  of  the  peace.  Other  early  justices  were  Isaac 
Mahan.  David  Dudley,  Reese  Hardesty,  John  Cowgill,  James  M.  Grooms. 
Samuel  Taylor.  Joseph  F.  Farley.  John  T.  Taylor  and  Wesley  White.  The 
first  constable  was  John  Lynch,  who  held  the  office  for  many  years.  Even 
some  of  the  younger  portions  of  the  community  can  remember  he  still  dis- 
charged the  duties  of  that  office  with  promptness  and  energ>-.  though  bearing 
the  weight  of  many  years. 

There  are  many  improved  roads  through  the  townships  connecting 
Greencastle  with  different  portions  of  the  country,  and  affording  the  farmers 
easy  access  to  market,  and  along  these  at  various  points  are  to  be  seen  many 
splendid  farm  residences  displaying  taste  and  liberality  on  the  part  of  their 
owners. 

The  farmers  of  the  township  are  largely  engaged  in  raising  livestock, 
and  in  their  fields  and  stalls  are  to  be  found  some  of  the  finest  animals  in  the 
state. 

The  village  called  Limedale  is  at  the  crossing  of  the  Terre  Haute  &  Indi- 
anapolis railroad  and  the  Louisville.  New  Albany  &  Chicago  (or  Monon) 
road,  and  is  located  on  section  29.  Greencastle  township,  two  miles  south- 
west of  the  court  house.  It  was  laid  out  in  1864,  by  William  Stegg  and 
surveved  by  William  H.  Shields. 

At  Limedale  the  following  postmasters  served :  Alpheus  Morris.  De- 
cember 16.  1873:  William  Berigan.  Jr.,  June  12.  1877;  William  J.  Steeg. 
February  is.   1878.     The  postoffice  was  discontinued  on  October  30.   1909. 

In  the  vear  1856  a  lime  and  stone  quarrv-  was  opened  at  the  Junction 
by  Hellens.  Butcher  &  Stegg,  and  carried  on  extensively,  shipping  stone  and 
lime  to  the  value  of  twenty  thousand  dollars  per  annum.  It  is  now  the 
property  of  William  Stegg's  heirs. 

M.\DIS0N   TOWNSHIP. 

Madison  township  is  formed  of  the  congressional  township  14,  range  5. 
and  lies  immediately  west  of  Greencastle.  It  is  bounded  on  the  north  by 
Clinton,  on  the  south  by  Washington  township  and  on  the  west  by  Parke 


lyS  weik's  history  of 

countv.  It  is  drained  by  Little  Walnut,  along  which  the  township  is  con- 
siderably broken.  The  timber  and  the  soil  of  this  township  are  similar  to 
those  of  the  adjoining  townships. 

The  exact  date  at  which  the  pioneers  of  this  township  came  can  not  now 
be  given.  The  first  piece  of  land  entered  in  the  township  was  by  Richard 
Moore,  December  13.  1821 ;  the  third  was  by  Benjamin  Bell,  April  2.  1821  ; 
and.  in  order  of  time,  Isaac  Wolverton,  April  12,  1821;  Isaac  Matkins,  De- 
cember 20,  1821.  Among  those  who  made  entries  here  in  1822  may  be 
named  Frederick  Leatherman,  Samuel  Wright.  Isaiah  Wright.  Benjamin 
Wright,  Jesse  Wright,  John  Dougherty,  Jesse  Oatman,  Jacob  Curtis  and 
Henry  Williams.  In  1823  Joseph  Thornburg,  Abraham  Wooley  and  George 
Hansel  entered  land  in  this  township.  Other  early  settlers  of  the  township 
were  Peter  Stoner,  Levi  Mann.  John  Anderson,  Andrew  Frank,  Amos 
Wright.  William  Torr,  John  McPheeters  and  his  father.  James  S  win  ford. 
John  Swinford,  Jesse  Latham,  William  P.  King.  Mr.  Albaugh  and  Rowley. 
Some  of  these  may  have  settled  earlier  than  those  whose  entries  are  given 
above. 

The  following  named  were  among  the  oldest  settlers  living  in  1880:  John 
Leatherman,  Jesse  McPheeters,  Joseph  Wells,  who  served  on  the  first  grand 
jury  in  the  county,  James  Torr.  Sr..  Joseph  Grubbs  and  Joseph  Brubaker. 

The  first  death  in  Madison  township  was  that  of  George  W.  Matkins, 
son  of  Isaac  and  Sophia  Matkins:  and  the  first  birth  was  that  of  John 
Thomas  ]\Iatkins.  son  of  the  same  parents. 

The  first  school  was  taught  by  Peter  Garr  about  half  a  mile  north  of 
where  Jesse  McPheeters  fonnerly  lived. 

The  first  mill  in  the  township  was  built  by  Benjamin  Bell  on  the  Walnut 
fork  of  the  Eel  river.  It  was  sold  in  a  few  years  to  James  Townsend.  who 
laid  out  Putnamville. 

The  Predestinarian  Baptists  organized  the  first  church  in  Madison  town- 
ship about  the  year  1S32.  This  took  place  in  the  woods  near  where  John 
Leatherman  now  resides.  About  a  year  afterward,  this  congregation  built 
a  lo?  house  in  which  they  worshipped  for  near  a  score  of  years,  and  then 
Iniilt  a  second  log  house,  which  they  occupied  until  about  thirty-five  years  ago, 
when  they  replaced  it  with  a  substantial  frame  building.  Among  the  early 
ministers  of  this  church  were  Benjamin  Parks.  Aaron  Harlan.  James 
Edwards.  Reuben  Slavens.  Abraham  Leatherman  and  John  Leathennan. 

About  the  year  1834.  a  Methodist  Episcopal  church  was  organized  at 
the  house  of  Isaac  Matkins.  This  church  was  organized  by  Rev.  William  C. 
Smith,  and  the  first  ([uarterly  meeting  was  held  at  the  house  of  Isaac  Mat- 


PL'TXAM     COLN'TV.    INDIANA.  IJJ 

kins  by  Rev.  Aaron  Wood.  The  congregation  continued  to  hold  services 
regularly  there  for  two  or  three  years,  when  they  built  a  log  house,  which 
they  occupied  until  about  the  year  185S,  and  then  built  a  good  frame  church 
to  take  its  place.  Among  the  other  early  ministers  of  this  church  were  Revs. 
De  Motte.  Beck.  Tanzy,  PVeston.  Wright  and  Fairhurst. 

The  Christian  church  was  organized  about  the  year  of  1840  by  Elder 
Levi  Wright,  who  had  been  preaching  for  the  congregation  for  several 
years  before  this  time  and  continued  to  do  so  for  a  number  of  years  afterward. 
They  erected  a  log  house  in  1844.  which  they  occupied  until  1867.  They 
then  built  a  frame  house  on  the  hill  west  of  Ezekiel  Wrights.  Noah  Bu- 
chanan, John  Harris,  Xathan  Wright.  Lorenzo  Dow,  Cleghorn  and  Ezekiel 
Wright  were  the  early  ministers  of  this  church.  This  church  is  a  very 
thrifty  one,  and  it  has  sent  out  from  its  fold  four  or  ti\e  evangelists  who  are 
doing  acceptable  work  in  the  cause  of  the  Master. 

There  are  three  limestone  quarries  in  this  township.  The  depth  of  the 
deposit  is  about  forty  feet.  The  thickness  of  the  ledges  varies  from  seven 
inches  to  five  feet.  .\t  the  bottom  is  a  bed  of  flint  rock  seven  feet  thick.  In 
the  second  and  third  strata  above  is  a  thickness  of  four  or  four  and  one-half 
feet  of  what  Professor  Co.x.  state  geologist,  describes  as  "fine  textured, 
grayish-white  limestone,  commonly  known  as  lithographic  stone."  In  con- 
nection with  the  quarries  are  three  lime-kilns,  managed  by  the  same  com- 
panies. Of  the  product  of  these  kilns.  Professor  Co.x  says,  "The  lime  is 
remarkably  white  and  pure,  and  belongs  to  the  class  technically  called  'fat 
lime':  that  is.  it  sets  quick  and  is  superior  for  whitewashing  and  also  for 
purifying  coal  gas." 

In  Madison  township  there  have  been  two  postoffices.  Brunerstown  and 
Oakalla.  both  of  which  have  been  discontinued.  The  postmasters  who  served 
at  Brunerstown  were:  Isaiah  Wright,  Xovember  29.  1839:  M.  F.  Wright. 
October  11.  1849;  Coleman  P.  Wright.  February  18.  1850;  William  Lane. 
October  7.  1850;  Solomon  Grifiith.  .April  i.  1851  :  M.  F.  Wright,  August  4. 
1S51:  Watson  Dills,  September  7,  1854:  John  Merrywether.  October  11, 
1854:  M.  F.  Wright.  Xovember  30.  1855:  Peter  Bird.  .April  3.  1857;  Thomas 
Ragle.  -April  2-.  I'^^'J :  Jothum  Hasty.  January  9,  1858:  Samuel  H.  Witt. 
-April  20.  1858.  The  postofiice  was  discontinued  August  8.  1859.  At  Oakalla 
the  following  postmasters  served:  Charles  Eppinghousen.  June  4.  1872; 
Daniel  Weaver.  March  30.  1876:  J.  F.  Burkhart.  July  5,  1878:  William  .A. 
McKee.  .August  21.  1878:  F"ranklin  Harlan.  Februan,-  15.  1881:  James  A. 
Johnston.  July  19.  1882:  E.  B.  Early.  May  31.  1889:  Henry  H.  Hillis.  June 


178 


weik's  history  of 


15,  1889;  T.  D.  Torn  September  12,  1891 ;  John  W.  Stroube,  July  14,  1896; 
Joseph  D.  Torr.  January  22.  1903.  Postoffice  discontinued  November  30, 
1903. 

WASHINGTON  TOWNSHIP. 

Washington,  the  oldest  of  the  townships,  lies  in  the  southwest  corner 
of  Putnam  county,  and  is  composed  of  township  13  and  the  north  half  of 
township  12.  range  5.  It  is  bounded  on  the  north  by  ^Madison  township,  on 
the  east  by  Warren  and  Cloverdale  townships,  on  the  south  by  Clay  and 
Owen  counties,  and  on  the  west  by  Clay  county.  The  surface  of  the  country 
in  this  township  is  rough  and  broken.  There  is  a  great  deal  of  excellent  bot- 
tom land  along  the  streams,  finely  adapted  to  the  cultivation  of  corn  and 
other  cereals.  It  was  originally  covered  with  the  same  character  of  timber 
as  was  found  throughout  the  county,  consisting  principally  of  white  oak, 
walnut,  poplar,  beech,  hard  maple,  ash,  hickory  and  sycamore. 

Among  the  early  settlers,  now  deceased,  were  James  Athey,  the  first 
settler  of  the  county,  John  Reel,  John  Horton,  William  Roberts,  John  M. 
Coleman,  Thomas  H.  Clark,  William  K.  Matkins,  Dr.  Lenox  N.  Knight, 
Abraham  Lewis,  William  Brown,  George  Mcintosh,  Randall  Hutchinson,  John 
M.  Purcell,  Samuel  Boone,  Moses  Boone,- William  Seiner,  Samuel  Webster, 
Henr>'   Walden.    Adam   Neff,    Andy    Reel,   William    Reel.    Landon    Davis, 

-  Thomas  Frazier,  Allen  Jones.  George  Rightsell.  William  McCullough,  Philip 
Shrake,  Justice  Goodrich.  Warren  Fellows,  Reuben  Wright,  Luther  Webster, 
James  Bamett.  Silas  Mulinix,  Solomon  Simpson,  Thomas  McCullough,  :\Ir. 
Deweese,  John  Funican,  H.  H.  Athey,  A.  D.  Hamrick,  Daniel  Boone,  a 
lineal  descendant  of  Daniel  Boone,  the  pioneer  of  Kentuck7,  Volney  Smith, 
Edward  Huffman.  Christopher  Crable,  John  Friend.  William  Risler.  William 

-  McCullough.  Daniel  Zaring,  Sr.,  David  Jones,  David  Sublett  and  the  Right- 
sells. 

The  first  house  in  the  township,  that  of  James  Athey,  erected  in  the 
winter  of  1818-19.  stood  ven,^  near  the  site  of  Robert  Huffman's  residence. 
The  first  mill  in  the  township  was  that  of  Luther  Webster.  It  stood  on  Deer 
creek,  about  one- fourth  of  a  mile  south  of  Manhattan.  Lloyd  B.  Harris 
kept  the  first  hotel  in  the  township,  at  Manhattan.  Thomas  H.  Clark  was  the 
first  postmaster.  The  first  shoemaker  was  Thomas  Lewis.  The  honor  of 
carrying  on  the  first  blacksmith  shop  belongs  to  John  Hooton.  Esquires 
Busick'and  Athey  were  among  the  first  justices  of  the  peace  in  the  town- 
ship.   It  is  worthv  of  note  that  Thomas  McCullough  was  the  tallest  man  that 


PUTNAM    COUNTY,    INDIANA.  1 79 

e\er  lived  in  the  township.  He  was  almost  seven  feet  high,  symmetrically  pro- 
portioned, and  of  great  physical  power. 

The  first  church  organized  in  the  township  was  the  Predestinarian  Bap- 
tist, commonly  called  "Hard-Shell  Baptist."  It  was  organized  at  Manhattan, 
in  the  year  1828.  bv  Rev.  Isaac  Denman,  who  continued  to  preach  for  the  con- 
gregation for  a  period  of  two  decades.  A  house  of  worship  was  built  at 
an  early  day,  which  continued  to  be  occupied  by  the  original  owners  until  the 
year  1862.  when  it  was  sold  to  the  Missionary  Baptists.  They  in  turn  sold 
it.  in  the  year  1875.  to  the  Methodists,  who  fonned  a  congregation  there 
about  that  time.  The  Methodists  erected  a  new  house  on  the  same  lot,  but 
the  old  one  stood  until  pulled  down  in  the  summer  of  1878,  having  served 
as  a  place  of  worship  for  nearly  half  a  centur}'. 

The  Christian  church  was  established  in  Manhattan,  in  the  year  1838-, 
by  Elder  John  Harris,  and  it  has  ever  since  had  a  congregation  at  that 
place. 

Manhattan  is  the  oldest  village  in  the  township,  having  been  laid  out 
in  the  year  1S29  on  the  National  road,  by  John  M.  Coleman  and  Thomas 
H.  Clark.  The  first  merchant  there  was  Wilson  Devore.  Dr.  Leno.x  N.  Knight 
was  the  first  practicing  physician.  Mrs.  Judge  Clark  taught  the  first  .school. 
The  first  justice  of  the  peace  at  that  place  was  Lloyd  Harris. 

At  Manhattan  the  following  postmasters  have  served :  Thomas  H. 
Clark,  March  13,  1830;  John  M- Coleman,  February  i,  1841 ;  Samuel  M. 
Coleman.  May  31,  1841 ;  Abraham  Jackson,  October  3,  1843;  Volney  Smith, 
June  21,  1847;  Charles  Hawley,  June  8,  1849;  Volney  Smith,  December  10, 
1849;  Jesse  Jenkins,  September  27,  1850;  Samuel  B.  Gilmore,  January  15, 
1859;  C.  F.  Knapp,  January  13,  1862;  William  R.  Stone,  November  3,  1863; 
Volney  Smith,  February  21,  1865;  Charles  D.  Smith,  April  10,  1871  ;  Volney 
Smith,  October  3,  1884;  John  Gammie,  May  27,  1885;  S.  S.  McCoy,  May  3, 
1889:  A.  J.  .Albright,  May  24,  1893;  Samuel  S.  McCoy,  November  20,  1897; 
discontinued  October  31,  1905. 

Pleasant  Garden  was  laid  out  in  section  21,  in  the  year  1830.  by  John 
Matkins,  as  a  rival  of  Manhattan. 

Reelsville  was  laid  out  by  John  Reel,  on  the  Terre  Haute  &  Indianapolis 
railroad,  in  the  year  1852.    It  is  now  quite  a  flourishing  village. 

The  postmasters  at  Reelsville  have  been:  William  A.  L.  Reel,  May  11, 
1852;  John  Reel,  December  8,  1854;  John  Caltharp,  January  20,  1858:  Wil- 
liam A.  L.  Reel,  March  12,  1859;  James  L.  Athey,  April  4,  1859;  William 
L.  LocKnart,  June  18,  1861 ;  David  Barnett,  July  16,  1861 :  William  E.  D. 
Barnett,  October  20.  1863:  John  Q.  Cromwell,  May  31,  1866:  A.  L.  Witty, 


i8q  weik's   history  of 

Fel)rnarv  12.  1867;  B.  G.  Parritt,  August  19,  1869;  George  A.  Throop,  F"eb- 
ruary  23.  1871  ;  Douglas  Huffman.  March  31,  1879;  George  \V.  Stockwell, 
October  22.  1886;  C.  T.  Zaring,  January  5,  1887;  G.  L.  Elliott,  December  16, 
1889:  James  P.  Gaskin.  Januan,'  6,  1890;  W.  E.  Counts.  May  9.  1891  ;  A.  B. 
Fox,  January  25,  1894;  Jennie  A.  Counts,  December  21.  1897;  C.  R.  Knight, 
April  15,  1898;  Henry  M.  Smith,  February  13,  1903.  At  Hamrick.  which 
was  discontinued  as  a  postoffice  on  October  31,  1902,  the  postmasters  were 
as  follows:  William  T.  Elliott.  October  11,  1866:  Joseph  Sears.  February 
5,  1868;  A.  D.  Hamrick,  April  7,  1868;  Thomas  B.  Xees,  August  10,  1869; 
Sarah  J.  Parritt,  December  13,  1871  ;  A.  D.  Hamrick.  May  28,  1874;  Thomas 
B.  Nees,  Februaiy  11,  1875;  •^-  D.  Hamrick,  April  29,  1876;  Lewis  M. 
Mercer,  July  5,  1878;  A.  D.  Hamrick.  April  5,  1881  ;  L.  M.  Mercer,  May  i, 
^1882;  Lewis  M.  Mercer,  November  28.  1882;  J.  ^L  Brown.  October  11. 
1887;  Lewis  M.  Mercer,  January  24,  1889;  Lewis  Mercer.  April  5,  1890; 
Volney  Smith.  August  20,  1892.     Postoffice  discontinued  October  31.   1902. 

The  following  peculiar  incidents  are  related  by  some  of  the  old  settlers 
as  having  attracted  considerable  comment : 

Old  Squire  Boone,  brother  to  Daniel  Boone,  in  the  township,  once  lived 
in  a  house  which  stood  on  the  ground  which  is  now  in  the  northeast  corner 
of  the  township.  On  the  3d  day  of  July,  1837,  his  house  was.  struck  by 
lightning,  bv  which  two  of  his  children  were  killed.  Three  years  later,  his 
wife  presented  him  with  twin  boys,  whom  he  named  Tip  and  Tyler.  Some 
time  after  that  in  the  same  house,  two  of  his  daughters  were  married  on  the 
same  day. 

David  Sublett.  an  old  settler,  it  would  seem,  had  more  than  an  ordinary 
share  of  domestic  trouble,  many  of  his  family  having  suffered  violent 
deaths.  About  fiftv  years  ago.  one  of  his  daughters  married  Greenberry 
;Mullinix.  who  murdered  her  within  three  weeks  thereafter,  for  which  he 
suffered  death  on  the  gallows.  Since  that  time,  two  of  his  sons  and  one 
son-in-law  have  been  killed  by  the  railroad,  and  one  son  has  been  shot  in 
Effingham,  Illinois. 

WARREN  TOWNSHIP. 

Warren  township,  comprising  the  first  thirty  .sections  of  the  congressional 
township  13,  range  4,  lies  immediately  south  of  Greencastle  township,  and  is 
bounded  on  the  east  by  Jefferson,  on  the  south  by  Clo\-erdale.  and  on  the 
west  bv  Washington.  The  surface  of  the  township  is  undulating  and  in  parts 
quite  broken.  The  soil  is  a  clay  loam,  with  some  excellent  bottom  lands 
along  Deer  creek.  The  township  was  once  heavily  timbered  with  oak.  poplar, 
hard  maple  and  beech,  with  some  groves  of  walnut  and  hickory,  and  a  plentiful 


PUTNAM     COL'NTY.    INDIAN' A.  l8l 

supply  of  sycamore  along  the  streams.  It  is  drained  by  Deer  creek,  together 
with  its  tributaries,  which  traverse  the  township  from  northeast  to  south- 
west.    Along  this  stream  there  are  numerous  never-failing  limestone  springs.  ^ 

The  early  settlers  of  the  township,  who  are  deceased,  were  James  Town- 
send.  William  Hadden.  Samuel  Hawn.  Benjamin  Hawkins.  George  Pearcy, 
Thomas  Brown.  John  Henderson.  Peter  Waynick.  Alexander  Conley.  Arthur 
Conley.  Gilmore  Conley.  John  Baird,  John  Arnold,  John  Akin.  Judge  De- 
weese.  William  W.  W'alden.  John  Mercer.  Jacob  Peck.  William  Duckworth, 
David  Clearwater,  John  May,  Thomas  McCarty,  Joseph  Denny.  Thomas 
Hancock.  Daniel  Hepler.  Dennis  Williams,  John  Garren.  John  C.  Sellers, 
Nathaniel  Hawkins,  John  S.  Swift,  Archibald  Cooper,  Robert  Woodall,  John 
^\'oodall.  Thomas  Moore.  Joel  Shinn,  James  Martin.  Lozier  B.  Gammon, 
David  Skelton,  Jeremiah  Skelton,  Luke  Davis,  John  Swarts,  Samuel  Martin, 
William  Robinson,  Robert  Robinson,  William  Vestal,  Samuel  Steele,  Edward 
Heath.  Elder  Thomas  Oatman  (Christian  minister).  Dr.  D.  W.  Layman.  A. 
G.  Layman.  A.  W.  Welker.  John  W.  Jenkins,  John  Cooper.  W.  B.  Williams. 
William  A.  Grigsby,  Flower  Swift.  Calvin  Woods.  James  Ligram.  John 
Hendricks.  Joseph  Clapsaddle.  Rev.  Ransom  Hawley.  Polly  Brown.  Elizabeth 
Davis  and  Samuel  Wright. 

In  an  earlv  dav  there  were  two  potteries  in  the  township,  one  operated 
by  Boyd  &  Perry,  the  other  by  A.  W.  Welker. 

One  of  the  marked  features  of  the  township  is  an  excellent  stone  quarry 
one-half  mile  west  of  Putnamville.  on  the  National  road.  The  ledges  of 
rock  in  this  quarry  vary  from  two  inches  to  five  feet  in  thickness.  The 
following  analysis  of  this  stone  is  given  by  Professor  Cox.  state  geologist : 
"Lime,  twenty  per  cent;  sand,  twenty  per  cent:  gray  granite,  sixty  per  cent: 
almost,  if  not  exactly,  like  what  is  called  'English  firestone.'  "■  He  also  says, 
"Granite  will  last  three  hundred  years,  but  this  stone  will  last  as  long  as 
time.  lM)r  foundation  stone,  there  is  probably  none  superior  in  America. 
It  is  not  affected  by  any  change  of  temperature,  and  can  be  f(uarried  in 
winter  just  as  well  as  summer." 

Putnamville  is  the  only  postoffice  town  in  the  township.  Westland, 
which  was  laid  out  soon  after  Putnamville.  had  one  store  for  a  short  time,  but 
now  has  no  inisiness  house  of  any  kind.  A  few  houses  in  close  proximity 
on  either  side  of  the  National  road  are  the  only  indications  left  to  remind 
the  passer-by  of  its  former  existence. 

Putnamville  is  situated  on  the  National  road,  and  was  laid  out  by  James 
Townsend  in  1830  on  land  purchased  from  Edward  Heath.  Townsend  also 
kept  the  first  stiire  in  Putnamville.     He  was  soon  followed  by  a  Mr.  McKane. 


i82  weik's  history  of 

At  Putnamville  the  following  have  served  as  postmaster :  D.  W.  Lay- 
man, December  4,  1832;  E.  R.  Kercheval,  May  25,  1836;  Amos  W.  Walker, 
September  8,  1840;  James  Nosier,  September  2,  1844;  Joseph  L.  Merrill, 
December  19,  1844;  Thomas  Morrow,  September  13,  1845;  William  Eagles- 
field,  November  28,  1845;  ^IcCamy  Hartley,  September  22,  1847;  Samuel 
Milholland,  August  21,  1850;  William  A.  Smock,  August  4,  1851;  Jay  T. 
Wakefield,  August  24,  1853;  William  A.  Grigsby,  August  14,  1856;  James 
M.  Hendrix,  April  9,  1859;  Joel  W.  McGrew.  February  6.  i860;  Thomas 
J.  Bridges,  October  11,  i86i  ;  A.  J.  Clarke,  April  26,  1862;  S.  C.  Bishop, 
November  13,  1866;  James  Stooks,  May  25,  1868;  S.  C.  Bishop,  March  31, 
1869;  William  H.  Holloway,  September  28,  1870:  S.  C.  Bishop,  Januar\-  13, 
1S79;  R.  H.  Bowen,  July  9,  1885;  Emma  Peck,  May  3,  1889;  J.  J.  Bowen, 
Alay  10,  1893;  William  A.  McAninch,  June  23,  1897. 

The  first  school  was  taught  in  the  town  the  same  year  in  which  it  was 
founded  by  Mr.  Wakefield,  who  came  from  New  England. 

Archibald  Cooper  built  the  first  blacksmith  shop  and  carried  on  the 
business  for  several  years.    John  Akin  also  kept  a  shop  about  the  same  time. 

Hugh  Thompson  carried  on  the  first  wagon  shop  and  John  Morgan  put 
up  the  first  carding  machine. 

The  first  grist-mill  was  erected  on  Deer  creek  one-half  mile  southeast 
of  Putnamville.  October  16,  1826,  by  Alexander  Conley.  Another  was  built 
on  the  same  creek,  one-half  mile  southwest  of  the  town,  in  1834.  by  Samuel 
Steele  and  Dr.  D.  W.  Layman. 

During  the  building  of  the  National  road  the  township  improveu  rapidly 
and  business  was  quite  brisk.  In  an  early  day  Putnamville  also  rivaled 
Greencastle  for  the  location  of  the  county  seat,  and  a  little  later  made  a 
very  creditable  effort  to  secure  the  location  of  Asbury  University.  To  se- 
cure this  end,  her  citizens  agreed  to  give  the  university  a  donation  of  twenty- 
five  thousand  dollars. 

The  Methodist  Episcopal  church  of  Putnamville  was  organized  in  1829, 
at  the  house  of  John  S.  Perry,  Rev.  Thomas  J.  Brown  officiating.  John  M. 
Jenkins.  John  S.  Perry.  Luke  Davis  and  wife,  and  John  S warts  and  wife  were 
among  the  first  members.  Soon  after  the  first  organization,  they  erected  a 
neat  frame  building  as  a  house  of  worship,  which  they  continued  to  use  until 
about  the  vear  i860,  when  they  purchased  the  brick  house  built  by  the  Presby- 
terians. 

The  Presbyterian  church  was  organized  at  this  place  November  7.  1830. 
at  the  house  of  James  Townsend.  by  the  Rev.  Isaac  Reed.  The  following 
members  constituted  the  first  organization :  John  Robinson.  Samuel  Moore. 


PUTNAM     COL'.NTY,    INDIAXA.  183 

Mary  Moore.  Alexander  Conley.  Jane  Conley.  James  Townsend,  Catharine 
Townsend.  Sarah  Shell,  Martha  Ashbaugh  and  Julia  Ann  Merrill,  not  one  of 
whom  remains  among  the  living.  James  Townsend  was  the  first  ruling  elder. 
The  first  ministers  were  Rev.  Jeremiah  Hill  (deceased).  Rev.  Samuel  G.  Low- 
ery.  Rev.  James  H.  Shields.  Rev.  William  W.  Woods. 

.\bout  the  year  1S34  they  erected  a  neat  and  commodious  brick  church, 
which  they  occupied  until  1849,  when  the  Old  and  the  New  School  members 
separated,  and  the  Xew  School  built  a  good  frame  church,  which  was  dedi- 
cated in  February,  1850.  A  few  years  afterward,  the  Old  School  sold  the 
brick  church  to  the  Methodists.  Some  of  the  members  joined  the  Xew  School 
and  some  went  to  other  churches. 

The  Rev.  Ransom  Hawley  came  to  Putnamville  in  the  year  1 841,  and 
acted  as  pastor  of  the  Presbyterian  church  till  1S65.  a  period  of  twenty-four 
years.  The  length  of  his  pastorate  is  ample  evidence  of  the  acceptability 
of  his  ministry  and  the  uprightness  of  his  life. 

The  Bethel  Methodist  Episcopal  church,  two  miles  east  of  Putnamville, 
on  the  National  road,  was  organized  about  the  year  1835. 

The  Christian  church  was  organized  by  Elder  O.  P.  Badger  in  1871. 
This  congregation  had  a  good  frame  house,  erected  soon  after  their  organiza- 
tion, in  which  they  still  hold  services. 

Dr.  D.  W.  Layman,  who  came  from  Virginia,  settled  in  Putnamville  in 
1 83 1,  being  the  first  medical  practitioner  in  the  town  or  the  township.  He 
was  so  successful  in  his  practice  no  other  physician  ever  continued  long  in  the 
attempt  to  compete  with  him.  For  many  years  he  was  easily  the  most  promi- 
nent and  influential  citizen  in  the  community.  He  was  a  man  of  upright  hab- 
its and  pleasing  manners  but  of  very  pronounced  political  views.  He  was  an 
ardent  Union  man  during  war  times  and  later  supported  the  pnnciples  of  the 
Republican  party,  but  he  never  sought  an  office  or  any  other  political  prefer- 
ment. 

.A  storv  is  told  that  in  the  fall  of  1864  a  number  of  boisterous  Warren 
township  citizens  who  had  been  attending  a  Democratic  meeting  at  Greencastle 
returning  home  on  horseback  after  night,  passed  by  Layman's  house  and. 
knowing  his  pronounced  L'nion  sentiments,  very  loudly  and  repeatedly  cheered 
for  Jeff  Davis.  Being  hidden  in  the  darkness  on  the  opposite  side  of  the 
road,  the  Doctor  was  unable  to  distinguish  the  riders  as  they  noisily  flew  by, 
but  his  ire  was  so  instantly  and  completely  aroused  he  picked  up  a  stone  and 
hurled  it  with  all  his  might  in  the  direction  of  the  noise.  A  little  later  a  man 
came  riding  up  to  the  Doctor's  house  and  asked  the  latter  to  accompany  him 
down  the  road  to  see  a  man  who  was  hurt  and  needed  medical  attention.     "At 


i84  weik's  history  of 

first."  related  the  Doctor  years  afterward,  '"I  was  a  little  suspicious,  but  as 
I  had  never  failed  to  answer  a  call  for  my  professional  services  I  complied  at 
once  and  set  out  for  the  scene  of  trouble.  A  short  distance  down  the  road- 
side we  came  upon  a  group  near  the  fence,  in  the  centre  of  which  reclined  a 
man  who  was  bleeding  profusely  from  a  wound  in  the  head  which  his  com- 
panions explained  had  been  caused  by  a  fall  from  a  horse.  A  light  was  pro- 
cured and  there  by  its  dim  rays  I  gave  the  wounded  man  the  medical  and 
surgical  attention  the  case  seemed  to  require.  Of  course  there  was  some  risk, 
and  I  kept  my  eyes  peeled  all  the  while,  but  I  pretended  to  be  as  innocent  as 
they  and  so  far  as  I  could  observe  there  was  not  the  slightest  attempt  to  molest 
me.  In  fact,  later,  the  injured  man,  still  maintaining  an  air  of  innocence, 
came  to  my  office  and  offered  to  pay  me  for  my  services,  but  I  declined, 
meanwhile  reminding  him  of  the  dangerous  and  inevitable  results  of  cheering 
for  Jeff  Davis — a  lesson  I  am  sure  he  never  forgot." 

CLOVERD.ALE    TOWNSHIP. 

This  township  was  originally  a  part  of  Warren  and  Jefferson  townships. 
It  was  organized  in  1846.  and  is  composed  of  the  southern  tier  of  sections 
of  township  13,  ranges  3  and  4.  and  the  northern  half  of  township  12,  of  the 
same  ranges.  It  is  bounded  on  the  north  by  Warren  and  Jefferson  town- 
ships, from  which  it  was  detached ;  on  the  east,  by  Morgan  county  and  Mill 
Creek  township:  on  the  south,  by  Owen  county,  and  on  the  west,  by  Washing- 
ton township.  The  surface  is  hilly  and  broken,  and  was  originally  covered 
with  a  dense  growth  of  timber,  such  as  white  and  yellow  poplar,  maple,  wal- 
nut, oak,  ash,  elm,  gum,  beech  and  mulberry.  The  soil  is  good  and  of  the 
quality  known  as  limestone  land.  The  whole  township  is  underlaid  with  a  fine 
quality  of  limestone,  well  adapted  to  building  and  manufacturing  purposes. 
The  principal  streams  are  Mill  creek  in  the  east  and  Doe  creek  in  the  center. 

The  first  settlers  in  what  is  now  Cloverdale  township  were  William 
Hamilton  and  James  Robinson,  who  came  together  from  Kentucky  in  the 
spring  of  1823.  and  built  the  first  cabins.  Hamilton  located  in  section  i, 
township  12,  range  4.  and  Robinson,  in  section  6,  township  12,  range  3. 
Abraham  Van  Sickle.  x\nthony  Kilgore.  Thomas  James.  Robert  Hadden, 
.Arthur  McNary.  Mr.  Goodman.  Ambrose  Bandy.  G.  Macy  and  Robert  Macy, 
all  came  from  Kentucky  in  the  autumn  of  the  same  year  and  settled  around 
where  Cloverdale  now  stands.  Jubal  Meadows,  John  Macy.  George  Bandy 
and  John  Taber  came  in  1824.  In  1825  came  John  P.  Sinclair.  John  Briscoe 
and  Robert  Conolv.     During  the  ne.xt  year.  William  Martin.  Thomas  Evans, 


FO'TNAM    COUNTY,    INDIANA.  I85 

Enoch  Patrick,  A.  Tabor,  X.  Xolin  and  Nancy  White  became  citizens.  The 
next  four  years  witnessed  the  arrival  of  Phih'p  Rouse.  Peter  Lyon,  James 
Woods,  Robert  Donnoson,  James  Gihuore,  O.  Owen,  Daniel  Morgan.  Robert 
Hood.  Jacob  Rule  and  Samuel  Logan.  John  P.  Sinclair,  John  Briscoe.  Xancy 
\  an  Sickle,  wife  of  A.  Van  Sickle;  James  Macy,  son  of  John  Macy;  James 
Gilmore.  A.  Taber  and  J.  White,  son  of  Nancy  White. 

The  first  white  child  bom  in  the  township  was  Elizabeth  Tabor,  daughter 
of  John  Tabor,  in  1824.  At  that  time,  the  family  lived  in  section  36,  town- 
ship 13.  range  4.  The  first  death  was  that  of  a  child  of  Ambrose  Bandy.  It 
was  buried  in  the  graveyard  yet  used  in  the  town  of  Cloverdale.  The  first 
persons  married  in  the  township  were  David  Martin  and  Betsy  Tabor,  or 
Berry  Brannaman  and  Morris  Sinclair. 

In  183 1  Abraham  Waters  built  the  first  sawmill.  It  stood  on  Doe  creek 
in  section  6,  township  12,  range  3.  There  was  no  flour  and  grist-mill  in  the 
township  until  the  steam  mill  erected  by  Joseph  Pearcy  and  Gabriel  Woodville 
in  the  year  1863.  Moses  Nelson  kept  the  first  tavern  in  the  township.  It 
was  located  in  section  6,  township  12.  range  3,  and  was  opened  for  custom  in 
1836.  In  the  same  year.  Thomas  Nelson  put  up  the  first  store,  which  stood 
on  the  same  section  with  Closes  Nelson's  tavern.  Isaac  J.  McKason.  who 
located  in  the  township  in  1838.  was  the  first  blacksmith.  The  first  school  was 
taught  by  Thomas  Evans  in  1835.  in  a  small  log  building  in  section  i.  town- 
ship 12.  range  4.  Thomas  Nelson  was  the  first  postmaster,  ,m  office  having 
been  established  in  his  store  in  1836.  William  Hamilton  was  the  first  justice 
of  the  peace.  His  successors  have  been  Robert  Martin.  Thomas  Nelson, 
Henry  Magill.  John  Sandy,  B.  D.  Burgess.  William  A.  Sluss,  Peter  McClure, 
William  Mosher,  E.  Long,  C.  Woodville.  T.  Horn,  R.  Williamson.  C.  Walls 
and  Moses  Bridges.     The  first  physician  was  H.  D.  Dyer,  who  came  in  1845. 

The  first  religious  meeting  in  the  township  was  held  by  t.he  Methodists, 
at  the  home  of  John  Macy,  in  1824,  and  conducted  by  John  Cord,  an  itinerant 
Methodist  preacher,  who  died  the  same  year.  After  him  came  John  McCord. 
Stephen  Grimes.  Daniel  .Anderson,  William  H.  Smith  and  Mr.  Strange.  They 
were  followed  by  the  Revs.  Forbes.  .Ames.  Hevenridge.  Horton.  Walls.  Wood. 
Scammahorn.  Jackson.  Bruner,  Davis.  Williams.  John  and  Byron  Carter.  Lee, 
Rosson.  Poynter.  .Allison.  Walls.  Webb.  Hewring.  Pewett,  Tansey,  Johnson 
and  McNaughton.  This  denomination  erected  a  log  church  in  section  i, 
township  12,  range  4.  in  the  year  1827.  which  was  the  first  built  in  the  town- 
ship. Thev  continued  to  u,se  this  house  until  1S48,  when  they  built  a  frame 
church  in  Cloverdale.  which  was  occupied  up  to  the  year  1873.  In  that  year 
thev  erected  their  present  frame  church,  which  stands  as  a  monument  of  their 


l86  WEIKS    HISTORY    OF 

zeal.  There  is  another  Methodist  church  at  Poplar  Grove,  in  this  township. 
The  Regular  Baptists  organized-a  church  in  1827  or  1828,  and  held  meetings 
at  the  house  of  Elder  Owen  Owen,  who  was  their  first  regular  preacher.  A 
church  was  erected  by  them  in  1841,  on  section  6.  In  1844  this  church  di- 
vided, a  part  joining  the  Missionary  Baptists  and  holding  the  building.  The 
Regular  Baptists  built  a  new  house  two  miles  west  of  Cloverdale.  They  now 
have  a  church  three  miles  west  of  town,  on  the  farm  of  A.  Davis.  Cyrus 
Taber,  J.  W.  Denman,  Samuel  Arthur,  Samuel  Denny,  A.  Davis,  Joseph  Call- 
throp,  Joel  Vennillion,  Eli  Beman,  John  Case,  John  Leatherman,  Benjamin 
Parks  and  William  Walden  are  some  of  the  ministers  who  have  served  this 
church. 

The  Christian  denomination  was  organized  into  a  congregation  at 
Cloverdale,  July  24,  1841,  by  Elder  James  Mathes,  assisted  by  John  Pearcy, 
Reuben  Maginnis,  Joseph  Colwell,  George  W.  Crose,  Andrew  T.  McCoy, 
]\Ioses  Nelson,  Thomas  W.  Dowell,  Michael  Crose,  J.  B.  Ross.  Andrew  Mc- 
Mains,  J.  C.  McCoy,  I.  J.  Nickson  and  others.  Meetings  had  been  held  in  the 
township  before  the  organization  of  the  church,  generally  in  private  houses 
and  groves.  Among  those  who  preached  at  this  point  are  Elders  Colwell, 
Headrick,  George  Pearcy,  Perry  and  James  Blankenship,  Franklin,  Smith, 
Hawn,  Lockhart,  Burgess,  Swinford,  Wrights,  Wilsons,  Black.  Harris,  Bad- 
ger and  Pritchard.  The  last  named  held  a  debate  with  the  Rev.  Mr.  Brooks, 
of  the  Methodist  Episcopal  church,  March  19  to  28,  1866,  which  created 
quite  a  local  excitement.  It  is  claimed  by  the  Christian  church  that  about 
seventy  members  were  added  to  its  organization  as  the  result  of  the  debate. 
This  denomination  erected  a  frame  church,  in  the  year  of  its  organization,  on 
land  donated  for  that  purpose  by  Andrew  McCoy,  in  the  south  part  of  the 
town  of  Cloverdale,  which  was  occupied  until  1858,  when  they  built  their 
present  commodious  brick  building  in  the  north  part  of  the  same  town.  This 
church  has  a  large  membership  and  is  free  of  debt.  There  are  two  other 
Christian  churches  in  the  township,  Higgins  Creek  and  Unity  church. 

The  town  of  Cloverdale  is  situated  on  the  Louisville,  New  Albany  & 
Chicago  railroad,  twelve  miles  south  of  Greencastle,  and  is  the  second  largest 
town  in  the  county,  exclusive  of  the  county  seat.  It  was  laid  out  by  Andrew 
T.  McCoy  and  Moses  Nelson,,  who  owned  adjoining  tracts  of  land  in  1839. 
and  stands  on  section  i,  township  12,  range  4,  and  section  6,  township  12, 
range  3. 

The  first  store  was  opened  in  a  small  hewed-log  building  by  Thomas  Nel- 
son, who  was  also  the  first  postmaster.  The  Louisville,  New  Albany  &  Chi- 
cago railroad,  now  the  Monon  route,  was  constructed  through  the  village  in 


PUTNAM    COUNTY.    INDIANA.  iSj 

^^53-  \vhich  stimulated  enterprise,  increasing  the  number  of  stores,  shops  and 
other  enterprises.  About  twenty-five  years  since  the  town  had  what  seemed 
to  be  a  new  birth  and  since  that  time  it  has  had  a  constant  growth  in  popula- 
tion and  business  until  it  has  become  one  of  the  most  attractive  and  enterpris- 
ing little  towns  in  this  part  of  the  state.  It  has  fifteen  stores,  a  large  flouring 
mill,  a  saw  mill,  planing  mill  and  two  telephone  exchanges  and  for  twentv 
years  has  been  without  a  saloon.  It  has  a  population  of  about  eight  hundred 
and  two  churches.  Methodist  and  Christian.- 

The  house  of  John  Macy,  in  which  the  Methodist  church  held  its  first 
meeting  in  1824.  stood  in  the  present  side  of  the  town  of  Cloverdale.  In 
1828  Rev.  William  Martin.  John  Sinclair,  Enoch  Patrick.  Thomas  Evans,  and 
Jubal  Aleadows,  trustees  of  the  church,  purchased  two  acres  of  ground  one 
mile  west  of  the  present  location  of  the  church,  upon  which  was  built  a  large 
log  house  for  the  congregation.  It  was  named  Mt.  Zion  ^Methodist  Episcopal 
church.  At  this  church  Mathew  Simpson,  president  of  Asbury  University  and 
afterwards  bishop,  preached  the  funeral  of  Rev.  William  Martin  in  1849. 
Afterwards  the  society  erected  a  good  frame  building  in  Cloverdale  and  later 
the  more  tasteful  and  commodious  building  in  which  it  now  worships.  Its 
present  trustees  are  J.  \\'.  O'Daniel.  H.  G.  :\Iacy,  Estes  Duncan,  James  W. 
\'estal  and  E.  A,  Wood,  The  pastor  is  Rev.  Robert  E.  Cornell ;  church  mem- 
bership, two  hundred  thirty-five. 

In  addition  to  the  Christian  church  in  the  town  of  Cloverdale  already 
mentioned  are  two  churches  of  the  same  denomination  in  the  east  and  west 
parts  of  the  township,  known  as  East  Unity  and  \\'est  Unity.  The  regular 
Baptists  have  a  good  church  building  southeast  of  Cloverdale.  known  as 
Smyrna  church.     W.  E.  Gill  is  the  pastor;  membership,  thirty-two. 

Cloverdale  has  one  bank,  called  the  Bank  of  Cloverdale.  D.  V.  Moft'ett 
is  president,  W.  E   Gill,  cashier,  and  O.  V.  Smythe.  assistant  cashier.' 

A  newspaper  called  The  Bee,  was  established  in  Cloverdale.  January  i, 
1S77,  by  W.  B.  Harris.  It  lived  one  year.  In  April.  1874.  Lyman  Xaugle 
laimched  the  Local  Item,  which  lived  several  years.  Soon  thereafter  came 
The  Graphic,  which  is  still  published.  Its  editor  and  proprietor  is  Harrv  B. 
Martin.,- 

The  oldest  fraternal  (jrder  in  Cloverdale  is  Cloverdale  Lodge,  No.  132. 
Free  and  Accepted  Masons.  The  lodge  was  organized  in  1851.  Its  charter 
members  included  Solomon  Akers.  Henry  M.  Gill,  G.  B.  Lyon.  William  F. 
McGinnis.  William  Williams.  M.  D.  F.  Black.  James  H.  Sparks  and  George 
Smith.  The  officers  at  present  are:  Herschel  C.  Foster,  worshipful  master; 
Louis  Morrison,  senior  warden:  W.  Fred  Farmer,  junior  warden;  David  E. 


i88  weik's  history  of 

Sluss,  treasurer;  Henry  B.  Martin,  secretary:  Robert  C.  Horn,  senior  dea- 
con; James  E.  Macy.  junior  deacon;  Homer  T.  Broadstreet.  senior  steward; 
Joseph  P.  Omullane.  junior  steward;  William  E.  Morrison,  tyler;  inember- 
ship,  eighty-fi\  e. 

Sanders  Lodge.  Xo.  307,  Independent  Order  of  Odd  Fellows,  was  in- 
stituted May  20.  1868.  Charter  members:  T.  J.  Johnson.  A.  H.  Gihnore, 
T.  J.  Walls!  T.  H.  Stevenson.  J.  B.  McCormick.  J.  H.  Allison.  H.  G.  Dyer 
and  H.  Marshall.  Present  officers :  J.  F.  Ransopher.  noble  grand :  F.  L. 
-\IcKee,  vice-grand ;  John  Ward,  secretary,  and  T.  C.  Utterback,  treasurer. 

Diamond  Lodge.  Xo.  349.  Knights  of  Pythias,  was  instituted  March  7. 
1892.  The  following  were  the  charter  members:  Parks  M.  Martin.  James 
P.  Beanian,  William  A.  Moser.  Charles  E.  Pickens,  Benjamin  F.  Truesdale. 
William  M.  Moser,  George  B.  Rockwell,  John  W.  Thornburgh.  William  Sack- 
ett.  Charles  S.  Sinclair,  Michael  F.  Flannery.  David  E.  Watson,  James  A. 
Sandy,  Frank  E.  McCarney  and  Francis  AL  Cole.  The  officers  at  present 
are:  James  F.  Hartsan.  chancellor  commander:  John  .\.  Omullane.  vice- 
chancellor  commander;  O.  E.  Collins,  prelate;  J.  F.  O'Brien,  master  of  work; 
W.  J.  Hood,  keeper  of  records  and  seal ;  C.  A.  Rockwell,  master  of  exchequer; 
W.  J.  Hood,  master  of  finance;  F.  L.  McKee,  master  of  arms:  P.  ^L  McAvoy. 
inner  guard  ;  Charles  McAvoy,  outer  guard  ;  membership,  one  hundred  twenty. 

Cloverdale  Camp.  7194.  Modern  Woodmen  of  America,  was  organized 
November  1 1.  1899,  and  has  a  membership  of  one  hundred  and  five.  Its  offi- 
cers are:  B.  B.  Hamilton,  venerable  consul:  Roy  D.  Vestal,  worthy  adviser; 
John  Meek,  banker;  \^^  E.  Horn,  clerk;  Ellis  Tabor,  escort;  R.  E.  Keller, 
watchman :  James  Orrell,  sentry ;  Jesse  McCoy.  George  Wingfield.  Jesse  Hub- 
bard, trustees. 

Cloverdale  also  has  a  Grantl  Anny  post.  It  is  called  General  Frank 
\\"hite  Post.  Xo.  422.  Its  officers  are:  W.  R.  Larkin.  commander;  H.  B. 
Martin,  senior  vice-commander;  W.  P.  Allen,  junior  vice-commander;  H.  E. 
Keller,  officer  of  the  day:  J.  M.  Scott,  quartermaster:  S.  B.  Man.  adjutant; 
Rev.  Mathew  Masten.  chaplain. 

Charles  .\.  Rockwell  is  postmaster  and  George  B.  Rockwell  assistant 
postmaster.  Cloverdale  is  the  second  largest  office  in  the  county.  The  salary 
of  the  postmaster  is  thirteen  hundred  dollars  per  year  and  there  are  fi\-e  rural 
mail  routes  from  the  Cloverdale  office. 

The  officers  of  the  town  of  Cloverdale  are :  Frank  M.  Cole.  Leander  L. 
Runyan.  John  F.  Richardson,  trustees;  Charles  Hunter,  marshal;  Otho  V. 
Smvthe.  clerk  and  treasurer:  Wilson  E.  Horn,  health  officer;  school  board. 


PCTNAM    COUNTY.    INDIANA.  189 

Uly  Denny,  president,  Walter  K.   Pritchard,  secretary,  and  Willis   E.  Gill, 
treasurer. 

There  is  one  woman's  club  called  "The  Fortnightly  Club." 
Through  the  instrumentality  of  Doctor  Dyer,  a  seminary  was  erected 
in  Cloverdale  in  1850.  which  was  carried  on  for  about  three  years.  Prof. 
William  Bray  was  the  first  principal,  and  was  followed  by  N.  C.  Woodward. 
The  institution  was  chartered  and  was  organized  under  promising  circum- 
stances. Doctor  Dyer,  Andrew  T.  McCoy  and  John  Sandy  were  the  largest 
stockholders.  The  school  finally  failed,  because  a  majority  of  the  stock- 
holders refused  to  be  taxed  for  its  support. 

The  Cloverdale  postoffice  has  been  administered  by  the  following  named : 
William  L.  Hart,  February  11,  1836;  Thomas  Nelson,  August  7,  1841  ;  John 
V.  Hopkins,  August  23,  1845;  John  Sandy,  January  19,  1849;  Thomas  E. 
Martin,  June  16.  1853:  John  Sandy,  January  30,  1854;  Solomon  Akers,  Oc- 
tober 10.  1855;  George  L.  Talbott,  March  29,  1861 ;  Moses  Akers.  April  8, 
1863;  H.  M.  Rockwell,  March  23,  1864;  Jacob  Smith,  February  21,  1865; 
Parmenus  Davis,  August  17,  1865;  Jacob  Smith.  October  5,  1865;  Parmenus 
Davis,  April  6,  1866;  S.  S.  Haviland.  April  10,  1867;  Henry  B.  Martin, 
September  2,  1869;  A.  P.  Kunkler,  March  i,  1870;  Harvey  Denny,  February 
28,  1871 :  C.  C.  Foster,  May  25,  1885 ;  John  C.  Merwin,  May  3,  1889:  W.  E. 
Horn,  April  18,  1893;  Charles  A.  Rockwell,  April  15,  1897. 

JEFFERSON   TOWNSHIP. 

Jefferson  township  consists  of  the  first  thirty  sections  of  township  13, 
range  3,  and  is  bounded  on  the  north  by  Marion,  on  the  east  by  Mill  creek,  on 
the  south  by  Cloverdale.  and  on  the  west  by  Warren  township.  '  It  is  drained 
b}'  Mill  creek,  and  was  originally  timbered,  as  the  neighboring  townships. 
The  soil  is  a  rich  loam,  suitable  for  the  production  of  grass  and  grain.  .At 
one  time  it  fonned  a  part  of  what  was  called  Deer  Creek  township,  which  in- 
cUuled  Jefferson.  Warren  and  Cloverdale.  In  the  year  1846,  Warren  and 
Jefferson  gave  off  enough  to  make  Cloverdale  township,  leaving  Jefferson  with 
its  present  area. 

The  fir.st  settlers,  called  "squatters."  consisted  of  four  families — three 
named  Higgins.  and  one  named  Kirk — who  made  temporary  settlements  on 
section  16,  in  the  year  1819.  John  C.  Sherrill  made  his  entry  of  land  in 
the  autumn  of  1822.  Jacob  Clark,  George  Hendrick.  William  Albin.  George 
Hurst.  David  Hurst.  John  Gillman.  Absalon  Hurst.  Abraham  Hurst  and  a 
Mr.  Langwell.  all  came  in  that  year  or  the  early  part  of  the  ne.xt. 


190 


WEIK  S    HISTORY    OF 


After  this,  settlements  were  made  so  rapidly  that  it  is  almost  impossible 
to  note  them  as  they  occurred.  From  1822  to  1833  the  larger  portion  of  the 
land  was  taken  up  by  entry,  and  but  few  pieces  remained  unentered  after  the 
year  1836. 

The  first  marriage  was  that  of  William  Aldrich  and  Betsy  Higgins  in  the 
year  1823.  The  next  was  that  of  Henry  Nosier  and  Mary  Hurst,  which  was 
solemnized  by  David  Scott,  Esq.,  in  1824. 

The  family  record  of  John  C.  Sherrill  shows  that  his  daughter  Caroline 
was  born  on  February  27,  1823,  and  she  was,  probably,  the  first  child  born  in 
the  township.  She  became  the  wife  of  Elijah  McCarty,  but  is  now  deceased. 
Probably  the  next  was  Andrew  McMains — named  after  his  father — who  was 
born  June  10,  1824,  and  still  lives  in  the  township. 

The  first  mill  in  the  township  was  built  by  John  Hadden,  in  1826;  the 
next  in  1829,  by  John  Allee.  These  were  both  horse-mills.  The  first  water- 
mill  was  built  on  Higgins'  creek  in  1834  by  John  Smith.  These  mills  afiforded 
all  the  facilities  then  required  for  the  production  of  meal  and  flour. 

The  first  justice  of  the  peace  was  David  Scott.  Esq.,  who  continued  in 
office  for  a  period  of  more  than  twenty  years. 

It  appears  from  the  church  records,  that  the  Regular  Baptists  organized 
Mill  Creek  church  at  the  house  of  Rev.  .Absalom  Hurst  in  1828,  and  in  1830 
built  a  log  meeting  house  near  the  site  of  their  present  one.  They  have  main- 
tained their  organization  ever  since,  and  have  twice  rebuilt. 

The  date  of  organization  of  the  Methodist  church  cannot  be  given.  In 
1838  they  built  a  hewed-log  church,  called  Jones'  meeting-house.  The  congre- 
gation went  down  in  1856,  after  which  the  house  was  used  as  a  shop. 

The  Missionary  Baptists  organized  New  Providence  church  at  the  house 
of  John  C.  Sherill  in  1839,  and  built  a  log  house  of  worship  in  the  succeeding 
year.  They  have  since  rebuilt,  and  now  have  a  commodious  and  handsome 
house. 

There  are  at  the  present  time  in  the  township  five  houses  of  public  wor- 
ship. 

Rev.  Absalom  Hurst  was  the  first  resident  minister  in  the  township,  and 
was  considered  the  founder  of  Mill  Creek  church. 

The  earlv  vices  of  this  township,  as  of  most  new  countries,  were  drunken- 
ness and  gambling;  but,  by  the  advance  of  a  better  civilization,  sober  habits 
and  a  more  elevated  moral  sentiment  prevail.  Though  drinking  spirits  was  a 
common  fault  in  the  early  history  of  the  township,  it  is  a  noteworthy  fact 
that  there  never  was  a  still-house  within  the  limits  of  its  territory. 


PUTNAM    COUNTY,    INDIANA.  I9I 

The  schools  of  the  township  were  organized  in  1834.  The  books  con- 
taining the  records,  kept  by  John  Alice,  treasurer  of  the  township  trustees, 
show  that  he  received  from  the  school  fund  commissioner  of  the  county  the 
following  amounts:  In  the  year  1834,  $116.3114;  1835,  $191. 93^54;  1836. 
$131.0654  ;  1837,  $152  ;  total  for  four  years.  $591. 31^^. 

There  are  two  villages  in  the  township.  Mount  Meridian  and  Belle  Union. 
Mount  Meridian  was  laid  out  by  William  Heavin  and  Bryce  W.  Miller,  in  the 
year  1S33.  It  was  at  first  called  Carthage,  but,  in  order  that  the  town  and 
postoffice  might  have  the  same  name,  it  was  given  that  which  it  now  bears. 

At  Belle  Union  the  following  postmasters  have  served :  Robert  Mc- 
Cammack,  April  6,  1S70;  M.  B.  Scott,  June  8,  1874;  James  N.  Bourne,  June 
9,  1875;  A.  J.  Hill,  December  27,  1875;  Thomas  N.  Sherrill,  August  21, 
1885;  Lemuel  Buis,  April  4,  18S8;  David  Cohn,  October  2,  1889;  J.  M. 
Hurst,  June  6,  1893;  James  H.  Larkin,  August  7,  1894;  Milton  C.  Mc- 
Aninch,  June  24,  1898;  George  A.  Dobbs,  February  29,  1904.  The  postoffice 
was  discontinued  on  May  14,  1906.  At  Mount  Meridian  the  postmasters 
have  been  William  Bailey,  July  24,  1835;  John  W.  Osborn.  October  13, 
1842;  Asa  Cooper,  December  9,  1845;  Valentine  G.  Kemper,  June  30,  1851; 
William  S.  Bourne.  April  9,  1S55:  D.  S.  Duckworth,  March  28,  1859; 
Thomas  A.  Br\an.  September  3,  1861  ;  Joel  S.  Cooper,  November  25,  1861 ; 
Washington  Brenton.  February  13,  1862;  Joel  S.  Cooper,  September  i,  1S63; 
T.  S.  Vermilion,  September  14,  1866;  William  N.  Wood,  October  23,  1866; 
William  T.  W.  Elmore,  May  14,  1868;  Jesse  M.  Elmore,  August  9,  1869; 
S.  W.  McAninch,  November  9,  1870;  William  N.  Wood,  December  19,  1871 ; 
Jesse  M.  Elmore,  December  15,  1873;  Alfred  Elmore,  March  30.  1876; 
Martin  F.  Dorsett,  July  12,  1880;  William  Hurst,  December  20,  1880; 
Samuel  P.  Bowen,  October  28,  1881  ;  S.  S.  Bourne,  August  31,  1882;  Wil- 
liam Hurst.  April  24,  1885;  J.  S.  Knight.  May  14,  1889;  William  Hurst. 
May  27,  1893;  John  H.  Fox,  September  16,  1897;  discontinued  February 
28,  1905. 

MILL    CREEK    TOWNSHIP. 

Mill  Creek  township  lies  east  of  Marion,  Jefferson  and  Cloverdale  town- 
ships, and  is  bounded  on  the  north  by  Hendricks  county,  on  the  east  by  Hen- 
dricks and  Morgan,  and  on  the  south  by  Morgan.  It  is  drained  by  Mill  creek. 
which  forms  the  eastern  and  southern  boundaries.  There  are  a  few  small 
tributaries,  but  none  of  any  size,  which  enter  that  stream  within  the  limits  of 
Putnam  county.     This  township  was  annexed  to  Putnam  county  by  order  of 


192 


WEIK  S    HISTORY    OF 


the  board  of  county  commissioners  at  the  September  term,  i860,  confirmed 
by  act  of  the  Legislature,  approved  March  1 1,  1861. 

The  first  settler  in  this  township  wasThomas  Broadstreet.  Sr..  who  was 
born  in  Virginia  in  the  year  1813.  In  the  year  1826,  at  the  age  of  thirteen, 
he  came  west  with  his  father,' who  settled  within  one  mile  of  the  west  edge  of 
the  township.  Although  but  a  boy  at  that  time,  he  was  acquainted  with  nearly 
all  the  early  settlers  of  the  township.  The  first  log  cabin  in  Mill  Creek 
township  was  built  in  the  year  1826,  on  the  west  bank  of  the  stream  from 
which  the  township  takes  its  name,  one  and  one-half  miles  south  of  Stiles- 
ville,  by  Jacob  Holmes.  This  home  was  afterward  sold  to  James  Sallust. 
The  next  was  built  on  what  is  known  as  the  Clark  farm,  by  Thomas  Skelton. 
William  Parker  entered  land  and  built  a  house  close  by,  and  then  came 
Elisha  Hurst  and  Norman  Nunn.  They  were  all  early  settlers,  and  owned 
lands  adjoining  the  Clark  farm  on  the  west.  William  Heavin  came  here  in 
the  year  1827,  and  at  first  built  a  log  cabin,  but  within  a  few  years  erected  a 
good  hewed-log  house,  which  up  to  a  recent  date  was  still  standing.  At  a 
very  early  day,  Mr.  Heavin  built  a  water-mill  of  the  kind  known  to  old 
settlers  as  a  hominy-pestle ;  and  he  also  planted  the  first  orchard  in  the  town- 
ship. 

The  first  death  which  occurred  in  the  township  was  that  of  Mrs.  Bar- 
bara Heavin,  wife  of  William  Heavin,  who  died  in  the  year  1830  and  was 
interred  near  the  family  dwelling.  After  eight  years  more  of  toil  in  this 
new  country,  her  husband  followed  her  in  death,  and  was  laid  beside  the 
remains  of  his  companion. 

James  Sallust,  father  of  John  and  William  Sallust  of  this  township, 
and  of  J.  R.  Sallust  of  Oregon,  came  from  Virginia  to  Mill  creek  in  the  year 
1829,  and  lived  in  his  traveling  tent  until  he  built  a  cabin  in  which  to  live. 
It  is  remarked  of  Mr.  Sallust  that  he  was  a  man  of  great  industry,  and  he 
put  under  cuhivation  a  large  part  of  the  farm  on  which  his  son,  John  Sallust, 
afterwards  lived.  Mr.  Sallust  made  the  first  kiln  of  brick  in  the  township. 
His  moulder  and  burner  was  a  man  named  Daniel  Elliott.  Mr.  Sallust  lived 
to  the  year  1851. 

Mr.  McHaffie.  from  Kno.x  county,  Pennsylvania,  father  of  M.  E.  Mc- 
HaiTie,  bought  land  in  the  north  part  of  the  township  in  the  year  1831,  to 
which  he  removed  in  the  fall  of  the  next  year.  He  built  the  first  water- 
power  grist-mill  in  the  township,  in  the  year  1835-36.  Samuel  Beedle,  Pleas- 
ant Allee  and  William  Allee  all  came  to  the  township  in  the  year  1837. 

The  first  child  born  in  the  township  was  Nancy  E.  Holmes,  daughter 
of  Jacob  Holmes,  who  built  the  first  house  in  the  township.     Her  birth  oc- 


PUTNAM    COUNTY,    INDIANA.  I93 

curred  May  7,  1830.  This  child  died  at  the  age  of  four  years.  The  first 
marriage  was  that  of  EH  Lee  and  Polly  Heavin,  daughter  of  William  and 
Barbara  Heavin,  in  the  year  1832.  Mr.  Lee  built  the  first  horse-mill,  which 
was  one  widely  known  and  extensively  patronized  for  many  years.  The 
first  school  house  in  this  township  was  built  on  the  farm  of  Mr.  Bricks.  The 
puncheons  for  the  floor  and  seats  of  this  house  were  hewed  by  Pleasant 
Allee 

The  -Methodist  church  was  organized  in  the  township  in  the  year  1829, 
at  the  house  of  Air.  Bricks,  mentioned  above.  Services  were  afterward  held 
at  the  school  house  until  the  erection  of  Mount  Pisgah  church,  on  the  land 
of  Norman  Nunn,  in  the  year  1844  or  1845.  Mr.  Thomas  Broadstreet  was 
one  of  the  earliest  if  not  the  first  minister  in  the  township. 

Thomas  Elliott  improved  the  place  at  the  forks  of  the  Greencastle  and 
National  roads,  where  he  first  built  a  log  house,  in  which  he  kept  tavern, 
as  did  also  Mr.  Keller,  just  across  the  line  in  Hendricks  county.  In  the  year 
1837,  Mr.  Elliott  built  a  brick  house,  and  in  the  following  year  Mr.  Keller 
built  a  two-story  frame.  These  were  rival  houses  and  attained  to  great 
notoriety.  They  were  known  as  the  "Tecumseh"  and  "Washington  Hall." 
They  were  together  called  the  "twin  taverns." 

While  the  National  road  was  constructing,  in  the  years  1833  and  1834, 
the  general  government  built  two  bridges  over  small  creeks  just  west  of 
the  twin  taverns,  the  stone  abutments  of  which  are  good  to  this  day.  This 
is  true  also  of  other  works  of  the  same  kind  constructed  on  that  road  at  the 
same  date. 


(13) 


CHAPTER  XII. 


PUTNAM  S    MILITARY   RECORD. 


Among  the  early  records  of  the  county  conimi.ssioners'  court  is  an  entry 
showing  that,  on  motion  of  D.  R.  Eckels,  the  county  treasurer  was  author- 
ized and  instructed  to  loan  to  the  members  of  the  military  company  known  as 
the  Putnam  Blues,  an  amount  of  money  not  exceeding  two  thousand  dollars;" 
all  of  which  goes  to  show  that  the  idea  of  military  protection  was  not  long  in 
taking  root  in  the  minds  of  the  early  settlers.  Somehow  a  feeling  of  safety 
as  well  as  pride  was  inspired  by  the  sight  of  the  weapons,  the  bright  uniforms 
and  glittering  equipment  of  the  militia  on  muster  day.  The  following  notice, 
found  in  a  copy  of  the  Putnam  County  Sentinel,  published  March  i8,  1847, 
will  serve  to  indicate  the  status  of  the  development  of  the  Militia  up  to  the 
time  named : 

"Attention  Company!! 

"Putnam  Yellow  Jackets. 

"You  are  hereby  ordered  to  parade  on  Saturday,  the  loth  of  April,  at 

10  o'clock  A.  M.,  at  the  Armory  in  full  unifomi.     A  punctual  attendance  is 

requested  as  this  is  the  first  Company  Muster  for  this  year.     There  is  some 

business  of  importance  to  come  before  the  company  at  that  time — also  it  is 

supposed  there  will  be  an  election  of  subordinate  officers  to  fill  stations  that 

are  not  occupied  at  present.     Persons  wishing  to  become  members  can  do  so 

bv  calling  on  the  commissioned  officers  or  the  undersigned. 

"Come  out!     Come  out!! 

"By  order  of  Capt.  Appleg.\te. 
"Hexry  W.  Daniels, 

"Ord.  Serg." 

.-Vt  the  time  of  the  breaking  out  of  the  Mexican  war,  so  far  as  we  can 
learn,  the  Putnam  Blues  and  Putnam  Yellow  Jackets  were  the  only  two  mili- 
tary companies  fully  equipped  for  active  service  in  the  county;  but  to  the 
Blues  was  assigned  the  honor  and  responsibility  of  representing  the  county 
in  the  campaign  against  Mexico.  The  company  assembled  at  the  court  house 
on  the  dav  of  its  departure  in  the  presence  of  a  large  crowd  and,  with  colors 


PL'TXAM     COL'XTY.    IXDIAXA.  I95 

flying,  set  out  for  tlie  scene  of  action.  It  marched  southea.st  along  the 
Bloomington  road  and  tliere  are  yet  living  men  who  were  boys  then  and  who, 
attracted  by  the  music  of  fife  and  drum  and  the  striking  military  appearance 
of  the  soldiers,  followed  the  company  on  foot  for  miles  out  of  town. 
\Vhen  New  Albany  was  reached,  the  Putnam  county  contingent  was  given  the 
post  of  honor,  being  known  thereafter  as  Company  A,  First  Regiment  Indi- 
ana \'oIunteers.  They  were  mustered  into  the  United  States  service  June 
20,  1S46.  One  of  the  leading  and  probably  the  most  influential  men  in  arous- 
ing interest  in  the  organization  of  the  company  for  the  campaign  in  Mexico 
was  Delana  R.  Eckels.  He  was  then  in  the  vigor  of  his  early  manhood  and, 
although  such  men  as  James  P.  Drake  and  Henry  S.  Lane  were  also  in  the 
same  regiment,  it  is  doubtful  if  any  of  them  surpassed  Eckels  in  military  acu- 
men, concentration  of  purpose  or  strength  of  intellect.  He  was  appointed 
commissary  of  the  regiment  with  the  rank  of  captain.  The  only  other  staff 
ot^cer  from  Putnam  county  was  William  Albin,  quartermaster  sergeant.  The 
officers  of  Company  A  were :  John  H.  Roberts,  captain,  who  died  February 
19.  1847,  and  was  succeeded  by  Daniel  A.  Farley;  William  L.  Farrow  was 
first  lieutenant  and  R.  W.  Jones  and  Abisha  L.  Morrison  second  lieutenants; 
John  C.  Walls,  Benjamin  E.  Brooks,  Thomas  S.  Hancock  and  Merritt 
Redding,  sergeants,  and  John  Nead,  Wesley  I.  Banks,  Lewis  H.  Rudisill  and 
Joel  W.  McGrew,  corporals.  The  privates  were:  Howard  Abbott,  Lafayette 
Atkinson,  Andrew  I.  Akers,  Thomas  S.  Bridges,  San  ford  P.  Burk,  Samuel 
McH.  Brooks,  James  Craig.  Lafayette  Cornwall.  Henry  C.  Crook,  Samuel 
Francis.  William  W.  Farley.  John  Ford.  John  Gray,  Abijah  Grimes,  Jesse  M. 
Hamrick,  Martin  Heath,  Alfred  K.  Keller,  Henry  Keller,  William  R.  Keller, 
\\'illiam  Knipe.  William  Lane,  Humphrey  G.  May,  Floyd  Mills,  Isaac  Mc- 
Mannoway,  Samuel  Purcell,  James  Pickering.  John  Pickering,  Joseph  Rob- 
erts. Lewis  Solomon.  James  H.  Summers.  Daniel  T.  Summers,  Solomon  O. 
Siddens,  Jesse  A.  Shepherd,  Abram  N.  Stringer,  Mason  Vennillion,  Robert 
C.  Wilson,  Patterson  M.  Wood,  Robert  Walls,  David  Young. 

The  following  privates  died  during  the  service :  Henry  Hiatt.  Samuel 
E.  Xewell.  George  West.  Joseph  R.  Banks,  James  McCall,  Samuel  C.  Morris, 
Clark  Powers  and  Henry  A.  West ;  and  the  following  were  discharged  be- 
fore the  term  of  their  enlistment  had  expired  on  account  of  disease  or  disa- 
bility: George  W.  Atkinson,  Xelson  Combs,  Perry  Gase,  Henry  Hotspillar, 
^\^esley  Mills.  Elias  Xeff.  Lyman  P.  Nichols.  James  Rhino,  Xotlev  M.  Sand- 
ers. Joseph  Sanders,  Benjamin  E.  Talbott.  Elisha  Hasty.  Harmon  Skeen, 
Tames  Smith  and  William  D.  Frazier. 


196  weik's  history  of 

Although  experiencing  the  usual  hardships  of  soldier  life,  the  troops 
from  Putnam  county  were  more  or  less  fortunate  in  that  the  First  Regiment, 
to  which  thev  belonged,  was  not  required  to  participate  in  the  decisive  bat- 
tles of  Churubusco,  Palo  Alto,  Monterey.  Chapultepec  or  any  of  the  bloody 
engagements  of  the  war.  Although  never  under  actual  fire,  they  were 
equally  as  brave  and  daring  as  any  of  the  other  troops,  obeyed  the  orders  of 
their  superiors  as  implicitly  and  did  their  duty  as  fully  and  fearlessly  as  if 
facing  the  cannon's  mouth.  Most  of  those  who  survived  returned  to  their 
Indiana  homes  and  many  afterwards,  including  William  L.  Farrow,  Abisha 
L.  Morrison.  Joel  W.  McGrew  and  William  Lane,  served  as  commissioned 
officers  on  the  side  of  the  Union  during  the  Rebellion.  The  only  survivor 
of  the  entire  company  so  far  as  known  is  Wesley  I.  Banks,  who  now  lives  in 
the  town  of  Centre ville.  Iowa. 

As  the  one  great  result  of  the  Mexican  war  was  to  emphasize  and 
accentuate  the  slavery  question,  it  will  not  be  out  of  order  here  to  reflect, 
for  a  few  moments,  on  the  attitude  and  conduct  of  the  early  settlers  of  Put- 
nam county  toward  the  negroes,  both  free  and  enslaved.  The  majority  of 
these  early  settlers  being  from  Kentucky,  where  slavery  had  been  in  existence 
from  time  immemorial,  and  some  of  them  being  themselves  the  owners  of 
slaves,  it  is  not  to  be  wondered  that  many  of  them  saw  no  great  or  crying 
need  for  interfering  with  the  institution  as  it  then  existed. 

The  first  incident  which  tends  to  indicate  the  local  sentiment  as  to  the 
rights  of  a  slave  and  that  of  his  owner  is  found  in  the  records  of  the  circuit 
court  in  1836.  On  the  30th  day  of  April  in  that  year.  William  McCubbens 
appeared  before  Tames  Rankin,  one  of  the  associate  justices  of  the  county, 
and  filed  an  affidavit,  reciting  that  he  was  then  a  resident  of  Paris,  Edgar 
countv,  Illinois,  to  which  place  he  had  removed  from  his  home  in  Tennessee; 
that  he  ^\■as  the  owner  of  numerous  slaves ;  that  among  them  was  a  girl  named 
Jane,  who  had  escaped  his  vigilance,  fled  from  the  county  and  was  then  li\-ing 
with  and  under  the  protection  of  certain  persons  in  Putnam  county,  passing 
as  a  free  person;  that  as  a  matter  of  fact  she  was  not  free,  but  was  his  slave, 
bound  to  him  for  labor  and  he  therefore  demanded  that  the  said  negro  girl 
be  delivered  over  to  him  as  his  property,  to  be  by  him  transported  to  a  locality 
bevond  the  boundaries  of  the  state.  After  listening  to  the  testimony,  the 
court  decided  in  the  slave  owner's  favor.  The  girl  thereupon  appealed  to 
the  full  bench  of  the  court  and  the  proceeding  being  of  such  moment  and 
importance  a  special  session  was  set  for  May  5th.  Meanwhile  the  girl  was 
turned  over  to  the  plaintiff,  whereupon  the  latter,  as  the  record  discloses, 
executed  a  bond  guaranteeing  costs  and  the  appearance  of  the  girl  in  court. 


PCTXA.M    COr.XTV.    IXDIAXA.  I97 

with  James  McCiibbens  and  Joseph  L.  ^[errill  as  his  sureties.  Court  convened 
on  the  day  assigned,  with  James  Rankin  and  Wilham  Elrod.  associate  jus- 
tices, on  the  bench.  The  record  does  not  disclose  who  the  third  member 
was  or  why  he  was  not  present.  The  following  jur}-  was  impaneled  and 
sworn  :  John  Allen.  John  Dicks.  James  Denny,  Arthur  Walker,  Jacob  Huff- 
man. Abner  Goodwin.  William  Leachman,  John  Lynch,  Isaiah  Vermillion, 
John  Standeford,  Pryor  L.  Fanner  and  Thomas  Cochran.  How  long  the 
trial  lasted  can  not  now  be  learned,  but  after  a  somewhat  exhaustive  inquiry 
the  jury  returned  the  following  verdict:  "We  the  jury  find  that  the  said 
negro  girl,  Jane,  owes  service  as  a  slave  under  the  laws  of  the  state  of  Ten- 
nessee, for  life  to  the  said  \\'illiam  McCubbens,  as  in  the  said  affidavit  of 
complaint  of  said  William,  is  mentioned  and  that  the  same  is  substantially 
true.  James  Denny,  foreman."  Whereupon  the  court  made  the  following 
decree,  which  was  gravely  entered  on  the  record :  "It  is  therefore  ordered  by 
the  court  that  Joseph  L.  Merrill  and  James  McCubbens.  bondsmen,  surrender 
the  said  girl  Jane  in  discharge  of  their  recognizance,  which  being  done,  she 
is  now  by  order  of  the  court  delivered  into  the  possession  and  custody  of 
said  William  McCubbens  as  her  lawful  owner."  Although  in  compliance  with 
the  letter  of  the  law,  it  is  doubtful  if,  in  some  parts  of  the  United  States,  the 
poor  black  girl  would  have  been  turned  over  to  her  alleged  "lawful  owner." 
with  the  right  to  her  services  "for  life."  Legally  considered,  the  judgment 
may  not  have  been  erroneous,  but  future  generations  will  never  cease  to 
regret  that  the  incident  took  place  in  Putnam  county. 

But  everyone  did  not  believe  in  the  right  of  a  sla\e  owner  to  come  to 
Indiana  and  forcibly  take  from  the  state  a  human  being  condemned  to 
servitude  for  life.  There  were  those  who  held  that  e\en  though  the  law  was 
made  to  sanction  slavery,  it  was  right  to  ignore  or  evade  such  an  inhuman 
provision  and  if  necessary  openly  violate  it.  In  striking  contrast,  therefore, 
to  the  incident  related  in  the  foregoing  paragraph,  it  is  more  or  less  refresh- 
ing to  read  the  following,  which  also  took  place  in  Putnam  county  during 
the  days  when  slavery-  flourished  under  the  "sanction  of  the  law."  For  an 
account  of  this  episode  we  are  indebted  to  Capt.  Joseph  M.  Donnohue.  who 
prepared  the  following  paper  for  the  Putnam  County  Historical  Society,  and 
who.  strange  to  relate,  is  himself  the  son  of  a  Kentuckian,  who  inherited 
slaves  from  his  ancestors  and.  on  attaining  his  majority,  set  them  free : 

"One  drizzlv  dav  in  the  month  of  September,  i860,  two  boys  were 
rambling  about  two  miles  south  of  the  town  of  Greencastle.  They  had 
crossed  the  farm  then  ow  ned  and  occupied  by  W.  T.  Hawkins  and  climbed 
upon  the  fence  separating  one  of  his  fields  from  a  heavily  wooded  pasture. 


198  weik's  historv  of 

known  then  as  a  part  of  the  Miller  Black  farm.  This  woodland  was  broken 
by  hollows  and  by  what  is  commonly  known  as  sinkholes.  Small  under- 
growth of  paw-paw  bushes  partly  concealed  the  ground.  The  bo\s  this 
day  were  accompanied  by  a  hound  of  the  lop-eared  kind,  which,  when  trail- 
ing, emitted  a  continuous  musical  roll  of  noises,  that  makes  the  writer  wish 
he  was  a  graduate  of  some  music  school  in  order  that  he  might  properlv  de- 
scribe the  music  the  old  hound  produced.  When  the  dog  had  crossed  the 
fence  his  nose  went  into  the  air.  the  hair  on  his  back  became  erect  from  head 
to  tail,  and,  giving  vent  to  a  deep  bass  bellow,  he  plunged  headlong  through 
the  underbrush,  and  as  he  went,  with  his  voice  he  ran  the  gamut  up  and 
down,  working  in  some  beautiful  double  semi-quavers  and  long  drawn  out 
trills,  that  delighted  the  heart  of  the  boys.  A  hundred  and  fifty  yards  into 
the  woods  he  bore  off  to  the  left  and  began  describing  a  circle.  When  the 
circle  was  complete  he  began  narrowing  the  ring,  but  all  the  while  the  music 
was  growing  in  intensity  and  sweetness  from  the  hunter's  standpoint  until 
the  circle  became  quite  small.  At  the  first  notes  of  the  dog.  the  bovs  stood 
upon  the  top  of  the  fence,  the  better  to  see  the  outcome  of  the  supposed 
chase,  and  from  their  height  could  see  that  the  hound  was  circling  around 
a  sinkhole.  They  had  never  seen  such  manifestations  of  anger  from  the  dog. 
and  naturally  wondered  what  kind  of  an  animal  had  taken  refuge  there. 
The  dog  roared  'round  the  rim  of  the  sink  and  by  his  action  threatened  to 
go  down.  Presently  a  club  was  seen  to  rise  in  the  air  from  out  the  sink- 
hole, pass  the  dog  and  drop  beyond  him.  Then  another  and  another,  each 
passing  club  adding  new  zeal  and  additional  fury  to  the  hound's  attack. 

"The  boys  ran  toward  the  sink,  at  the  same  time  commanding  the  dog 
to  come  away.  He  retired  sullenly,  turning  at  times  and  threatening  to  charge. 
Repeated  scolding,  howexer.  pre\ented.  When  the  boys  first  came  near 
enough  they  could  see  only  a  brush  pile  and  paw-paw  bushes  in  the  sinkhole. 
but  after  peering  through  the  bushes  for  awhile,  a  black  face  was  discovered. 
One  of  the  boys  asked.  'What  are  you  doing  there?'  The  answer  came. 
'Nothing,  massa,  we  gives  up.  Jim  he's  sick  and  chillin'.  Its  no  use.'  Thev 
were  young  colored  men.  After  assurances  of  friendship,  one  of  the  darkies 
toltl  their  story.  About  a  month  or  six  weeks  before  they  had  made  a  Iireak 
for  freedom,  leaving  their  master  near  Franklin,  Tennessee,  worked  their 
way  up  through  that  state  and  Kentucky,  assisted  by  colored  people,  cross- 
ing the  Ohio  river  in  a  skiff,  and  had  been  helped  through  Indiana,  thus  far. 
by  friends  or  agents,  as  I  now  know,  of  the  Underground  Railroad.  .\n 
agent  of  the  road  had  come  from  near  Mooresville.  in  Morgan  countv.  across 
country  the  night  before  to  near  this  place,  when  daylight  overtook  them  be- 


PCTNAM    COLXTV.    IXDIAXA.  I99 

fore  thev  reached  the  station  where  they  intended  to  stop  for  the  day.  So 
thev  left  the  road  and  had  taken  slieiter  in  the  woods  as  we  have  seen,  until 
night  should  come  again. 

"The  bovs  soon  Iiail  their  confidence  and  the  spokesman  atided  that  they 
were  directed  to  tiie  house  of  our  neighbor,  and  at  nightfall  would  have 
safelv  made  their  wav  there.  The  other  one  was  sick.  Exposure  had  caused 
him  to  chill.  The  rain  during  the  day  had  wet  their  clothing,  which  made 
their  condition  very  unpleasant.  After  further  conversation,  the  boys  left 
them,  and  with  the  secret  safely  locked  in  their  breasts  went  to  the  house  of 
the  neighbor  mentioned  by  the  negro  and  told  him  of  their  adventure.  He 
was  not  at  all  surprised,  but  on  the  other  hand  had  been  greatly  troubled 
on  account  of  the  negroes'  failure  to  appear  before  daylight  that  morning 
as  expected.  Evidently  he  was  pleased,  but  made  the  boys  feel  the  importance 
of  keeping  the  matter  to  themselves.  That  night  the  refugees  were  piloted 
to  our  neighbor's  and  safely  lodgeil  in  the  garret  of  his  wash  house.  They 
were  fed  and  cared  for  three  or  four  days.  The  one  suttering  with  the  ague 
was  doctored  bv  our  neighbor  and  his  chills  broken.  Then  our  neighbor 
arranged  to  go  to  Parke  county  to  mill.  He  had  a  strong  prejudice  against 
flour  ground  bv  steam  power.  Water-mill  flour  was  much  better  and  there 
was  a  water  mil!  in  Parke  county  that  made  flour  just  to  his  notion.  So  to 
mill  he  went,  a  distance  of  twenty-five  miles  perhaps,  in  a  covered  wagon, 
with  considerable  hay.  proxisions  for  three  persons  and  one  sack  of  wheat. 
That  he  got  to  the  place  for  which  he  had  started,  I  am  assured,  but  that  he 
brought  anv  flour  on  his  return  trip  I  never  knew.  Fnit  he  told  the  writer  on 
his  return  that  the  colored  boys  were  in  good  hands.  Sometime  afterward  I 
learned  from  him  that  they  had  arrived  safel\-  in  Canada. 

"This  'unofficial  patriot"  moved  to  Putnam  county  in  1857.  He  came 
from  Ohio.  He  was  singular  in  many  respects.  He  made  a  wide  acquain- 
tance in  Putnam  county  in  a  few  years.  He  was  an  extensive  cattle  shipper 
at  one  tin^e.  He  appeared  austere  in  his  manner  to  many,  but  was  really 
verv  sxmpathetic.  Rugged  in  his  oi)inions,  he  may  have  made  some  enemies. 
But  our  neighbor  had  much  to  commend  him.  and  no  one  thing  had  so  much 
to  do  with  the  good  opinion  of  the  writer  as  the  fact  that  he  was  an  agent  of 
the  Underground  Railroad.  He  was  one  of  the  active  agents  of  a  system 
that  was  hated  anrl  despised  by  many,  and  was  under  ban  of  the  law.  At 
that  time  manv  of  the  people  of  Putnam  county  were  like  the  hound  I  tell 
about  in  one  respect.  They  were  read}-  and  anxious  to  pounce  upon  a  run- 
awa\"  "nigger.'  Negroes  were  propert}'  and  the  hound  manifested  only  the 
zeal  of  some  of  the  higher  animals,  who  had   read  the  decision  of  Chief 


200  WEIK  S    HISTORY    OF 

Justice  Taney,  making  them  the  hunters — under  heavy  penalties  for  non-per- 
formance— of  negroes  on  their  road  to  freedom. 

"As  early  as  i860  Putnam  county  had  at  least  one  'unofficial  patriot.' 
and  his  name  was  Parker  S.  Browder. 

"The  leaven  was  doing  its  work.  John  Brown's  body  was  mouldering 
in  the  tomb,  but  his  soul  was  marching  on." 

But  to  the  credit  of  the  people  of  Putnam  county  be  it  said  that  although 
a  majority  of  them  originated  in  Kentucky,  yet  in  the  main  they  were  de- 
cidedly unfriendly  to  slaver^^  In  fact  the  presence  of  the  few  colored  people 
who  were  here  prior  to  the  war  can  be  accounted  for  on  the  theorv  that  thev 
had  formerly  belonged  to  families  opposed  to  dealing  in  human  flesh  who,  to 
get  away  from  the  curse,  had  emigrated  to  the  free  state  of  Indiana  and 
had  permitted  a  few  of  the  old  servants,  who  with  childish  affection  clung 
to  them,  to  make  up  a  part  of  the  outfit  for  the  new  home. 

James  Townsend,  a  native  of  Maryland,  moved  hither  from  Morgan- 
field,  Kentucky,  in  1828.  settling  at  Putnamville.  He  freed  his  slaves  in 
Kentucky  and  told  those  who  wished  to  accompany  him  to  a  free  state  that 
he  would  take  them  to  Indiana  and  build  them  log  cabins  for  homes.  About 
eight  came  with  him.  "They  all  took  my  grandfather's  family  name,  Town- 
send,''  writes  James  T.  Layman.  "Luke  Townsend  and  his  wife  Charity  and 
Tom  Townsend  unmarried.  Old  grandmother  Sibley  Townsend  was  among 
those  who  went  from  Maryland  to  Kentucky  in  1808.  There  also  were 
Aunt  Hetty,  Aunt  Amy  and  one  we  called  'Yaller  Ann.'  I  remember  them 
all  very  well  as  they  were  about  my  mother's  home  every  day  and  I  used 
to  fill  old  Grandmother  Sibley's  pipe  w'ith  tobacco  for  her  before  the  fireplace 
when  she  was  past  ninety  years  of  age." 

Tamar  Peters  was  a  colored  woman  and  the  slave  of  James  Stevenson, 
father  of  Dr.  .\..  C.  Stevenson.  The  elder  Stevenson  brought  her  to  Ken- 
tucky from  his  birthplace  in  Alaryland.  Later  he  emigrated  to  this  countv 
from  Kentucky,  dying  in  1826.  Fi\e  years  afterwards  his  widow.  ^largaret 
Campbell,  rlicd.  Before  her  death  she  directed  that  Tamar  Peters  and  her 
family  i)e  freed  and  brought  to  Indiana.  Arriving  here,  they  were  cared 
for  by  Doctor  Stevenson.  The  family,  consisting  of  the  mother  and  five 
children,  were  industrious  and  thrifty  and  by  their  combined  labors  accum- 
ulated money  enough  to  buy  forty  acres  of  land  a  few  miles  southwest  of 
Greencastie.  In  1854  they  sold  their  farm,  went  to  Baltimore,  where,  under 
the  auspices  of  tlie  Emigration  Aid  Society,  they  shipped  for  Liberia.  It  is 
said  that  Aunt  Tamar  dietl  on  the  wav  and  was  buried  at  sea. 


PfTXAM     CnrXTV.    IXniAXA.  20I 

In  1850  an  old  colored  couple.  Tom  and  Agnes,  arrived  in  McMiroe  town- 
ship and  went  at  once  to  the  home  of  the  late  Col.  James  Fisk.  They  were 
formerly  slaves  and  belonged  to  the  latter's  father  in  Kentucky,  but  had  been 
given  their  freedom.  Having  grown  old  and  feeble.  Colonel  Fisk  had  directed 
them  to  be  sent  to  him  in  order  that  he  might  provide  for  them  during  their 
declining  years.  Shortly  after  their  arrival  some  of  the  neighbors  took 
ottense  at  the  presence  of  negroes  in  their  midst  and.  under  the  leadership 
of  William  McCray.  they  filed  an  affidavit  against  Colonel  Fisk  for  violating 
the  law-  which  forbade  the  harboring  of  a  negro.  The  case  was  tried  in 
Greencastle  and  much  feeling  was  aroused,  but  Tom  and  Agnes  were  not 
transported.  Thev  were  never  again  molested  but  continued  to  live  under  the 
care  and  benefactions  of  Colonel  Fisk  until  their  deaths  many  years  after- 
ward.    Both  of  them  are  buried  in  the  Brick  Chapel  cemetery. 

"One  of  the  colored  persons  that  I  remember  as  prominent  in  my  boy- 
hood davs."  relates  Thomas  C.  Hammond,  "was  named  Cato  Boyd.  He  was 
not  of  uncertain  color  by  any  means,  being  as  black  as  jet.  He  came  to  Put- 
nam county  early  in  the  thirties  and  had  originally  belonged  to  Crawford 
Cole.  He  was  a  sort  of  recluse,  living  entirely  to  himself  in  a  hut  about  two 
miles  northwest  of  Greencastle.  where  he  carried  on  the  business  of  charcoal 
burning.  When  I  first  knew  him  he  was  about  sixty  years  old  and  the  owner 
of  about  twenty  acres  of  land.  He  was  able  to  write  and  was.  to  some  extent, 
a  reader  of  books.  Another  notable  character  in  early  colored  circles  was 
an  old  darky  called  "Uncle  Henderson.'  He  roomed  for  a  long  time  in  David 
Hoagland's  wagon  shop  and  was  a  good-hearted  and  inoffensive  old  negro. 
He  worked  at  the  home  of  Dr.  Matthew  Simpson,  then  president  of  Asbury 
University,  and  was  a  great  favorite  w  ith  the  family.  One  day,  being  in  a 
hurrv  to  meet  an  engagement,  Mrs.  Simpson  directed  Henderson  to  take  a 
seat  at  the  dinner  table  with  herself  and  the  children.  When  John  M.  .Alli- 
son, one  of  the  trustees  of  Asbury  University,  and  a  Kentuckian,  heard  of 
this  he  was  greatlv  incensed  and  was  so  loud  and  ungenerous  in  his  criticism 
of  Doctor  Simpson  and  kept  up  such  a  tirade  of  censure  that,  it  is  said,  the 
latter  finally  became  disgusted  and  resigned  the  presidency  of  the  university. 

THE    CIX'II.    WAR. 

The  assault  u\)nn  Fort  Sumter  by  the  Confederate  government  at 
Charleston  in  April.  iSfSi.  was  not  a  surprise  to  the  people  of  Putnam  county. 
For  many  weeks  prior  thereto,  the  editor  of  the  Putnaui  County  Banner  had 
been  preparing  his  readers  for  the  inevitable  clash  which  had  long  been  pre- 


202  WEIKS    HISTORY    OF 

dieted.  This  preparation  consisted  of  a  number  of  articles  in  the  succeeding 
issues  of  the  paper,  commencing  shortly  after  the  beginning  of  the  year,  writ- 
ten by  Dr.  A.  C.  Stevenson  and  entitled  "Thoughts  on  Secession."  The 
writer  handled  the  delicate  question  in  a  very  skillful  and  adroit,  but  careful 
manner.  He  shrank  from  the  dreadful  alternative  of  war  and  even  pointed 
out  wa\'s  bv  which  the  momentous  question  then  disturbing  the  country  could 
be  settled  without  resorting  to  bloodshed.  But  all  these  speculations  were 
shattered  when  the  news  reached  Greencastle  on  the  morning  of  Friday,  the 
1 2th  of  April.  1 86 1,  that  General  Beauregard  had  fired  the  first  hostile  shot  at 
Fort  Sumter.  Instantly  the  entire  community  was  aroused.  By  noon  a 
crowd  had  gathered,  to  whom  Col.  John  A.  Matson  made  a  stirring  and  pa- 
triotic appeal  in  behalf  of  the  Union.  On  the  Monday  following,  an  immense 
and  enthusiastic  crowd  gathered  before  the  court  house  for  the  purpose  of 
arranging  for  the  enlistments  of  such  persons  as  were  willing  to  join  the 
army  in  response  to  the  President's  call  for  seventy-fi\e  thousand  volunteers. 
Alreadv  Col.  Lewis  H.  Sands  had  opened  a  recruiting  office  in  Greencastle  for 
the  purpose  of  enlisting  volunteers.  "A  number  of  young  men  have  already 
enlisted,"  says  the  Banner,  "and  many  more  will  do  so  as  soon  as  they  have 
an  opportunity.  Old  Putnam,  ever  loyal  to  the  government,  will  send  up  but 
one  voice  and  that  will  be  in  favor  of  the  enforcement  of  the  laws  of  the 
country  and  the  maintenance  of  the  Union  as  it  is."  At  the  meeting  held  in 
the  court  house.  Colonel  Sands  was  called  to  the  chair  and  addressed  the  audi- 
ence in  a  few  brief  and  pointed  remarks  in  favor  of  upholding  the  flag  of  his 
country.  Capt.  John  Osborn.  of  Clay  county,  was  present  and.  being  called 
for,  responded  in  a  fervid  and  ringing  appeal  to  stand  by  the  Union.  Speeches 
were  also  made  bv  H.  J.  Hilton,  A.  L.  ]\Iorrison,  Doctor  Cowgill,  Marshall -.\. 
Moore  and  others.  Beneath  large  and  conspicuous  headlines,  the  Banner  pub- 
lished the  President's  proclamation  calling  for  volunteers  and,  in  the  adjoin- 
ing column,  the  following  vigorous  and  fervid  editorial : 

''Shall  American  soldiers  be  permitted  to  perish  with  famine?  Shall 
they  be  pennitted  to  starve  whilst  they  bear  aloft  the  flag  of  their  country 
amidst  traitors  who  will  rend  it  in  shreds  and  trample  it  under  foot?  Xo! 
answers  everv  lover  of  his  country.  Xo!  says  every  lover  of  freedom. 
Everv  lover  of  free  speech,  a  free  press,  and  freedom  of  worship,  answers 
Xo!  Everv  lover  of  courage  cries.  'Supply  them.'  and  every  patriot  cries. 
'Feed  them  at  all  hazards.'  Traitors  alone  cry,  'Starve  them!  starve  them!' 
If  the  spirits  of  the  good  and  the  just  and  the  patriotic  take  cognizance  of 
transactions  of  this  world,  we  may  well  imagine  the  'Father  of  his  Country' 
and  his  compatriots  of  the  Revolution  taking  a  lively  interest  in  this  scene. 


PUTNAM    COUNTY.    INDIANA.  2O3 

as  they  look  forth  from  the  windows  of  heaven.  There  floats  the  flag  of 
their  country.  The  Bag  under  which  they  marched  to  battle  and  to  victory, 
and  to  the  establishment  of  their  country's  independence.  In  its  folds  nestles 
the  American  eagle.  On  its  face  it  bears  the  stars  and  the  stripes.  A  small 
band  of  brave  men  continue  to  defend  it.  An  hundred  traitorous  palmetto 
tiags  surround  it.  borne  by  rebel  hosts,  who  shout  demoniac  yells  in  hope  of 
certain  victorv-.  The  shouts  of  'Starve  them!  starve  them!'  reach  the  very- 
portals  of  heaven.  'Feed  them!'  cries  the  spirits  of  the  Revolution!  "Feed 
them!'  cries  the  'Father  of  his  Country!'  'Feed  them.'  cries  the  spirits  of 
departed  American  statesmen!  'Feed  them' !  cries  the  spirits  of  the  just  and 
good  from  all  lands !  This  government  will  not  be  lost  without  an  effort,  at 
least,  to  save  it.  Amid  all  the  gloom  and  secession,  there  have  been  a  few 
rays  of  hope.  .\  few  courageous  men  have  been  conspicuous.  In  the  very- 
midst  of  the  conspirators,  they  have  nobly  kept  the  stars  and  stripes  floating 
and  clung  to  the  constitution.  Like  the  fi.xed  stars,  they  have  shown  the 
brighter  on  account  of  the  gloom  by  which  they  were  surrounded.  They  have 
indeed  cheered  the  desponding  patriot  amidst  the  darkness  of  treason." 

STRONG    UNION    SENTIMENT. 

On  Saturdav.  April  20th.  a  mass  meeting  was  held  in  Greencastle  to 
arouse  the  Union  sentiment  of  the  county  and  to  encourage  enlistments  into 
the  amiy.  Early  in  the  morning  crowds  began  to  gather  from  the  country, 
guards  being  placed  at  the  four  corners  of  the  public  square  to  prevent  per- 
sons from  bringing  horses  inside.  At  nine  o'clock,  places  of  business  were 
all  closed  and  the  local  military  companies  drew  up  in  line  on  the  east  side 
of  the  court  house.  A  stand  was  erected  within  the  court  house  yard  from 
which  the  crowd  was  addressed  by  Col.  John  A.  .Matson,  D.  E.  Williamson. 
Capt.  John  Osborn  and  Capt.  W.  H.  Thornburgh.  The  principal  speaker  of 
the  day  was  Col.  R.  W.  Thompson,  who  had  come  o\er  from  Terre  Haute, 
and  who  made  a  deep  and  abiding  impression  upon  those  present  by  his  able. 
patriotic  and  eloquent  address  in  supix)rt  of  the  Union.  "Party  lines  in-this 
countrv,"  savs  the  Banner,  "are  obliterated.  Democrats.  Republicans  and 
Americans  stand  shoulder  to  shoulder  for  the  American  flag.  We  occasion- 
allv  hear  of  some  poor  miserable  devil  who  would  gladly  see  the  government 
go  to  ruin,  but  it  is  not  the  part  of  prudence  to  give  expression  to  such  senti- 
ments. Our  ])enple  have  come  to  the  conclusion  that  there  are  two  sides  to 
the  question:  he  who  is  not  for  his  government,  is  against  it:  we  either  have 
a  government  or  we  have  not;  and.  with  praiseworthy  unanimity,  the  people 
of  old  Putnam  are  on  the  side  of  the  old  flag  and  the  old  constitution." 


204  WEIK  S    HISTORY    OF 

By  Monday,  April  22nd,  the  first  company  of  Putnam  county  patriots, 
to  offer  their  services  in  behalf  of  the  Union,  left  for  Indianapolis.  They 
^vere  called  the  Union  Guards  and  were  under  the  command  of  Capt.  William 
Conkliii.  Speaking  of  their  departure,  the  Banner  says,  "They  were  escorted 
to  the  depot  by  the  Asbury  Guards.  It  was  indeed  a  trying  scene  to  see  so 
many  friends  bid  farewell  to  each  other,  parting  with  friends  perhaps  forever. 
Yet,  amid  all  these  mourning  scenes,  they  gave  rousing  cheers  for  the  Union 
and  the  flag  of  our  countr\-.  Our  blessings  go  with  them,  and  may  they  not 
forget  that  anxious  friends  and  relatives  at  home  will  eagerly  watch  their 
efforts  in  favor  of  the  right."  Another  company,  called  the  Asbury  Guards, 
left  for  Indianapolis  on  Wednesday.  It  was  made  up  mainly  of  students,  and 
was  commanded  by  Capt.  John  R.  Mahan.  The  outburst  of  patriotism  on 
the  part  of  the  students  was  remarkable.  The  Banner  says:  "Our  college 
at  this  place  is  almost,  if  not  totally,  broken  up  in  consequence  of  the  absence 
of  the  students  who  have  volunteered  and  gone  into  battle  in  defense  of  their 
country." 

The  patriotic  men  at  home  formed  themselves  into  another  company 
called  the  Home  Guards.  They  were  made  up  of  men  who  were  either  too 
old  for  service  in  the  field,  or  for  some  other  good  reason  unable  to  leave  their 
homes.  Speaking  of  the  company,  the  Banner  says  :  "The  Greencastle  Home 
Guards  met  on  Monday  evening,  pursuant  to  adjournment,  and  resolved  to 
divide  the  company  into  two  divisions,  the  active  and  sedentary.  The  duty 
of  the  active  to  drill  and  equip  themselves  and  the  duty  of  the  sedentan-  to 
hold  themselves  in  readiness  for  any  emergency  that  the  circumstances  might 
hereafter  warrant.  The  enrollment  of  the  active  then  commenced  and  in  less 
than  ten  minutes  one  company  of  seventy-five  were  enrolled  and  ready  for 
drill.  The  officers  were:  Captain.  R.  W.  Jones;  first  lieutenant,  James  Hop- 
kins ;  second  lieutenant,  J.  H.  Kinkead :  third  lieutenant.  C.  J.  Ashton ;  order- 
1}"  sergeant.  H.  C.  Munson:  ensign,  Daniel  Riggs:  chairman  of  the  executive 
committee.  Jacob  Durham."  The  Banner  says :  "The  recruiting  office  of  the 
guards  is  at  the  store  of  Messrs.  Jones.  The  first  drill  of  the  companv  came 
oft'  on  last  Friday  evening  in  the  college  campus.  We  hope  when  our  state 
shall  have  supplied  her  troops  with  arms,  that  they  will  send  us  something 
suitable  to  drill  with  if  nothing  else.  The  unifonn  adopted  by  this  companv 
is  a  red  hunting  shirt  and  gray  military  cap." 

FIRST   PUTX.VM    COUNTY  SOLDIERS   IN    SERVICE. 

On  reaching  Indianapolis,  the  Union  Guards  were  mustered  into  the 
I'nited  States  service  for  a  period  of  ninety  days  from  April  26th.  as  Com- 


PUTNAM    COUNTY,    INDIANA.  205 

pany  H.  Tenth  Regiment  Indiana  \'oIunteers.  It  will,  of  course,  be  too  great 
a  task  to  attempt  to  mention  the  name  of  each  soldier  from  Putnam  countv 
who  enlisted  into  the  Union  army.  But  as  the  Union  Guards  were  the  first 
troops  from  Putnam  county  whose  services  were  accepted,  it  will  not  be  out 
of  place  to  record  here  tiieir  names.  William  Conklin  was  the  captain:  E.  R. 
Bladen,  first  lieutenant,  and  David  X.  Steele,  second  lieutenant.  D.  C.  Don- 
nohue  was  the  quartennaster  sergeant  of  the  regiment.  Ostrander  Dicks, 
William  E.  Yelton.  Harrison  Wright  and  Samuel  N.  Rogers  were  sergeants 
of  the  company;  Marshall  A.  Moore,  Lycurgus  Stoner,  John  W.  Baker  and 
Adam  Jones,  corporals ;  James  S.  Conklin  and  Arthur  M.  Walls,  musicians. 
The  privates  were:  Eli  Barnes.  Daniel  Battison.  James  M.  Bladen,  Franklin 
Bladen,  William  H.  Bruner,  Samuel  R.  Browning.  Henry  F,  Brown,  Irani 
Burnett,  George  T.  Chapin,  Frederick  Cheszeski,  Ezra  L.  Clewaters,  James  H. 
Collins,  John  S.  Coffman,  John  W,  Cooper,  Alford  Dicks,  William  Eakin, 
Henry  Earp.  Nathan  C.  Fuller,  John  Gibb,  Lorenzo  A,  Gibbs,  Peter  Gross, 
William  F.  Hadden.  Marion  Hamlin,  John  W.  Hardin,  Benjamin  E.  Hardin, 
Stephen  S.  Harvey,  Clinton  M.  Hansier.  Philo  C.  Hawley.  William  Hitton, 
Volney  P.  Huston,  John  Hughes,  Franklin  James,  Thomas  J.  James.  George 
M.  Jones.  John  Kinder,  David  Kiser.  George  Kling.  Fielding  Lamasters.  John 
F.  Lane.  Robert  Lane.  John  W.  Lee.  Franklin  J.  Moore.  Tilghman  Moore. 
William  Myers,  Henry  H.  McCray,  James  H.  McGill.  Jacob  C.  Mcllvain, 
Calvin  C.  McLain.  William  Parker,  Oliver  Rankin,  John  Russell,  Archelaus 
Scott,  Henry  Secrest,  Jacob  Smith,  Alonzo  Vancleave,  William  I.  Warde, 
Francis  A.  Watson,  Elijah  White,  George  \\'.  White.  William  F.  \Vhite. 
David  L.  Willson.  Herman  H.  Wolfrom.  William  Wright. 

Of  this  company,  the  only  death  in  the  ser\'ice  was  tliat  of  Tames  H. 
McGill.  who  was  wounded  at  the  battle  of  Rich  Mountain.  \'irginia.  and  died 
July  27.  1861.  His  body  reached  Greencastle  August  the  31st  and.  as  he 
was  the  first  Putnam  county  soldier  who  had.  up  to  that  time,  lost  his  life  in 
the  cause  of  the  L'nion.  he  was  buried  with  all  the  honors  of  war.  The  fun- 
eral took  place  at  three  o'clock  Sunday  afternoon  in  the  college  campus.  The 
funeral  sermon,  a  very  timely  and  eloquent  discourse,  was  delivered  bv  Dr. 
Thomas  Bowman,  president  of  Aslniry  L'niversity.  .An  immense  concourse 
of  people  turned  out  to  pay  their  last  respects  to  the  honored  dead.  Several 
militarv  companies  were  present  in  full  uniform  and  escorted  the  remains  to 
the  cemetery. 

C.\RE    FOR    soldiers'    FAMILIES. 

The  loyalty,  co-operation  and  unity  of  action  on  the  part  of  the  niaiontv 
of  the  people  of  Putnam  county  during  the  dark  and  troubled  xears  of  the 


2o6  weik's  history  of 

war  can  not  well  be  overlooked  by  the  faithful  and  conscientious  historian. 
As  soon  as  the  first  company  of  soldiers  had  left  Putnam  county  for  the  war, 
the  citizens  of  Greencastle,  Bainbridge.  RusselKille,  Putnamville  and  other 
towns  in  the  county  began  to  arrange  for  the  care  and  support  of  the  families 
at  home  whose  husbands  and  brothers  and  sons  had  gone  to  the  front.  Within 
ten  days  after  the  fall  of  Fort  Sumter.  Jacob  Durham,  as  a  member  of  the 
committee  appointed  for  the  purpose,  published  a  notice  in  the  papers  solicit- 
ing contributions  in  goods  or  provisions  for  the  support  of  the  needy  families 
of  the  volunteer  soldiers.  The  Banner  of  this  period  teems  with  editorials 
and  appeals  along  the  same  lines,  as  the  following  will  indicate : 

"As  is  frequently  the  case,  many  of  the  most  patriotic  and  Union-loving 
citizens  in  the  country  are  men  in  humble  circumstances  in  life.  Of  this  class, 
in  our  own  midst,  a  number  having  families  have  volunteered  in  defense  of 
their  country's  flag:  and  upon  a  few  moments'  notice  have  left  all  they  hold 
dear  upon  earth,  aside  from  liberty,  in  care  of  those  who  remain  at  home. 
It  is,  then,  the  duty  of  our  citizens  to  amply  provide  for  their  wants.  For 
this  purpose,  the  citizens  of  Greencastle  have  liberally  subscribed  money ;  but 
there  are  many  friends  in  the  country — farmers,  for  instance — whose  means 
are  mostly  in  produce.  Of  such,  any  kind  of  country  produce  will  be  received 
the  same  as  money.  Flour,  bacon,  meal,  or  any  other  article  of  family  con- 
sumption may  be  left  at  the  mayors  office,  the  receipt  of  which  will  be  thank- 
fully accepted,  properly  applied  and  gratefully  acknowledged.  Let  us  all  bear 
our  proportion  of  the  burden-brought  upon  us  by  those  who  are  endeavoring 
to  usurp  the  liberties  transmitted  us  by  our  forefathers." 

ENLISTMENTS   FROM    PUTN.XM   COUNTY. 

The  war  spirit  was  general  throughout  the  county.  Companies  sprang 
up  in  almost  every  township  and  neighborhood.  Until  mustered  into  the 
United  States  service,  they  were  simply  home  guards  organized,  if  need  be, 
for  local  defense.  Here  are  a  few  names :  Ellsworth  Grays,  Warren  Union 
Guards,  Bourbon  Grays,  Enfield  Rovers,  the  Floyd  Township  Home  Guards, 
Allen's  Battery.  Franklin  Guards,  Putnam  Blues,  Jefferson  Cavalry.  Marion 
Scouts,  Jackson  Guards. 

In  view  of  the  large  number  of  soldiers  credited  to  the  county,  it  will 
obviously  be  out  of  the  question  to  expect  a  record  of  their  individual  names. 
The  only  thing,  therefore,  our  limited  space  will  allow  is  a  list  of  the  various 
military  organizations  which  included  any  material  per  cent  of  Putnam  countv 
enlistments. 


PUTNAM    COLXTV,    INDIANA.  lOJ 

As  already  stated,  one  company  of  the  Tenth  Regiment  was  confined  en- 
tirely to  Putnam  county  volunteers.  There  was  also  a  goodlv  number  from 
this  county  in  the  Eleventh  Regiment,  of  which  -Lew  Wallace  was  the  colonel. 
Company  D.  Fourteenth  Regiment,  was  composed  entirely  of  enlistments  from 
Putnam  county.  The  same  is  true  of  Company  E,  Twenty-first  Regiment — 
First  Heavy  Artillen.-.  Putnam  county  was  also  well  represented  in  the 
Eighteenth  and  Twentieth  Batteries  Light  Artillery,  of  which  Eli  Lillv  and 
^lilton  A.  Osborn.  respectively,  were  captains.  Two  companies,  A  and  I. 
Twenty-seventh  Regiment,  one  of  the  few  Indiana  regiments  that  participated 
in  the  battle  of  Gettysburg,  were  made  up  almost  entirely  of  men  from  Put- 
nam county.  Putnam  county  was  well  represented  in  the  Thirty-first  Regi- 
ment, of  which  John  Osborn.  formerly  a  citizen  of  the  county,  was  the  colonel. 
The  lieutenant-colonel.  William  L.  Farrow,  and  several  other  regimental 
officers  and  two  companies,  B  and  H,  of  the  Forty-third  Regiment,  hailed 
from  Putnam  county.  Companies  K  and  D  of  the  Fifty-fifth  Regiment  were 
made  up  of  Putnam  county  soldiers,  as  also  Company  C  of  the  Seventv-first 
Infantry  and  Company  F  of  the  Si.xth  Cavalry.  The  lieutenant-colonel  and 
two  companies.  A  and  B,  Seventy-eighth  Infantr\-,  were  from  Putnam  countv. 
Company  D.  Xinety-se\enth  Infantn.-.  under  the  command  of  Capt.  J.  J. 
Smiley,  was  composed  of  soldiers  from  the  county.  Companv  I.  One  Hun- 
dred and  Fifteenth  Infantry.  Company  F,  One  Hundred  and  Twenty-third,  and 
Company  F.  One  Hundred  and  Thirty-third,  were  all  from  Putnam  countv. 
All  in  all.  over  two  thousand  men  from  Putnam  county  entered  the  military 
service  during  the  Civil  war. 

As  in  all  other  wars,  many  of  those  who  enlisted  as  privates  and  served 
as  non-commissioned  officers  were,  by  reason  of  efficiency,  or  as  the  result 
of  gallantry  in  action,  promoted  to  higher  and  more  responsible  stations.  Of 
her  soldiers,  both  privates  and  commissioned  officers,  Putnam  county  is  justly 
proud,  for  on  every  occasion  their  conduct  was  creditable  and  praiseworthy. 
It  is  no  disparagement  to  the  many  brave  and  worthy  soldiers  who  entered  the 
service  fn^ni  the  county  to  assert  that  John  R.  Mahan,  who  was  colonel  of  two 
regiments  and  on  more  than  one  occasion  a  brigade  commander,  was,  in  all 
probability,  the  most  prominent  and  successful  military  officer  the  countv  sent 
out.  Colonel  ]\[ahan  was  not  only  a  brave  and  competent  officer  but  a  man 
of  profound  judgment,  acknowledged  strength  and  great  resourcefulness. 
Being  a  natural  leader,  with  a  genius  for  organization,  he  was,  in  conse- 
quence, deeply  influential  with  Governor  Morton,  who  relied  upon  his  valor, 
discretion  and  ability  in  more  than  one  emergency.  William  L.  Farrow  and 
Abisha  L.  Morrison,  both  of  whom  were  colonels,  had  had  more  or  less  mili- 


2o8  weik's  history  of 

tary  experience  during  their  service  in  the  Mexican  war.  Courtland  C.  Mat- 
son,  whose  first  mihtary  lesson  was  learned  as  a  private  in  the  Asbury  Guards, 
enlisted  in  the  United  States  service  at  a  very  early  age,  rose  steadily  from 
promotion  to  promotion  until,  at  the  close  of  the  war,  he  was  in  command  of 
and  served  with  credit  as  colonel  of  his  regiment.  Probably  no  man  from  the 
countv  who  rose  no  higher  than  a  company  officer,  achieved  greater  distinction 
than  William  H.  Sherfey,  who  was  a  lieutenant  in  Company  D,  Ninety-seventh 
Regiment.  Soon  after  his  enlistment  he  was  transferred  to  the  signal  corps. 
He  rendered  brilliant  service  during  the  Atlanta  campaign,  and  was  held  in 
high  esteem  bv  General  Sherman.  He  was  with  the  late  General  McPherson 
a  good  deal  during  the  engagements  around  Atlanta  and  was  one  of  the  few 
w'itnesses  of  that  gallant  officer's  untimely  death. 

At  the  close  of  the  war  a  number  of  volunteer  officers  were  appointed  to 
places  in  the  regular  army  of  the  United  States.  Among  them  were  James 
H.  Sands,  William  F.  Spurgin  and  Jesse  M.  Lee.  Sands  was  retired  many 
years  ago  by  reason  of  ill  health,  with  the  grade  of  captain,  and  is  now  living 
in  Tolono,  Illinois.  Spurgin  remained  in  the  service— being  for  many  years 
the  commissarv  at  the  West  Point  Military  Academy— until  shortly  after  the 
close  of  the  Spanish  war,  when  he  was  put  upon  the  retired  list  with  the  grade 
of  brigadier-general.  He  died  in  Kentucky  a  few  years  ago.  Jesse  M.  Lee, 
who  was  for  many  years  lieutenant  and  captain  in  the  Ninth  United  States 
Infantry,  spent  a  great  many  years,  after  the  war,  among  the  Indians  in  the 
west.  He  served  acceptably  in  Cuba  during  the  Spanish  war  and,  later,  with 
the  lamented  General  Lawton  in  the  Philippines.  He  was  with  our  troops  in 
China  during  the  Boxer  rebellion.  After  the  death,  in  line  of  duty,  of  Col- 
onel Li.scomb.  outside  the  walls  of  Pekin  the  cummand  of  the  regiment  fell 
upon  Lee  and  he  remained  at  its  head  until  the  end  of  that  campaign.  He 
bears  the  rare  distinction  of  having  fought  with  the  United  States  troops  in 
four  ditTerent  countries  and  in  three  dilterent  wars.  He  was  placed  upon 
the  retired  list  in  January,  1907,  with  the  rank  of  major-general.  He  is  still 
living  and  spends  a  great  portion  of  his  time  in  Greencastle. 

Of  course,  there  were  numerous  instances  of  gallant  deeds  and  military 
success  on  the  part  Dt  the  (ifhcers  and  soldiers  from  Putnam  county,  but  to 
sincrle  them  out  or  otherwise  go  into  details  would  absorb  much  space  in  this 
volume  intended  for  other  things.  In  ever}'  way  these  two  thousand  officers 
and  men  the  countv  had  furnished  reflected  great  credit  on  their  county,  their 
state  and  the  nation.  Their  ])rilliant  deeds  are  deeply  graven  on  the  hearts 
of  the  people  and  as  long  as  the  grasses  grow  and  the  waters  run  to  the  sea 
thev  will  not  be  forgotten. 


PUTXAM    COCNTV,    I.NDIAXA.  ^OQ 


RELIEF  MEASURES. 


Before  the  close  of  summer  in  1861  people  began  to  feel  the  stringency 
due  to  the  war.  Business  was  prostrated  and  values  greatly  depressed.  The 
withdrawal  of  the  many  men  from  their  usual  avocations  to  go  into  the  army 
left  their  families,  in  many  cases,  inadequately  provided  for  and  it  therefore 
became  the  duty  of  the  patriotic  public  at  home  to  lend  a  helping  hand.  To 
that  end.  therefore,  a  meeting  was  held  at  the  court  house  in  Greencastle  on 
Julv  25th.  of  which  B.  F.  Hays  was  chairman  and  J.  A.  Hill  secretary,  to  de- 
vise some  practical  anil  tangible  plan  to  alleviate  the  prevailing  distress. 
James  A.  Scott  was  the  principal  speaker  and  he  bore  heavily  on  the  landlords 
of  the  town  and  county,  insisting  that  a  reduction  in  rent.s — especially  where 
soldiers'  families  were  interested — be  made.  Appropriate  resolutions  on  the 
subject  were  adopted  and  a  committee  appointed  to  confer  with  the  landlords 
and  endeavor  to  induce  them  to  lower  rents.  The  committee  consisted  of  B. 
F.  Hays.  James  H.  Sands  and  Joseph  L.  Fordyce.  A  week  later  the  commit- 
tee reported  that  they  had  visited  .\.  M.  Lockridge.  J.  R.  M.  Allen.  Doctor 
Cowgill.  D.  M.  Spurgin.  George  Kramer,  Mrs.  Ellen  Matkins  and  John  S. 
Jennings,  who  had  agreed  in  writing  to  make  material  reductions  in  their  rents, 
while  certain  others  had  promised  to  do  likewise,  but  would  not  make  the 
promise  in  writing.  In  due  time  a  regular  organization  was  effected,  gov- 
erned by  a  committee  of  five,  called  the  Board  of  Control,  to  provide  for  the 
wants  of  the  soldiers'  families.  Depots  were  established  to  which  supplies 
were  to  be  sent  for  distribution  and  agents  were  selected  in  all  the  townships. 
The  Board  of  Control  in  Greencastle  consisted  of  E.  R.  Kercheval.  Jacob  Dur- 
ham. W.  D.  Allen.  Melvin  McKee  and  D.  L.  Southard.  The  township  repre- 
sentatives were  :  Jackson  township.  John  Gregory ;  Franklin  township.  Wasson 
and  Ram.sey.  Russell  township.  W.  H.  Durham:  Clinton  township.  Doctor 
John  Slavens:  !Monroe  township.  Wm.  T.  Scott:  Floyd  township.  Joseph 
Hanna:  ]\Iarion  township.  Wm.  D.  Smythe :  Greencastle  township.  Ben 
Pritchard;  Washington  township.  Volney  Smith:  Warren  township.  William 
L.  Walden :  Jefferson  township,  Thomas  Vermillion ;  Mill  Creek  township. 
David  A.  Blue :  Cloverdale  township.  Foster  and  McCoy. 

But  the  men  of  the  community  were  not  the  only  persons  who  were 
bestirring  them.selves  in  behalf  of  the  Union.  The  women  were  equally  pa- 
triotic and  zealous.  In  Greencastle  they  organized  what  was  called  the 
Sold'iers'  .\id  Society.  Mrs.  T.  W.  Williamson  was  president.  Mrs.  John 
Standi  ford,  vice-president.  Mrs.  Joseph  Sadd.  secretary,  and  Mrs.  John  A. 

(14) 


2IO  WEIKS    HISTORY    OF 

Matson,  treasurer.  Their  membership  exceeded  one  hundred.  They  met 
once  a  week  at  the  homes  of  the  various  members  and  were  busily  engaged  in 
making  gloves,  socks,  underclothing  and  other  items  for  the  comfort  and 
convenience  of  the  soldiers  in  the  field.  Not  only  in  Greencastle,  but  in  Bain- 
bridge.  Russellville,  Putnamville,  Cloverdale  and  other  towns  in  the  county 
came  a  response  equally  generous  and  unselfish.  People  suspended  their  vari- 
ous avocations,  closed  their  ears  to  the  demands  of  business  and  willingly 
suffered  themselves  to  be  engulfed  by  the  great  tide  of  patriotism  that  swept 
across  the  countn--.  There  was  nothing  too  arduous,  nothing  too  exacting 
that  thev  could  do  to  sustain  the  government  in  its  conduct  of  the  war.  The 
knowledge  that  there  were  heroes  and  patriots  back  at  their  homes  doing  all 
in  their  power  to  promote  the  cause  for  which  they  were  offering  up  their  lives 
was  the  stimulus  that  incited  the  boys  in  the  field  and  on  the  firing  line  to 
those  deeds  of  daring  sacrifice  and  heroic  devotion  which  so  richly  emblazon 
the  pages  of  history. 

"Some  eight  hundred  or  a  thousand  soldiers,"  says  the  Banner,  July  i6, 
1863,  "came  from  the  north  on  the  New  Albany  railroad  on  Saturday  last. 
They  arrived  at  the  depot  at  this  place  about  half  past  three  o'clock  P.  M., 
where  they  were  supplied  with  bounteous  refreshments  in  the  way  of  eatables 
hastily  prepared  on  short  notice  by  our  citizens.  Most  of  them  were  well 
armed  and  were  sturdy,  robust-looking  men.  A  large  portion  of  them  were 
in  charge  of  Colonel  Kise,  of  Boone  county,  and  many  of  them  appeared  to 
be  regular  soldiers  who  had  smelt  powder  before." 

Later  in  the  year  the  Banner  gives  great  space  to  "A  grand  rally  of  the 
loyal  people  of  Putnam  county,  including  a  military  review,  to  be  held  on 
October  2nd."  It  was  announced  that  Gen.  Lew  Wallace.  Gen.  Ebenezer 
Diimont,  Hon.  Godlove  S.  Orth  and  Hon.  T.  J.  Cason  would  address  the 
meeting.  The  various  companies  of  the  Loyal  Legion — artillery,  infantry 
and  cavalry — were  to  be  reviewed  at  three  o'clock  in  the  afternoon  by  Gen- 
erals Wallace  and  Dumont.  "The  review,"  says  the  Banner,  "was  held  in  the 
large  lot  immediately  east  of  the  College  campus  (where  East  College— De- 
Pauw  University — now  stands).  The  companies  present  were  the  Putnam' 
Blues,  Captain  Morrison ;  Allen's  Battery,  Captain  Allen :  Captain  Wampler's 
companv  from  Bainbridge :  Captain  Hawkins"  company  from  Carpentersville : 
Captain  Wilkinson's  company  from  Groveland.  and  a  company  of  cavalry 
commanded  by  Captain  Allee,  of  Jefiferson  township.  Captain  ^Morrison. 
being  the  senior  captain,  took  command  of  the  battalion  and  went  through 
the  exercise  of  mounting  guards,  battalion  drill  and  dress  parade.  The  troops 
were  encamped  at  the  fair  grounds,  southeast  of  town.     During  the  night  Dr. 


PUTNAM    COUXTY,    INDIANA.  211 

Josiah  H.  Robinson  entertained  the  boys  with  a  two-hour  speech  on  the  state 
of  the  country.  At  noon,  Friday,  they  struck  tents  and  marched  to  the  parade 
ground  east  of  the  college  campus  to  be  reviewed.  The  review  was  witnessed 
by  thousands  of  spectators,  who  manifested  a  deep  interest  in  the  proceedings. 
The  military  bearing  of  both  officers  and  men  and  the  precision  with  which 
every  movement  was  executed  was  worthy  of  veterans.  These  companies 
have  been  organized,  uniforaied  and  armed  since  Morgan's  raid  into  Indiana. 
Yet.  notwithstanding  the  few  weeks  that  they  have  been  receiving  military 
instruction,  they  have  attained  a  proficiency  that  would  render  them  equal 
to  any  emergency  that  might  arise.  Our  worthy  Governor  may  rest  satisfied 
that  old  Putnam  will  be  on  hand  if  called  for." 

OPPOSITION    TO    THE    WAR. 

But,  although  our  soldiers  were  doing  their  duty  at  the  front  and  al- 
though the  great  majority  of  people  at  home  were  unremitting  and  incessant 
in  their  endeavors  to  provide  for  the  loved  ones  the  soldiers  had  left  behind, 
there  was,  nevertheless,  an  element  in  our  citizenship  who  not  only  manifested 
no  approval  of  the  victories  and  successes  gained  by  our  soldiers  in  the  field, 
but  secretly  and  insidiously  sought  in  every  way  to  hinder  and  counteract 
the  good  accomplished  by  the  Union  arms.  There  are  reasons  why  the  storv 
of  this  opposition  to  the  war  at  home  might  be  omitted,  but,  unpleasant  though 
the  revelation  may  be.  there  is  no  alternative  on  the  part  of  the  faithful  and 
zealous  historian  but  to  give  all  facts. 

In  its  issue  of  June  i8,  1863,  the  following  appeared  in  the  Greencastle 
Banner:  "On  Sunday  last  an  armed  force  of  from  forty  to  fiftv  persons  in 
disguise  called  at  the  house  of  James  Sill,  the  enrolling  commissioner  of 
Marion  township,  and  demanded  the  enrolling  book.  Mr.  Sill  finally  gave 
them  what  appeared  to  be  the  list  he  had  just  taken,  but  which  were,  as  a 
fact,  the  enrollment  lists  of  1862,  copies  of  which  he  had  kept.  A  young  man 
named  Lawson  Fry,  while  leaving  the  house,  was  fired  at  by  one  of  the  party 
and  seriously  wounded  in  the  shoulder,  disabling  him  for  life.  General 
^lansfield  visited  Fillmore  and  the  immediate  neighborhood  on  Tuesday,  for 
the  purpose  of  inquiring  into  these  violations  as  well  as  to  consult  with  the 
leading  citizens  of  all  parties  in  reference  to  this  outrage  upon  the  law  of  the 
land."  In  the  same  issue  of  the  Banner  occurs  the  following:  "The  house 
of  Mr.  Scott,  who  is  also  an  enrolling  commissioner  in  Jefi^erson  township, 
was  visited  by  about  fifty  persons  with  faces  blackened  about  the  same  time 
of  the  night  and  his  enrollment  papers  were  demanded.     Finding  resistance 


212  WEIK  S     HISTORY    OF 

against  so  large  a  force  useless,  Mr.  Scott  gave  up  the  papers  to  the  cowardly 
mob,  which  were  doubtlessly  destroyed.  In  Madison  township,  Joseph  Sid- 
dons,  the  enrolling  commissioner,  has  been  threatened  by  four  men.  who 
represented  themselves  as  a  committee,  that  if  he  continued  the  enrollment, 
he  would  find  himself  a  dead  man  before  he  got  through.  In  Cloverdale 
township  the  book  of  the  enrolling  officer,  Mr.  Davis,  was  destroyed.  H.  T. 
Craig,  the  enrolling  officer  in  Monroe  township,  received  the  following  written 
notice :  'We,  the  undersigned,  will  give  you  our  advice.  You.  for  your  own 
good,  and  if  you  don't  lay  aside  the  enrolling,  your  life  will  be  taken  before 
tomorrow  night  and  you  had  better  take  our  advice  as  friends.  We  don't 
expect  to  interrupt  you,  but  we  ha\e  heard  men  threaten  venegance  against 
you,  that  sav  you  had  better  stay  at  home  and  you  had  better  take  our  advice 
and  stav  at  home.  From  your  friends.'  Mr.  Craig  commenced  enrolling, 
this  morning  regardless  of  the  above  advice,  but  several  refused  to  give  their 
names.  This  evening  a  committee,  the  foreman  of  which  was  our  county 
surveyor,  waited  upon  Mr.  Craig  and  requested  that  he  should  cease  enrolling 
at  the  peril  of  his  life."  In  its  editorial  column,  the  Banner  thus  deals  with 
a  political  speaker  who  had  shortly  before  spoken  in  Greencastle  and  whose 
opposition  to  the  further  prosecution  of  the  war  both  as  a  citizen  and  as  an 
oiScial  was  notorious  and  unconcealed:  "The  only  effect  of  all  the  speeches 
he  has  made  here  and  elsewhere  has  been  to  create  opposition  to  the  govern- 
ment in  its  effort  to  put  down  the  rebellion.  As  a  consequence,  we  have  or- 
ganized bands  of  the  Knights  of  the  Golden  Circle,  whose  avowed  object 
is  resistance  to  the  law  of  Congress  enrolling  the  militia  preparatory  to  a 
draft.  Men.  in  discharge  of  a  sworn  duty,  are  threatened  with  death  if  they 
do  not  desist  and  some  have  actually  been  intimated  by  threats  and  ceased 
their  work  of  enrollment  for  the  time.  The  work  will  go  on.  however.  The 
conscription  will  also  be  carried  out  and  those  who  are  endeavoring  to  obstruct 
its  operations  will  be  arrested  and  properly  punished." 

As  the  war  progressed  and  drafts  were  ordered  to  keep  the  ranks  sup- 
plied with  troops,  the  opposition  to  the  prosecution  of  the  war  began  to  show 
their  hands.  The  Knights  of  the  Golden  Circle  were  well  represented  in 
rvfonroe,  Madison,  Clinton  and  certain  other  townships,  where  they  met  in 
the  woods  at  night,  were  well  supplied  with  amis  and  drilled  in  preparation 
for  the  great  uprising  in  the  North  which  was  expected,  but  which,  fortu- 
natelv.  never  came  a])out.  In  the  summer  of  1864  these  enemies  of  the  Union 
had  grown  bold  and  daring  to  the  point  of  recklessness.  At  a  political  meet- 
ing held  in  Greencastle  on  the  20th  of  July,  addressed  by  Joseph  E.  McDonald, 
the   Democratic  candidate   for  governor,  occurred   the   noted   and   cowardly 


PUTNAM    COUNTY,    INDIANA.  213 

assault  by  the  Knights  of  the  Golden  Circle  mob  upon  Lieutenant  Cooper  of 
the  Forty-third  Regiment  and  that  officer's  dramatic  rescue  by  Aliss  Lou 
Walls,  at  the  door  of  the  Putnam  House,  into  which  Lieutenant  Cooper  had 
run  for  safety,  and  alluding  to  which  the  Banner  in  its  issue  of  July  28th 
says :  "'A  handsome  dress  was,  last  week,  presented  to  JMiss  Lou  Walls  by 
the  L'nion  boys  of  this  place  as  a  testimonial  of  their  respect  for  the  bravery 
she  displayed  in  defending  her  mother's  house  from  the  attacks  of  the  'Butter- 
nut' mob  on  the  20th,"  and  again,  in  August,  1864.  the  following:  ''A  report 
having  been  circulated  that  certain  interested  parties  had  paid  Mrs.  Nancy 
Walls,  owner  of  the  Putnam  House,  seventy  or  eighty  dollars  for  damages 
to  her  house,  that  lady  in  a  card  denies  that  any  such  sum  had  been  offered  her 
in  compensation  for  the  gross  indignity  and  wanton  and  unprovoked  outrage 
perpetrated  upon  her  house  as  well  as  her  family  by  the  "Butternut'  mob  on 
July  20th. 

"The  fact  is.  the  damage  done  Mrs.  Walls  and  the  insult  offered  herself 
and  family  are  irreparable;  and  the  means  resorted  to  by  certain  party  leaders 
for  the  purpose  of  preventing  the  good  men  of  their  own  party  from  becoming 
disgusted  with  the  men  and  measures  that  sustain  themselves  by  shameless 
breaches  of  the  peace  and  by  assaults  upon  widows'  houses  for  no  other  offense 
than  gi\'ing  shelter  to  a  defenseless  Union  soldier  who  was  pursued  bv  an 
infuriated  mob,  are  not  at  all  commendable,  to  say  the  least  of  it." 

But  the  opposition  to  the  war  in  Putnam  county,  as  well  as  in  other  parts 
of  the  state,  had  now  reached  high-tide,  for,  shortly  after,  when  the  fall 
elections  began  to  indicate  an  overwhelming  and  triumphant  vindication  of 
Mr.  Lincoln's  administration  by  the  people,  the  Knights  of  the  Golden  Circle 
and  all  other  such  malevolent  and  nefarious  movements  began  to  recede  and 
finally  disappeared  altogether  beneath  the  wave  of  patriotic  exultation  that 
swept  across  the  country. 

RELIEF  ST.\TISTIC.S. 

The  histoiy  of  Putnam  county  during  the  war  and  the  means  it  con- 
tributed to  carry  on  that  struggle  is  more  or  less  surprising  to  people  who  have 
never  before  reflected  upon  the  magnitude  of  the  figures.  The  adjutant- 
general  of  the  state,  in  his  report  published  soon  after  the  close  of  the  war, 
credits  Putnam  county  with  a  total  of  three  thousand  two  hundred  and  fifty- 
seven  enlistments.  From  this  should  be  deducted  re-enlistments  of  soldiers 
who  at  first  volunteered  for  a  short  period  and  two  hundred  and  ten 
Neteran>  who  had  served  the  full  period  of  three  years  and  had  also   re- 


214  WEIKS    HISTORY    OF 

enlisted.  The  exact  figures  are  unavailable,  but  it  is  altogether  likely  that  the 
net  total  was  very  largely  in  excess  of  two  thousand.  From  the  same  report 
we  learn  the  figures  somewhat  in  detail.  The  county  itself  appropriated 
$10,000  towards  the  payments  of  bounties  for  soldiers  and  $1,025  for  the 
relief  of  soldiers'  families.  Jackson  township  paid  $54,265  for  bounties; 
Franklin.  $27,960  for  bounties ;  Russellville  township,  $38,000  for  bounties 
and  $6,000  for  relief;  Clinton,  $24,800  for  bounties;  Monroe,  $22,700  for 
bounties  and  $361  for  relief;  Floyd,  $28,950  for  bounties  and  $1,008  for 
relief;  Marion,  $40,500  for  bounties;  Greencastle,  $24,302  for  bounties  and 
$4,350  for  relief;  Madison,  $23,731  for  bounties  and  $82  for  relief;  Wash- 
ington, $57,381  for  bounties;  Warren,  $31,200  for  bounties  and  $3,000  for 
relief;  Jefferson,  $21,500  for  bounties  and  $132.65  for  relief;  Cloverdale, 
$25,000  for  bounties,  and  Mill  Creek,  $20,818  for  bounties.  The  adjutant- 
general  also  adds  an  additional  credit  of  $15,000  to  all  the  townships  for 
relief,  thus  making  a  total  of  $441,107  for  bounties  and  $28,260.65  ^O""  relief, 
or  a  grand  total  of  $469,367.65. 

soldiers'  monument. 

The  war  had  no  sooner  closed  than  the  loyal  people  of  Putnam  county 
began  to  cast  about  for  some  means  by  which  they  could  testify  their  regard 
for  and  perpetuate  the  memory  of  the  brave  men  from  this  county  who  had 
gone  to  the  front  and  given  up  their  lives  in  defense  of  the  Union.  After 
several  informal  preliminary  meetings  were  held,  an  organization  under  the 
name  of  "The  Putnam  County  Soldiers  Monument  Association,"  was  effected 
for  the  purpose  of  erecting  a  monument  in  the  memon,'  of  the  loyal  dead. 
Col.  John  R.  Mahan  was  chosen  president,  William  D.  Allen,  treasurer,  and 
David  W.  Jones,  secretar^^  After  a  brief  and  vigorous  canvass  throughout 
the  count}',  the  requisite  amount  of  funds  was  raised  by  popular  subscription. 
Thomas  D.  Jones,  a  sculptor  of  Cincinnati,  was  engaged  and  in  due  time 
the  structure  was  built. 

"The  design  of  the  monument."  says  another.  "  is  artistic  and  beautiful. 
Above  the  foundation  the  pedestal  rises  to  the  height  of  eight  feet,  a  portion 
of  which  is  handsomely  paneled,  upon  which  the  names  of  the  deceased 
soldiers  are  inscribed.  Surmounting  the  pedestal  or  main  body  of  the  monu- 
ment in  a  statue  of  heroic  size  representing  a  soldier  and  regarded  by  many 
as  the  most  faithful  and  successful  portrayal  of  the  volunteer  soldier  thus  far 
acliieved  in  the  countrv." 


PUTNAM     COUXTY,    IXDIAXA.  215 

This  impressive  work  of  art  stands  on  the  crest  of  the  "crowning  emi- 
nence" in  Forest  Hill  cemetery,  south  of  the  city  of  Greencastle.  and  commands 
one  of  the  finest  views  in  the  county.  It  was  dedicated  July  2,  1870,  the 
address  on  that  occasion  having  been  delivered  by  the  late  Richard  W.  Thomp- 
son, of  Terre  Haute.  Further  speeches  were  delivered  by  Governor  Conrad 
Baker  and  Delano  E.  Williamson,  of  Greencastle.  at  that  time  attorney-gen- 
eral of  Indiana.  Several  tiiousand  people  were  present,  including  delegations 
from  Indianapdlis.  Terre  Haute  and  other  adjacent  places. 

spA^'ISII-A^rERICA^'  war. 

When  the  war  with  Spain  broke  out  Putnam  county,  with  her  usual 
promptitude,  responded  with  a  company  of  volunteers.  When  enlisted  at 
Indianapolis,  on  April  26.  1898.  they  were  assigned  to  the  One  Hundred" 
Fifty-ninth  Regiment  Indiana  \'olunteers  and  known  as  Company  I.  Two  of 
those  who  thus  earlv  offered  their  services.  Dr.  Eugene  Hawkins  and  James 
F.  Fee.  were  appointed  to  positions  on  the  regimental  staff,  the  one  major,  the 
other  assistant  surgeon.  The  company  ofificers  were :  Wilbur  F.  Starr,  cap- 
tain; Charles  F.  Donnohue.  first  lieutenant:  Benton  Curtis,  second  lieutenant; 
James  O.  Rhea,  first  sergeant;  Harn.-  D.  Graham,  quartermaster;  William 
Conklin.  sergeant;  Joel  H.  Richardson.  Luther  Sackett.  Fred  Smith.  Frank  L. 
Bridges,  corporals;  Fred  C.  Gobin.  lance  corporal;  Fred  Starr,  musician; 
Fred  Smythe,  artificer:  Lewis  Alkine.  cook;  Fred  A.  Payton.  wagoner.  Pri- 
vates :  Earl  Lane.  Harry  Landes.  Harr\'  G.  Kennett.  Earl  Fisk,  Samuel 
Stewart.  Ralph  Cooper,  Edward  Lawson.  James  ?iIoss.  Edgar  E.  E\-ens,  Wil- 
liam Reed.  Alonton  Springer.  Lawrence  Allen.  John  A.  Bartl,  Edwin  Black. 
Francis  Blakely.  William  S.  Blue.  ]\lillard  M.  Bowen,  Edward  Brockway, 
Oscar  E.  Brown,  George  A.  Brackney.  Thomas  S.  Beachbard,  Roy  Bennett, 
Charles  Conklin,  Harry  Conklin,  George  P.  Corn,  Oscar  Cosner.  John  Curetor, 
Daniel  Donnohue,  Albert  Dunn,  Henry  C.  Dale.  Clarence  F.  Davison,  Irvin 
E\ens.  Walker  E.  Evens.  Hansell  Farmer,  Roy  Fowler.  Scott  Galey,  Orestes 
(iarrett.  \\'illiam  Gifford.  Oscar  Gill.  Charles  Green.  William  I.  Grooms, 
Herscliel  Hall.  Allen  Harleman.  Harry  Hawkins.  Richard  Hazelett.  Lilben 
Hepler.  George  Hibhitt.  James  Hill.  Edward  Flillis,  Samuel  E.  Hathaway, 
James  W.  Hensley.  John  W.  Hitt.  Flenry  Irvin.  John  Irwin.  \^'.  H.  Iry, 
Everett  Jones,  William  Jones.  Edward  Lane.  Philip  Lane.  Ralph  Lnmston. 
Ernest  Middleton.  Harry  E.  ]\Ionce.  William  !\IcCoy.  James  McCorkey.  W.  A. 
McFadden.  Owen  L.  Xelson.  James  E.  Xewgent,  Arthur  AI.  Xewton.  William 
Xewton,  Lee  Paxton,  Allen  Payne.  Joseph  Pearson,  .\lbert  G.  Preston.  Charles 


2i6  weik's  history  of 

W.  Reeves.  Edward  Russell.  Homer  E.  Reeves.  Shirley  Reeves,  William  Reed. 
Joel  H.  Reynolds.  William  Roberts.  Charles  H.  Sanders.  John  G.  Sourwine, 
John  L.  South.  Lee  T.  Schaffer.  Clay  Sellers.  William  Shoemaker,  Will  R. 
Steel.  Paul  J.  Tucker.  True  Thomas.  Charles  Wills,  Artie  F.  Williams.  Frank 
Wilson.  William  Bates  Tucker.  Thomas  Tuttle,  Arthur  J.  Yeamans. 

GRAVES  OF  REVOLUTIOX.XRY  SOLDIERS. 

Recently  the  Daughters  of  the  American  Revolution  in  Greencastle  have 
undertaken  to  locate  the  graves  of  all  the  Revolutionary  soldiers  who  have 
died  and  are  buried  in  the  county.  \\'hen  the  list  of  names  and  full  military 
history  of  these  early  patriots  is  complete  the  same  will  be  inscribed  in  a 
bronze  tablet  which  is  to  be  erected  in  the  rotunda  of  the  court  house.  Thus 
far  the  following  names  and  data  have  been  secured  : 

Isnac  Amistrong.  belonged  to  Virginia  militia:  was  in  battles  of  Hot 
\Vater  and  Jamestown;  born  July.  1762.  Augusta.  Virginia:  applied  for  pen- 
sion in  Putnam  county  in  1837. 

\\'illiam  Banks,  sergeant,  in  Capt.  James  Pamplain's  companv.  Colonel 
Richardson's  regiment  Virginia  militia;  bom  Culpeper  county,  Virginia,  July 
23,  1762:  died  in  Putnam  county.  Indiana.  September  5.  1839. 

Jonathan  Byrd. 

John  Bartee. 

John  Buck,  private,  sergeant  and  lieutenant.  Captain  ^NlcConnell's  com- 
pany. Colonel  Laughrey's  regiment  Pennsylvania  volunteers :  taken  prisoner 
by  the  Indians  and  retained  four  months :  engaged  in  two  battles  in  New- 
York:  born  in  Hanover.  Europe.  1752:  applied  for  pension  in  Putnam  county, 
April  24.  1834. 

Charles  Bowen.  ser\ed  more  than  two  }-ears  in  Xorth  Carolina  and  Vir- 
ginia regiments:  was  in  battle  of  King's  Mountain:  enlisted  at  Crab  Orchard, 
Virginia:  born  on  James  river.  September.  1749  :  was  living  in  Putnam  countv, 
Indiana,  in  1834. 

William  Brown. 

William  Cornwall. 

Nathaniel  Cunningham.  September.  1776.  prixate  Capt.  Robert  Ballard's 
company.  Col.  Patrick  Henry's  regiment  Virginia  volunteers;  1778.  trans- 
ferred to  General  \\'ashington's  Life  Guard:  in  battles  of  Trenton.  Princeton. 
Brandywine.  ]\Iouniouth  and  Gates'  defeat:  applied  for  pension  Randol])h 
count}'.  Xiirth  Carolina.  Ma}'  6.  iSr8.  aged  sixty-four  years:  died  in  Putnai'n 
countv,  Indiana,  August  I'x  i8;2. 


PUTNAM    COIXTY.    INDIAXA.  -1/ 

Samuel  Dennv,  born  August  jS.  1755.  Chester  county,  Pennsylvania; 
served  fourteen  months  between  1778-81  in  Col.  John  Smith's  regiment  Vir- 
ginia volunteers;  was  in  battles  of  Brandywine  and  Gemiantown;  enlisted  at 
Frederick  county.  X'irginia;  applied  for  pension  in  Putnam  county.  Indiana. 
April  23.  1835. 

Jacob  Grider. 

Silas  Hopkins. 

Laban  Hall,  served  about  two  years,  between  1775  and  1778,  in  New 
Hampshire  regiment  under  Colonels  Hale  and  Chase;  was  at  Ticonderoga  ;  ap- 
plied for  pension  April  7.  i8r8.  at  Chelsea.  Orange  county.  Vermont;  sixty- 
three  vears  old;  died  in  Putnam  county,  Indiana,  September  9,  1842. 

George  Hammer.  April,  1 781.  to  February.  1782,  private  Capt.  Michael 
Trautman's  company.  Col.  John  Gregor's  regiment.  Maryland  mihtia;  born 
near  Philadelphia.  May  4.  1763;  applied  for  pension  in  Putnam  county,  In- 
diana. October  5,  1832. 

Thomas  Jones,  enlisted  in  fall  of  1775  for  three  years  in  Captain  Fon- 
taine's company.  Colonel  Stevens'  regiment  \'irginia  militia;  in  battles  of 
Brandywine  and  Germantown;  applied  for  pension  in  Mercer  county.  Ken- 
tuckv.  July  7.  1818;  resided  in  Putnam  county.  Indiana.  1832. 

Joseph  LaFollette.  Sr. 

John  McHaffie. 

William  McGahey.  enlisted  Carlisle.  Pennsylvania,  for  two  years  in  a 
Pennsylvania  regiment;  applied  for  pension  Bath  county.  Kentucky,  June  17. 
1818;  fifty-five  years  old;  moved  to  Putnam  county.  Indiana.  1826. 

Andrew  McPheeters.  bom  March  22,  1761.  Chester  county.  Pennsyl- 
vania; served  three  years  in  Pennsylvania  and  North  Carolina  regiments,  hav- 
ing enlisted  at  Chester  county.  Pennsylvania,  and  Guilford.  North  Carolina; 
applied  for  pension  August  22,  1832.  Granger  county,  Tennessee;  lived  in 
Putnam  county.  Indiana,  in  1834. 

Benjamin  Mahomey.  bom  Fauquier  county.  Virginia;  March.  1779. 
to  October.  1780.  in  Colonel  Buford's  Third  \'irginia  regiment;  applied  for 
pension.  Oldham  county.  Kentucky.  November  17,  1826;  sixty-eight  years 
old;  died  December  2;.  1854.  Putnam  county,  Indiana. 

Samuel  Moore,  born  Staunton.  Augusta  county,  Virginia.  July  14.  1761  ; 
Februarv  to  September.  1781.  private  in  Alaj.  Andrew  Hamilton's  regiment 
A'irginia  militia;  applied  for  pension  Putnam  county.  Indiana.  October  25, 
1S32. 

Tohn  Norman,  horn  1743,  Sussex  county.  Delaware;  enlisted  at  Johnson. 
Sussex  countv,  Delaware:  Captain  Vaughn's  company.  Delaware  volunteers; 


2i8  weik's  history  of 

in  skirmisli  Bayshore,  Delaware;  applied  for  pension  Clinton  township.  Put- 
nam county,  Indiana,  May  6,  1833. 

Thomas  Rhoten,  November,  1776,  to  January,  1781;  enlisted  at  North- 
umberland county,  Pennsylvania,  in  Captain  Harris'  company.  Colonel 
Cook's  regiment  Pennsylvania  volunteers;  in  battles  Brandywine.  German- 
town  and  Stony  Point;  applied  for  pension  Brown  county,  Ohio,  December 

21,  1819;  lived  in  Putnam  county,  Indiana,  1835. 

Isaiah  Slavens,  born  Augusta  county,  Virginia,  June  14,  1762:  enlisted 
for  one  year,  1780.  in  Virginia  regiment;  in  battles  Hot  Water  and  James- 
town; applied  for  pension  April  26,  1833,  Putnam  county,  Indiana. 

Abraham  Stobaugh. 

Peter  Stoner;  1780  and  1781,  in  North  Carolina  and  South  Carolina 
regiments;  in  battle  Eutaw  Springs;  wounded  in  back  and  hip,  Monks  Corner; 
applied  for  pension  Orange  county,  North  Carolina,  September  7,  1832;  died 
in  Putnam  county,  Indiana,  April  6,  185 1. 

Thomas  Tucker,  born  Fairfax  county.  North  Carolina,  February  11, 
1757;  enlisted  Washington  county,  North  Carolina,  1779.  for  two  years  in 
North  Carolina  regiment;  April  25,  1832,  applied  for  pension  in  Putnam 
county.  Indiana. 

John  Walden,  born  March  6,  1756,  Middlesex  county,  Virginia;  served 
from  1777  to  end  of  war,  1783.  in  Col.  William  Dent,  Abraham  Buford  and 
Henry  Lee  regiments,  Virginia  volunteers;  in  battles  Monmouth,  Stony 
Point,  and  present  at  evacuation  of  Charleston;  applied  for  pension  Henry 
county,  Kentucky,  April  5,   1821 ;  died  Putnam  county.  Indiana,  December 

22,  1835. 

Robert  Whitehead;  enlisted  Holston  River,  western  North  Carolina, 
served  from  October,  1779.  to  October,  1782;  private.  Captain  Bailey,  Colonel 
John  [Montgomery,  Gen.  George  Rogers  Clark,  Illinois  regiment,  Virginia 
line:  applied  for  pension  Putnam  county,  Indiana.  April  22.  1833;  seventy- 
one  vears  old;  died  Putnam  county.  Indiana.  Februan.-  20.  1852. 

John  Walls,  born  York  county,  Pennsylvania,  April  4.  1762:  drummer 
1776.  one  vear  Capt.  J.  Wright's  company,  H.  Miller's  regiment.  Pennsyl- 
vania volunteers;  1780,  six  months,  drummer,  Capt.  William  Wales'  company, 
same  regiment ;  applied  for  pension  Putnam  county.  Indiana,  October  26, 
1832. 

AN   INTERESTING  PAPER. 

Several  years  ago  the  late  William  Henry  Ragan.  who  had  made  some 
inquii-v  into  the  history  of  certain  Revolutionary-  soldiers  who  ha])pened  to 


PUTNAM    COUNTY,    INDIANA.  -^9 

settle  in  that  part  of  the  county  in  which  he  himself  had  spent  the  earlier 
years  of  his  life,  prepared  and  read  before  the  Putnam  County  Historical  So- 
ciety a  paper  on  the  subject,  which  is  so  full  of  interesting  reminiscences  and 
data  the  liberty  is  taken  to  insert  a  portion  of  it  here. 

"There  is  a  small  section  of  country  lying  immediately  north  and  west 
of  the  village  of  Fillmore."  related  Mr.  Ragan.  "in  which  five  survivors  of 
the  Revolutionary  war  spent  their  last  days  on  earth  and  in  which  their  sacred 
ashes  still  remain.  Three  of  the  five  the  writer  very  distinctly  remembers, 
the  others  dying  but  a  short  time  before  his  recollection.  I  doubt  if  there  is 
an  area  so  small  within  the  limits  of  the  county,  or  even  of  the  state,  where 
so  many  of  the  patriots  of  our  war  for  independence  spent  their  last  days. 
Why  this  should  have  been  is,  perhaps,  a  mere  coincidence  as  I  know  of  no 
community  of  interests  that  could  have  thus  brought  them  together.  Indeed, 
they  may  have  been,  for  aught  I  know,  entire  strangers  to  each  other.  Cer- 
tainly there  were  no  close  ties  of  consanguinity  existing  among  them.  Hence 
I  conjecture  that  their  settlement  in  such  close  proximity  was  merely  a  coin- 
cidence and  not  by  design  or  purpose  on  their  part. 

"The  area  in  which  these  patriots  resided  embraced  a  small  portion  of 
the  adjacent  town.ships  of  Floyd  and  :\rarion.  Three  of  them  resided  in  the 
former  and  two  in  the  last  named  township.  At  least  three  of  the  five  came 
to  this  county  with  their  families— the  others  perhaps  with  children  or  friends. 
Their  deaths  occurred  in  the  order  in  which  they  are  named. 

"Abraham  Stobaugh  came  from  Montgomery  county,  Virginia,  in  com- 
pany with  his  son,  the  late  Jacob  Stobaugh.  and  settled  in  the  southern  por- 
tion of  Floyd  township.  He  was  the  grandfather  of  Mrs.  A.  M.  Robinson, 
of  Fillmore,  and  of  the  late  Mrs.  Owen,  the  wife  of  our  fellow  townsman  and 
ex-countv  recorder,  George  Owen.  From  Mrs.  Robinson  I  learn  that  this 
worthy  patriot  died  in  September,  1836,  and  that  he  was  buried  with  the 
honors  of  war.  A  militia  company  from  Greencastle,  commanded  by  the  late 
Col.  Lewis  H.  Sands,  fired  the  salute  at  the  grave.  He  was  buried  in  a  private 
cemeterv  on  the  old  Gorham  farm,  in  Marion  township.  There  is  today  no 
trace  of  his  grave  remaining,  none  at  least  that  would  identify  it  among  those 
of  numerous  friends  and  relatives.  Mr.  Stobaugh  left  quite  a  large  number 
of  descendants,  some  of  whom  still  remain  in  the  neighborhood  of  his  former 
home. 

"Silas  Hopkins,  if  tradition  may  be  credited,  was  a  native  of  the  city 
of  Baltimore,  and  a  supposed  relative  of  the  late  millionaire  merchant  and 
philanthropist.  Johns  Hopkins,  whose  name  will  go  down  to  posterity  in  con- 
nection with  the  srreat  universitv  his  beneficence  endowed.      Silas  Hopkms 


220  WEIK  S    HISTORY    OF 

was  the  father  of  the  somewhat  noted  John  Deroysha  Hopkins,  whose  eccen- 
tric characteristics  will  be  well  remembered  by  many  who  are  present.  He 
was  also  the  father  of  the  late  Mrs.  Thomas  Gorham,  with  whom  he  made 
his  home.  Patriot  Hopkins  was  in  some  particulars  not  unlike  his  eccentric 
son.  His  death  occurred  near  the  close  of  the  fourth  decade  of  this  century. 
How  long  or  when  and  at  what  period  of  the  revolutionary  struggle  and  in 
what  Ijranch  of  the  service,  or  under  what  command  these  patriots  served,  is 
perhaps  unknown  to  living  mortals ;  but  that  they  were  revolutionary  soldiers 
there  is  not  a  shadow  of  doubt.  Jacob  Stobaugh.  son  of  Abraham,  was  a  vet- 
eran of  the  war  of  1812.  and  some  of  the  descendants  of  Silas  Hopkins  laid 
down  their  lives  to  preserve  that  government  to  the  establishment  of  which  he 
gave  his  best  years.  Even  his  eccentric  son,  John  D..  was  for  a  time  a  Union 
soldier  in  the  war  of  the  Rebellion.  Although  at  the  time  he  was  beyond  the 
age  of  military  service,  he  enlisted  in  Company  C,  Seventieth  Indiana  Regi- 
ment, and  served  part  of  the  second  year  of  the  war  as  a  member  of  that  regi- 
ment, which  was  commanded  by  the  only  living  ex-President  of  the  United 
States.  At  least  four  grandsons  also  served  in  the  Union  army,  two  of  whom, 
Silas  and  Thomas  Gorham,  laid  down  their  lives  in  their  country's  service,  and 
now  rest  side  by  side  in  the  village  cemetery  at  Fillmore.  There  is  something 
sadly  pathetic  in  the  story  of  the  death  of  these  patriotic  grandsons  of  Silas 
Hopkins.  They  had  survi\-ed  the  mishaps  of  the  war  from  1861  to  1865,  when 
one  of  the  brothers  began  to  decline  in  health.  The  war  was  over,  and  they 
were  reallv  no  longer  needed  at  the  front.  So  the  sick  brother  was  given  a  fur- 
lough to  his  home,  and  for  company  the  well  one  was  sent  with  him.  On  the 
Vandalia  train  while  halting  at  the  Greencastle  station,  and  within  six  miles  of 
home  and  friends,  the  invalid  brother  quietly  breathed  his  last.  The  survivor 
tenderlv  supported  the  lifeless  form  of  his  brother  in  his  arms  until  the  train 
reached  Fillmore,  where  kind  and  loving  friends  performed  the  last  sad  rites. 
But  one  month  elapsed  until  the  remaining  brother  was  gently  laid  by  his  side 
''in  the  shadow  of  the  stone."  In  those  early  days  almost  every  farm  had  its 
private  burial  place,  in  which  members  of  the  family  were  interred.  The 
Gorham  farm  was  not  an  exception  to  this  general  rule.  On  the  north  end 
of  this  farm,  known  to  the  older  residents  as  the  Judge  Smith,  or  Gorham 
farm,  and  now  owned  by  Albert  O.  Lockridge  of  this  city,  and  the  first  land 
in  the  township  conveyed  by  the  go\'ernment  to  a  private  individual,  is  one 
of  the.^e  neglected  burial  places.  The  location  is  obscure,  and  but  for  a  few 
rough  stones,  one  of  which  l^ears  the  inscription  "W.  B.".  there  is  naught  to 
indicate  that  it  is  a  pioneer  cemetery  in  which  many  of  the  early  settlers  sleep 


PUTXAM    COUNTY,    INDIANA.  221 

their  long  sleep.  Here  rest  the  mortal  remains  of  Abraham  Stobaugh  and 
Silas  Hopkins  of  Revolutionary  memor\-.  But  a  few  fleeting  years  will  elapse 
until  this  graveyard  will  be  entirely  unknown  and  forgotten,  and  posterity 
will  then  have  naught  but  tradition  as  a  guide  to  this  sacred  spot  where  lie  two 
of  the  founders  of  our  republic. 

"Samuel  Denny  resided  in  the  southern  part  of  Floyd  township,  on  what 
is  now  known  as  the  Gravel  Pit  farm,  which  is  owned  by  the  Big  Four  rail- 
way. His  home  was  with  an  adopted  daughter,  Mrs.  Isaac  Yeates,  he  having 
had  no  children  of  his  own.  ]\Ir.  Denny  first  settled  in  Warren  township, 
where  his  wife  died  and  was  buried.  He  was  the  great  uncle  of  our  fellow- 
townsman,  James  T.  Denny,  Esq.  Patriot  Denny  had  long  predicted  that 
his  death  would  occur  on  the  Fourth  of  July,  which  prediction  was  verified  by 
the  fact.  In  the  early  summer  of  1843,  his  rapid  decline  was  noted,  and  on 
the  nation's  si.xty-seventh  birthday,  his  gentle  spirit  took  leave  of  earth.  I 
well  remember  Mr.  Denny,  and  have  him  pictured  in  my  mind  as  a  most 
venerable  personage.  Indeed,  he  was  highly  respected  and  honored  by  all 
w  ho  knew  him.  I  have  already  referred  to  the  fact  that  he  raised  no  children 
of  his  own.  It  is.  however,  a  well  verified  tradition  that  he  raised  thirteen 
orphan  children  by  adoption,  thus  showing  the  great  benevolence  of  his  char- 
acter. He  was  buried  in  Warren  township  at  what  is  known  as  Deer  Creek 
Baptist  cemeteiy  bv  the  side  of  his  deceased  wife,  and  I  have  no  doubt  with 
the  honors  of  war  so  well  befitting  the  day  and  the  occasion. 

"John  Bartee's  home  was  on  a  fraction  of  the  same  farm  on  which 
Patriot  Denny  died,  and  to  which  he  had  in  some  way  acquired  a  fee  simple 
title.  There  were  ten  acres  of  the  little  homestead  upon  which  he  resided. 
He  lived  in  a  humble  log  cabin,  with  but  one  room.  Here,  in  company  with 
his  feeble-minded  seciond  wife  and  still  more  imbecile  daughter,  he  spent  his 
last  days  in  extreme  poverty.  The  family  ^xere  objects  of  charity.  Through 
the  exertions  of  the  late  .Xnderson  B.  ^latthews.  himself  a  member  of  the 
boarrl  of  count^•  commissioners,  that  body  made  a  small  appropriation,  I  am 
not  alile  to  sa\-  hov.-  much,  in  support  of  this  superannuated  veteran :  but  with 
all  this,  only  a  small  share  of  the  good  things  of  earth  fell  to  the  lot  of  our 
worthy  patriot  in  his  declining  years.  At  the  age  of  sixteen  he  participated  in 
the  siege  of  Yorktown  and  the  capture  of  Lord  Cornwallis.  His  death 
occurred  in  February  of  1848,  and  he  was  buried  in  the  little  graveyard  on 
the  Yeates  farm.,  near  by  his  former  home. 

"Benjamin  Mahorney.  the  fifth  and  last  survivor,  and  perhaps  among 
the  x-eiy  last  of  his  race,  died  in  the  summer  of  1854,  more  than  se\-ent\-  vears 


222  VVEIK  S    HISTORY    OF 

after  the  close  of  the  great  struggle  in  which  he  was  an  active  participant. 
His  residence  was  in  the  northern  portion  of  Marion  township,  and  immedi- 
ately on  the  line  of  the  Big  Four  railway,  one  mile  east  of  the  little  station 
of  Darwin.  He  lived  with  his  son,  Owen  Mahorney,  who  made  him  comfort- 
able in  his  last  days.  He  was  a  most  venerable  personage,  known  to  the  people 
of  the  neighborhood  as  one  worthy  of  veneration  and  respect.  His  hair  was 
as  white  as  the  driven  snow.  He  was  a  Virginian  and  enlisted  from  Fauquier 
county,  in  that  state,  in  the  spring  of  1779,  for  a  term  of  eighteen  months. 
He  served  under  Captain  Walls,  in  Colonel  Buford's  regiment  of  Virginia 
militia.  His  regiment  met  the  British  cavalry  under  the  celebrated  Colonel 
Tarleton,  at  Waxhaw,  North  Carolina,  and  were  repulsed  with  great  loss 
in  killed,  wounded  and  prisoners.  Patriot  Mahorney  was  one  of  the  few  who 
escaped  injury  or  capture.  His  term  of  enlistment  closed  on  October  25, 
1780,  nearly  seventy- four  years  prior  to  his  death  in  this  county.  From  rec- 
ords of  our  county  clerk's  office,  I  learn  that  he  made  application  for  a  pen- 
sion at  the  April  term  of  court  in  1833,  and  that  he  was  at  that  time  seventy- 
three  years  of  age.  From  this  record  I  also  learn  the  above  facts  concerning 
his  enlistment  and  service  in  the  patriot  cause.  At  the  time  of  his  death 
there  was  in  the  neighborhood  a  military  company  with  headquarters  at  the 
village  of  Fillmore  and  commanded  by  James  H.  Summers,  a  Mexican  war 
veteran  and  afterwards  colonel  of  an  Iowa  regiment  in  the  war  of  the  Rebellion. 
Captain  Summers  called  together  his  company,  and  fired  a  salute  over  the  open 
grave  of  the  last  survivor  of  Revolutionary  memory  in  the  neighborhood.  The 
interment  was  at  what  is  known  as  the  Smythe  graveyard,  just  south  of  the 
Vandalia  railwav,  and  one  mile  east  of  Fillmore.  It  is  probable  that  the  grave 
of  Mr.  Mahorney  might  still  be  identified.  An  incident  occurred  after  the  burial 
of  Patriot  Mahorney,  when  Captain  Summers,  with  his  company,  returned  to 
Fillmore  to  store  their  guns  in  the  company's  armory,  A  member  of  the 
company,  Noah  Alley,  also  a  Mexican  veteran,  and  afterwards  killed  at 
Cedar  Mountain,  Virginia,  as  a  member  of  the  Twenty-seventh  Indiana  Regi- 
ment, through  an  awkward  mishap  thrust  the  fixed  bayonet  of  his  musket 
through  his  leg  just  above  the  ankle,  making  a  serious  and  painful  wound. 
The  village  boys,  out  of  juvenile  curiosity,  had  gathered  about  the  military 
company,  and  were  many  of  them  witnesses  to  this  painful  accident.  The 
writer  well  remembers  the  impression  it  made  on  his  youthful  mind,  and 
this  incident  will  go  down  in  his  memory  associated  with  the  death  and  burial 
of  the  last  survivor  of  the  Revolutionary  struggle  in  that  part  of  Putnam 
county,  if  not  in  the  state.     Of  these  five  Revolutionary  patriots,  two  only. 


PUTNAM    COUNTYj    INDIANA.  223 

Hopkins  and  Stobaugh,  have  living  descendants  in  our  midst.  Denny,  it 
will  be  remembered,  had  no  children  of  his  own.  Bartee's  wife  and  daugh- 
ter are  long  since  dead,  and  the  younger  Mahorney,  after  his  father's  death, 
together  with  his  family  removed  to  Fountain  county,  where  they  have  been 
lost  sight  of  in  the  busy  throng  that  now  throbs  and  pulsates  through  our 
land." 


CHAPTER  XIII. 


NOTED    MURDER    TRIALS. 


The  first  murder  in  Putnam  county  was  followed  almost  immediately 
by  the  first  suicide.  It  occurred  in  what  is  now  Cloverdale  township  in  1824, 
and  is  thus  described  by  Capt.  H.  B.  Martin,  of  that  place  :  "Among  those  who 
settled  in  this  vicinity  at  that  time  were  Thomas  James,  James  Robinson.  Am- 
brose Bandy,  John  Macy  and  Andrew  Kilgore.  The  first  named  of  these  was 
the  victim,  the  second  the  perpetrator  of  the  murder  and  suicide.  James 
was  living  with  his  wife  and  three  children  in  a  small  cabin  situated  near 
what  is  known  as  the  'Granny  Nelson  Spring.'  He  had  entered  a  quarter 
section  of  land  lying  west  of  his  temporary  home  and  embracing  the  ground 
now  occupied  by  the  Cloverdale  cemetery.  The  land  was  then  covered  with 
huge  and  towering  walnut,  poplar,  sugar  and  ash  trees  and  was  considered 
one  of  the  best  locations  in  the  surrounding  country.  Robinson  had  settled 
and  built  him  a  cabin  on  a  choice  piece  of  land  one-half  mile  south  of  James, 
and  was  living  there  with  his  wife  and  children.  In  that  early  day  every 
article  of  clothing  worn  by  the  settlers  was  spun,  woven  and  manufactured 
at  home.  Flax  and  tow  linen  furnished  the  summer  wear.  And  it  was 
concerning  a  trifling  quantity  of  flax  that  the  quarrel  arose  which  ended  in 
the  bloody  deeds  we  are  narrating.  It  appears  that  Robinson's  wife  had 
employed  Mrs.  Eunice  Bandy,  wife  of  Ambrose  Bandy,  to  spin  some  flax. 
The  calculating  and  economical  housewives  of  that  time  knew  just  how 
much  thread  a  pound  of  the  raw  material  would  make.  And  after  ]\Irs. 
Bandy  returned  the  spun  flax.  ^^Irs.  Robinson  weighed  it  and  told  some  of 
her  neighbors  that  the  quantit}-  returned  was  short  one  'dozen.'  This  was 
gossipped  about  b}-  the  neighbor  women,  till  it  reached  the  ears  of  the  parties 
accu.'ied  of  embezzling  one  'dozen.'  Ambrose  Bandy,  the  husband,  became 
much  incensed  and  threatened  to  sue  Robinson  and  his  wife  for  slander. 
Thi-^  in  turn  enraged  Robinson,  who  was  a  morose,  sulky  and  very  quick- 
tempered man.  He  became  unfriendly  with  every  one  of  his  neighbors  who 
had  talked  about  the  affair  of  the  flax  thread  or  whom  he  suspected  of  having 
friendly  relations  with  the  Bandys.  He  was  especially  angered  at  Bandy, 
James.  Macy  and  Kilgore. 


PUTNAM    COUNTY,    INDIANA.  225 

"A  few  da}s  before  the  committal  of  the  crimes,  which  deprived  two 
famihes  of  their  protectors  and  made  orphans  of  eight  httle  children  in  the 
lonely  frontier  settlement,  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Bandy  visited  James,  remaining  over 
night.  This  perhaps  sealed  the  fate  of  the  latter.  A  few  days  afterwards 
Robinson  arose  on  a  bright  sunshiny  morning  (in  April.  1824),  and.  after 
carefully  loading  his  rifle  informed  his  family  that  thereafter  they  would 
have  to  take  care  of  themselves,  that  he  should  do  no  more  for  them,  and 
left  his  cabin,  gun  in  hand.  He  first  went  to  Bandy's,  evidently  with  the  in- 
tention of  making  him  the  first  victim,  for  he  had  previously  declared  that 
there  were  seven  persons  in  the  neighborhood  that  he  meant  to  destroy,  refer- 
ring to  Bandy  and  his  friends  before  mentioned  and  the  wives  of  some  of 
them.  Bandy  saw  him  approaching  and  hid  behind  a  tree  until  he  went 
away.  He  ne.xt  proceeded  to  the  home  of  Kilgore.  who  was  also  fortunate 
enough  to  perceive  him  while  he  was  at  a  distance  and  conceal  himself. 
Robinson  next  turned  his  attention  to  Macy.  Macy's  cabin  stood  on  the  pres- 
ent site  of  Alexander  McCurrv-'s  residence  in  Cloverdale.  When  Robinson 
approached.  Macy  and  his  son  James  were  together  in  a  clearing  in  front 
of  their  humble  dwelling,  and  the  bloodthirsty  assassin's  heart  failed  him. 
He  could  not  strike  down  the  father  in  the  presence  of  his  little  son,  and 
walked  swiftly  by  without  raising  his  head  or  speaking,  and  wended  his  way 
to  James'.  James  was  alone  in  the  forest  hewing  puncheons  to  floor  a  house 
he  was  preparing  to  build  on  his  own  land.  He  felled  a  tree,  by  mistake. 
a  little  south  of  the  boundary  of  his  land,  near  the  southeast  corner  and  was 
consequently  a  few  feet  south  of  the  present  Mount  Meridian  road.  The 
leaves  were  peeping  from  the  bursting  buds,  birds  were  twittering  above  him 
in  the  branches  of  the  tall  trees,  while  rank  vegetation  was  springing  from 
the  rich  soil  at  his  feet.  The  season,  his  prospects  and  surroundings  all  tended 
to  make  life  to  him  sweet,  desirable  and  enjoyable.  He  was  bowed  o\er  his 
work  unaware  of  danger  and  most  probably  congratulating  himself  upon  his 
happy  selection  of  a  location,  and  thinking  of  a  future  in  which  figured  con- 
spicuously a  cleared  wilderness,  teeming  fields  of  grain  and  a  comfortable 
home  for  his  wife  and  little  ones,  when  a  stinging  pain  through  his  body 
and  a  ringing  report  of  a  rifie  ended  his  dream  and  blasted  his  hopes.  Robin- 
son had  skulked  through  the  forest  and  dodged  from  tree  to  tree,  as  an  Indian 
approaches  his  foe.  until  within  fifty  yards  of  his  unoflFending  victim  and 
then,  taking  (leli])erate  aim.  fired  the  fatal  shot.  The  ball  passed  through 
James'  left  arm  and  through  his  body  from  side  to  side,  lodging  against  the 
skin. 

(15) 


226  weik's  history  of 

"On  receiving  the  wound.  James  straightened  up  and  looking  in  the 
direction  of  the  report,  saw  his  murderer  in  the  act  of  lowering  his  weapon, 
the  smoke- of  the  discharge  curling  above  his  head.  He  contemplated  his 
assassin  for  a  moment  and  then  ran  with  the  speed  of  a  stricken  deer  to 
his  cabin,  about  two  hundred  yards  distant,  and  bounded  into  the  midst  of 
his  terrified  family,  the  blood  spurting  in  a  stream  from  the  wound  in  his  side. 
A  messenger  was  dispatched  to  Greencastle  and  in  due  time  returned  with 
Doctor  Lowe.  The  young  and  inexperienced  physician  removed  the  ball 
and  then  directed  his  efforts  to  healing  the  external  wounds.  James  lingered 
twentv-eight  days  and  died  of  blood  poisoning,  which  no  doubt  could  have 
been  obviated  by  skillful  treatment.  After  firing  the  fatal  shot.  Robinson 
returned  home.  His  oldest  child,  a  daughter,  was  at  home  caring  for  the 
babv,  and  his  wife  and  other  children  were  absent  at  work  in  a  clearing  some 
distance  from  the  cabin.  He  re-loaded  his  rifle  and  attached  one  end  of  a 
string  to  the  trigger  and  the  other  to  a  peg  sticking  in  the  wall  on  the  outside 
of  the  house,  cocked  the  piece  and  placed  the  muzzle  against  his  left  breast 
over  his  heart,  and  by  drawing  it  towards  him,  discharged  it.  The  ball 
passed  through  his  heart,  causing  instant  death.  He  was  buried  on  his  own 
land.  His  children  grew  to  man-and  womanhood  in  this  locality,  but  finally 
moved  awav.  His  widow  remarried  and  raised  a  large  family  by  the  second 
marriage. 

"Two  of  James'  sons  lived  to  old  age,  one  of  them.  Stanfield  P.,  filling 
the  office  of  county  commissioner  for  several  years.  James,  himself,  was  a 
representative  type  of  the  early  Kentucky  immigrant  in  Putnam  county. 
He  was  tall,  straight  and  well  proportioned.  As  a  neighbor  he  was  kind, 
hospitable  and  generous  and  his  tragic  and  untimely  death  cast  a  pall  of 
gloomy  dread  and  sorrow  over  the  isolated  settlement  in  the  wilderness  long 
after  he  was  gone." 

For  many  years  after  the  death  of  Thomas  James  the  security,  peace 
and  dignity  of  the  county  was  undisturbed.  But  in  1840  a  second  murder 
occurred  which,  while  no  more  atrocious  than  the  taking  off  of  James,  is 
noteworthy  in  that  the  accused  was  arrested,  tried  and  paid  the  penalty  with 
his  life.  It  was  the  first  judicial  execution  in  the  county.  As  those  who 
were  living  at  the  time  or  had  personal  knowledge  of  the  incident  have 
long  since  passed  away,  it  might  have  been  difficult  to  gather  the  required 
facts  but  for  the  timely  discovery  of  a  pamphlet  printed  at  the  time  the 
tragedy  took  place  and  which  contains  an  authentic  account  of  the  unfor- 
tunate occurrence.  Reference  is  made  to  the  murder  of  Abraham  Rhinear- 
son,  in  the  summer  of  1840.  by  William  Thompson.     The  pamphlet,  which 


PUTXAM     COL'XTY.    INDIANA.  22/ 

was  printed  at  the  office  of  the  Grccncastlc  Visitor,  bears  the  following  on  its 
title  page : 

'"Sketch  of  the   Life  and   Confession  of  William   Thompson. 

"Prepared  by  Rev.  J.   L.   Belotte. 

"To  which  is  appended  a  synopsis  of  the  proceedings  antl  testimony  during 

his  trial  and  the  sentence  of  the  juflge. 

'■r,reencastle : 

Printed  at  the  \'isitor  Office 

"1S41." 

The  author,  J.  L.  Belotte.  was  a  Methodist  preacher,  who  was  the  mur- 
derer's spiritual  adviser  and  to  whom  the  confession  was  made.  It  is  some- 
what minute  and  voluminous  so  that  only  a  brief  recital  of  the  material  facts 
can  be  attempted  here. 

In  the  summer  of  1840  the  body  of  a  man  who  had  been  dead  several 
days  was  found  in  a  lonely  spot  in  the  woods  in  the  south  end  of  Clinton  town- 
ship, about  seven  miles  from  Greencastle.  All  the  indications  pointed  to 
death  by  violence,  but  owing  to  the  advanced  state  of  decomposition,  it  was 
impossible  to  identify  the  remains.  Later  a  hat  was  discovered,  in  some 
bushes  nearby,  in  the  inside  of  which  was  a  letter  addressed  to  Abraham 
Rhinearson,  Bloomington,  Iowa.  John  Lynch,  the  town  constable,  in  an 
endeavor  to  unravel  the  mystery,  went  to  Iowa  and  there  learned  that, 
shortly  before,  Rhinearson  and  William  Thompson,  whose  home  was  at 
Middletown.  in  Henry  county,  in  this  state,  had  set  out  from  Iowa  too-ether, 
headed  for  Indiana.  Returning  here.  Lynch  and  George  Thompson,  also 
of  this  place,  made  a  trip  to  Henry  county,  where  they  arrested  Rhinearson's 
fellow  traveler,  William  Thompson,  and  brought  him  to  Greencastle.  Either 
en  route  hither  or  soon  after  his  arrival  Thompson  confessed  his  crime, 
stating  that  as  he  himself  was  about  out  of  money  he  had  killed  his  com- 
panion for  the  paltry  sum  the  latter  had,  which  hardly  exceeded  five  dollars. 
On  arrival  at  Greencastle  he  was  brought  before  James  M.  Grooms,  justice 
of  the  peace,  and  after  a  brief  preliminary  inquirv-  returned  to  jail  to  await 
the  action  of  the  circuit  court.  Early  in  Januarv-.  1841,  he  was  arraio-ned 
for  trial  before  Judge  Elisha  Huntington  and.  being  unable  to  hire  counsel. 
the  court  ordered  John  Cowgill,  Edward  McGaughey  and  Henry  Secrest  to 
conduct  his  defense.  The  prosecuting  attorney  was  Delana  R.  Eckels.  The 
jury  consisted  of  James  Xosler,  foreman,  Joseph  Crow,  John  Robinson. 
Enoch  Wright,  Nathaniel  Jones.  William  Christy.  John  Wilson,  lohn  Clear- 


228  WEIK  S    HISTORY    OF 

waters,  Ouinton  VanDyke,  Isaiah  Goodwin,  Jonathan  MuUinix  and  Jacob 
Pearcy.  About  fifteen  witnesses  were  examined  and  the  case  submitted  to 
the  jury  without  argument  by  the  counsel  on  either  side.  The  judge  dehvered 
the  charge  to  the  juiy  in  a  very  feehng  and  impartial  manner.  The  latter 
retired  to  their  room  and  in  about  twenty  minutes  returned  a  verdict  of  guilty. 
On  Friday,  January  15th,  the  prisoner  was  brought  into  court  and  formally 
sentenced.  He  was  condemned  to  death,  the  date  of  the  execution  being  fixed 
for  February  12th. 

As  it  was  the  first  execution  in  the  county,  a  deep  interest  was  mani- 
fested in  the  subsequent  proceedings.  The  place  selected  was  a  grove  south 
of  town  near  the  corner  of  Locust  and  Berry  streets,  now  occupied  by  the 
residence  of  the  late  Charles  Leuteke.  It  was  a  bitterly  cold  day  and  was 
onlv  made  endurable  by  numerous  fires  over  the  grounds  around  which 
the  great  crowd  present  gathered  in  groups.  When  the  condemned  man, 
driven  in  a  wagon  from  the  jail  and  seated  on  his  coffin,  reached  the  place  of 
execution  the  pressure  to  see  him  was  so  great  the  local  militia  company, 
under  command  of  Gen.  George  K.  Steele,  was  necessary  to  keep  the  crowd 
back.  The  rope,  containing  twenty-four  strands  of  hemp,  made  by  the  late 
Thomas  Talbott,  was  attached  to  the  limb  of  a  large  elm  tree  beneath  which 
was  the  platform  on  which  the  condemned  man  sat  while  the  religious  service 
which  preceded  the  execution,  took  place.  A  hymn  or  two  were  sung,  the 
music  being  led  by  Aaron  Stewart,  a  singer  of  local  renown,  and  it  is  said 
the  condemned  man  joined  in  the  songs  in  a  voice  full,  clear  and  without  a 
tremor.  The  Rev.  Air.  Belotte  was  present  and  led  the  services.  Evan  L. 
Kercheval,  the  sheriff,  at  the  proper  time  sprung  the  trap  and  the  sentence  of 
the  law  was  carried  out  without  delay  or  mishap  of  any  kind. 

The  next  and  last  judicial  execution  in  Putnam  county  took  place  in 
the  jail  yard,  west  of  the  public  square,  in  Greencastle,  on  Friday,  December 
18,  1857.  Alanv  persons  who  witnessed  it  are  still  living.  The  prisoner  was 
Greenbury  O.  Mullinix.  who,  on  the  loth  of  the  preceding  April,  had  mur- 
dered his  wife,  Martha  Ann  Sublett,  to  whom  he  had  been  married  exactly 
one  month.  The  murder,  which  occurred  near  Manhattan,  was  equally  brutal 
and  unprovoked.  From  the  account  in  the  weekly  paper  of  the  period  it 
appears  that  the  wife  "had  tied  up  a  bundle  of  clothing  in  the  morning  and 
was  hurrying  through  with  her  housework  in  order  to  prepare  for  her 
baptism,  which  was  to  take  place  that  day.  Mullinix.  her  husband,  was  op- 
posed to  her  joining  church  and  after  feeding  the  stock  returned  to  the  house 
in  a  very  angrv  mood.  The  faithful  and  unsuspecting  wife  had  prepared 
breakfast  and  welcomed  her  husband  with  a  propitiating  smile.     Evidently, 


PUTNAM    COUNTY,    INDIANA.  229 

after  a  few  words,  the  bmte  struck  her  down  with  a  fire  shovel.  \\  hen  Doc- 
tor Layman  arrived  he  found  her  lying  on  the  floor  with  her  head  crushed 
and  beyond  all  human  help.  Her  husband  claimed  that  some  unknown  per- 
son had  made  the  attack  while  he  was  absent  at  the  barn,  but  later  he  con- 
fessed that  he  had  committed  the  bloody  deed  himself."  He  was  promptly 
arrested  and  in  a  few  days  appeared  before  Joseph  F.  Farley  and  John  S. 
Jennings,  justices  of  the  peace,  who.  on  the  i6th  inst.,  after  a  careful  inquiry 
and  the  examination  of  numerous  witnesses,  committed  the  prisoner  to  jail 
on  the  charge  of  murder  in  the  first  degree  to  await  the  action  of  the  circuit 
court.  The  case  came  on  for  trial  in  the  latter  court  Tuesday,  October  13, 
1857.  and  was  not  disposed  of  till  the  following  Saturday.  John  A.  Matson, 
D.  E.  Williamson  and  R.  S.  Ragan  appeared  for  the  accused  and  John  P. 
Usher.  John  Cowgill  and  ]\Iilton  A.  Osborn  for  the  state.  Judge  James 
Hanna  presided  at  the  trial.  "The  prisoner."  says  the  Putnam  County  Ban- 
ner, "was  ably  defended  by  his  counsel  who  placed  the  issue  of  the  case  upon 
the  ground  that  the  prisoner  at  the  time  he  committed  the  rash  act  and  for 
years  previously  had  been  laboring  under  the  effects  of  an  insane  mind." 
Numerous  instances  were  cited  by  witnesses  and  were  dwelt  and  commented 
upon  by  defendant's  counsel  in  a  masterly  manner  to  establish  this  in  the 
minds  of  the  jury,  but,  as  the  result  has  shown,  to  no  effect.  All  the  evidence 
adduced  on  both  sides  having  been  heard,  as  well  as  the  arguments  of  coun- 
sel, the  case  was  submitted  to  the  jury  on  Thursday  evening,  who.  after  re- 
tiring for  about  an  hour,  brought  in  the  following  verdict ;  "We  the  jury 
find  the  defendant  guilty  as  charged  in  the  indictment  and  that  he  suffer 
death."  The  verdict  was  signed  by  all  the  jurors  as  follows :  Philip  Carpenter, 
William  B.  Wilson.  W.  B.  Cunningham.  James  E.  Talbott.  Robert  Smith, 
Tames  L.  Wilson,  Edward  R.  Shackelford,  Thomas  Sutherlin.  John  INIiller, 
Washington  Breckenridge,  George  W.  Kurtz  and  Russell  Crawford. 

On  Fridav  afternoon  the  defendant  was  brought  into  court  to  receive 
his  sentence.  After  reciting  the  facts  brought  out  at  the  trial  and  the  result- 
ing verdict  of  the  jury,  the  court  then  announced:  "It  is  therefore  considered 
bv  the  court  that  you  be  returned  to  the  county  jail  whence  you  came  and 
that  vou  be  there  kept  in  safe  custody  until  Friday,  the  20th  day  of  November 
next,  and  that  you  then  be  brought  forth  between  the  hours  of  ten  o'clock 
in  the  forenoon  and  two  o'clock  in  the  afternoon  of  that  day  and  taken  from 
thence  to  the  place  of  execution  and  be  then  and  there  hanged  by  the  neck 
till  you  are  dead." 

"During  the  delivery  of  the  sentence,"  relates  The  Banner,  "the  prisoner 
stood  up  before  the  judge  and  the  audience  in  the  most  firm  and  undaunted 


230 


WEIK  S    HISTORY    OF 


manner,  e\incing  a  stoicism  and  indifference  almost  unparalleled  by  those  who 
have  been  arraigned  before  the  bar  of  justice  for  similar  offenses.  To  the 
question  of  His  Honor,  'Are  you  prepared  to  stand  before  that  all-seeing 
Judge,  seated  upon  the  throne  of  eternal  justice,  and  declare  your  innocence?' 
he  replied,  'I  am!'  And  after  the  judge  had  concluded  his  sentence  and  the 
sheriff  was  about  to  take  him  back  to  jail,  in  a  haughty  and  indignant  man- 
ner, he  said  to  the  judge,     "I  thank  you  for  the  execution.'  " 

A  (lav  or  two  before  November  20th,  the  date  set  for  the  execution. 
Governor  Willard,  in  answer  to  the  appeal  of  the  prisoner's  father,  granted 
a  respite  until  Friday,  December  i8th,  awaiting  the  action  of  the  supreme 
court;  but  the  latter  court  declined  to  interfere  and  at  the  appointed  time  the 
sentence  of  the  law  was  duly  carried  out.  The  hnal  chapter  in  the  unfor- 
tunate affair  is  thus  narrated  in  the  Banner  in  its  issue  of  December  23,  1857: 
"On  Fridav,  the  iSth  inst.,  at  eleven  minutes  past  eleven  o'clock  a.  m..  Green- 
bury  O.  Mullinix  was  executed  at  this  place  in  accordance  with  the  require- 
ments of  the  law,  for  the  murder  of  his  wife  last  April.  Up  to  the  time  of  his 
execution  and  even  upon  the  scaffold,  with  death  in  its  worst  form  and  with 
all  its  horrors  staring  him  in  the  face,  he  persisted  in  his  innocence,  although 
he  had  two  or  three  months  previously  declared  that  he  had  committed  the 
deed — that  he  had  imbrued  his  hands  in  the  blood  of  his  innocent  and  un- 
offending wife!  After  being  led  upon  the  scaffold  by  the  sheriff,  William  L. 
Farrow,  accompanied  by  Rev.  E.  W.  Fisk,  of  the  Presbyterian  church,  and 
Rev.  William  Atherton,  of  the  Methodist  church,  and  after  an  impressive 
and  appropriate  prayer  by  Mr.  Fisk.  the  sheriff  asked  the  prisoner  if  he  had 
anything  to  say,  to  which  he  replied  that  he  had  nothing  to  say  except  that 
he  was  innocent  and  that  he  felt  better  than  when  they  made  him  confess  to 
the  murder  of  his  wife.  (He  was  compelled  to  make  this  acknowledgment, 
as  he  alleged,  thinking  that  he  would  be  taken  from  his  confinement  immedi- 
ately and  hanged,  preferring  the  latter  punishment  to  the  former.)  After  it 
was  found  he  hafl  nothing  further  to  say  Mr.  Farrow,  the  sheriff,  proceeded 
to  prepare  him  for  the  ordeal  through  which  he  was  about  to  pass,  by  first 
tving  his  hands  behind  him  and  then  drawing  a  cap  over  his  face  and  tying 
it  under  his  chin.  This  accomplished,  the  rope  was  next  put  around  his  neck 
and  while  the  sheriff  was  thus  engaged,  having  adjusted  the  rope  a  little  too 
tight,  the  prisijner.  in  a  jovial  and  unconcerned  manner,  said:  'Bill,  this  is 
rather  tight,"  following  the  remark  by  a  big  laugh  and  apparently  as  uncon- 
cerned as  if  he  was  only  about  to  engage  in  a  little  jesting  freak.  The  rope 
being  properlv  adjusted,  the  rope  that  held  the  platform  on  which  the  prisoner 
stood    was   severed   and   the   one    around    the   pri.soner's   neck    breaking,    he 


PLTXAM     COLNTV.    IXDIAXA.  27,1 

alighted  upon  the  ground  and  \valke<!  some  two  or  three  yards,  making  ihu'- 
ing  the  time  a  kintl  of  unnatural  sound,  when  he  was  taken  under  the  scaffold, 
hoisted  up.  tlie  rope  tied  and  there  in  the  presence  of  the  recpnsite  number  of 
witnesses  the  unf<irtunate  being  was  suft'ered  to  hang  suspended  by  the  neck 
for  the  space  of  thirty-three  minutes,  and  until  pronounced  death  He  did  not 
struggle  unusually  hard  and  apparently  died  as  easily  as  most  of  those  who 
atone  for  their  crimes  upon  the  gallows,  .\fter  he  had  hung  a  sufficient  length 
of  time,  his  remains  were  placed  in  a  coffin  procured  by  the  sheriff,  after 
w  liich  thev  were  conveyed  by  one  or  two  frienils  to  the  family  residence  of 
the  father  near  ^[anhattan. 

"This  unfortunate  being  to  the  last  manifested  the  utmost  indift'erence 
in  regard  to  his  future  state,  treating  with  scorn  and  contempt  the  ministers 
of  the  gospel  who  called  upon  him  and  endeavored  to  point  him  to  that  God 
who  is  e\'er  nierciful  to  fallen  man.  But  all  was  useless.  Even  on  the  morn- 
ing before  his  execution,  he  used  profane  language  and  all  the  time  declared 
that  it  was  no  use  for  him  to  ask  forgiveness  for  his  evil  deeds,  for  he  had 
committed  none.  It  is  due  to  Mr.  Farnjw.  our  sheriff,  to  state  that  the  acci- 
dent which  occurretl  at  the  execution  in  the  breaking  of  the  rope  was  not  the 
result  of  carelessness  on  his  part.  fur.  as  we  learn,  he  took  the  precaution  to 
try  the  rope  effectually  l)efore  selecting  it  for  the  purpose,  yet  from  some  un- 
accountable cause  it  broke. 

"Mullinix  was  born  one  mile  east  of  Manhattan,  in  this  county;  was  a 
little  past  twenty-five  years  of  age;  was  always  a  dissolute,  disobedient  char- 
acter, as  well  while  under  the  control  of  his  parents  as  afterwards.  He  was 
married  to  Martha,  daughter  oi  David  Sublett.  of  this  county,  on  the  loth 
of  March  last  and  on  the  morning  of  Friday,  the  lOth  day  of  .\pril  ensuing, 
he  put  an  end  to  her  life.  The  free  and  unrestrained  use  of  intoxicating 
drinks,  togetlier  with  a  want  of  proi)er  parental  contnil.  it  is  said,  have  been 
the  main  instruments  in  bringing  upon  him  the  terrible  fate  which  has  just 
i^een  \isited  upon  his  head." 

To  deal  with  or  attempt  to  describe  all  the  murders  and  murder  trials 
which  ha\e  taken  place  in  the  county  would  swell  this  volume  to  unjustifiable 
proportiiins.  nor  would  any  real  good  accrue  from  recalling  a  subject  so 
gruesome  and  forbidding.  Rut  now  that  we  have  seen  fit  io  notice  that  fea- 
ture of  our  criminal  history  we  can  not  well  pass  to  other  subjects  without 
a  brief  reference  to  what  was,  for  many  years,  the  most  noteworthy  and 
astounding  crime  e\-er  committed  in  the  count}". 

On  the  morning  oi  January  7.  1861.  the  bcjdies  of  Tilghman  H.  Hanna 
and   wife,  who  lived  in  the  village  oi  Ch-oveland,  were   found  in  bed   foullv 


232  WEIK  S    HISTORY    OF 

murdered.  The  murderer  had  slain  them  with  an  axe,  during  the  night  while 
asleep,  crushing  their  skulls  and  otherwise  mutilating  them.  Not  content 
with  destroying  his  victims,  the  murderer  had  committed  little  acts  of  van- 
dalism such  as  splitting  into  kindling  wood  pieces  of  furniture,  ornaments. 
etc.  As  no  valuables  were  disturbed  or  missing,  it  was  evident  that  robbery 
could  not  liave  been  the  motive.  The  murderer  or  murderers  had  entered  the 
house  through  a  back  window  and  after  their  bloody  work  had  deliberately 
unlocked  and  walked  out  of  the  front  door.  A  memorandum  book  lying  on 
a  table  in  the  bedroom  contained  several  vulgar  and  indecent  sentences  which 
the  murderer  had  written  across  one  of  the  pages.  One  of  the  sentences  was, 
'T  have  done  the  deed — now  G — d —  you,  ketch  me  if  you  ken."  Suspicion 
soon  pointed  in  the  direction  of  Goodlow  H.  Evans,  known  as  Harper  Evans. 
a  young  man  about  twenty  years  old,  who  lived  in  the  community,  and  he 
was  promptly  arrested  and,  after  a  careful  investigation  by  James  Shoemaker 
and  A.  F.  Wright,  justices  of  the  peace  in  Floyd  township,  placed  in  the 
county  jail  at  Greencastle  to  await  the  action  of  the  circuit  court.  Mean- 
while two  separate  indictments  had  been  returned  by  the  grand  jury  for  the 
murder  of  Hanna  and  his  wife,  upon  both  of  which  the  prisoner  had  been 
arraigned  and  plead  "not  guilty."  "Upon  the  call  of  the  case  for  trial  on 
Monday,  the  8th  inst.,"  says  the  Banner  in  its  issue  April  11,  1861,  "the  prose- 
cution appeared  by  Willis  G.  Neff,  prosecuting  attorney,  assisted  by  D.  R. 
Eckels  and  John  Hanna ;  the  prisoner  in  person  and  by  Williamson  &  Daggy 
and  Joseph  E.  McDonald,  of  Indianapolis.  A  venire  of  seventy-five  jurors 
had  been  ordered  from  the  south  part  of  the  county  and  now  appeared.  After 
the  examination  of  the  latter,  which  consumed  almost  the  entire  first  dav.  the 
following  jur\men  were  selected  and  duly  sworn  to  try  the  case :  Samuel 
Gardner.  Samuel  B.  Gilmore,  John  Trout,  James  M.  Lain,  Bunsle  Hair, 
Samuel  Parks,  Isaac  Harris,  Andrew  J.  Albright,  William  M.  Walden.  Henry 
B.  Martin,  Jacob  Hixon  and  Thomas  Hinote.  The  examination  of  witnesses, 
of  whom  over  a  hundred  were  in  attendance,  was  begun  on  Tuesday.  The 
testimony  pointed  strongly  to  the  guilt  of  the  accused,  the  most  convincing 
circumstance  being  the  writing  in  the  memorandum  book  found  in  the  room 
where  the  murder  took  place  and  which  was  proved  to  be  that  of  the  defend- 
ant. The  court  room  was  crowded  to  its  utmost  capacity  during  the  entire 
time  by  the  throngs  who  watched  the  proceedings  with  breathless  interest. 
"The  hearing  of  the  evidence  closed  on  Thursday  evening,"  relates  the 
Banner.  "Frida}'  morning  the  argument  of  the  case  opened  with  a  well  con- 
ceived and  forci!)le  speech  on  the  part  of  the  prosecution  by  John  Hanna, 
Esq.,  occupying  the  greater  part  of  the  forenoon.    His  was  followed  bv  a  most 


PUTXAM     COUNTY,    INDIANA.  233 

ingeiiiouslv  logical  effort  for  the  defense  by  the  Hon.  Joseph  E.  McDonald, 
taking  up  the  remainder  of  the  forenoon  and  greater  part  of  the  afternoon 
of  the  same  day.  The  able  and  eloquent  gentleman  is  certainly  the  greatest 
master  of  the  art  of  rcductio  ad  ahsiirdam  it  has  ever  been  our  fortune  to 
listen  to — fully  equal  in  ability  to  the  author  of  'Historic  Doubts  as  to  the 
Existence  of  Napoleon  Boneparte'  and  almost  capable  of  causing  one  to  dis- 
believe the  reality  of  his  own  existence  could  he  but  for  a  moment  ignore  the 
broad  and  bare  facts  of  daily  life  passing  around  him.  Judge  Eckels  followed 
in  a  most  convincing  and  closely  compacted  argument  for  the  prosecution, 
occupying  the  remainder  of  Friday  afternoon,  and  closing  on  Saturday  morn- 
ing, leaving  no  doubt,  if  any  existed,  of  the  guilt  of  the  prisoner.  Mr.  Wil- 
liamson closed  the  argument  on  Saturday  afternoon  in  an  ingeniously  labored 
and  lengthy  efifort  for  the  defense.  After  a  clear  and  able  charge  by  Judge 
Clavpool,  the  jury  retired  to  deliberate  on  their  verdict.  About  seven  o'clock 
Saturday  evening,  having  been  out  but  an  hour  or  two,  the  jury  returned  their 
\'er(lict,  'imprisonment  for  life.'  " 

All  things  considered,  it  was  the  most  noted  and  memorable  criminal  trial 
in  the  history  of  the  count}-.  The  strongest  lawyers  at  the  local  bar  were  en- 
gaged and  one  attorney  from  Indianapolis,  Joseph  E.  McDonald,  afterwards 
United  States  senator,  was  later  added  by  the  defense.  Much  of  the  credit 
for  the  conviction  was  due  Judge  D.  R.  Eckels,  who  led  the  prosecution.  His 
management  of  that  side  of  the  case  was  vigorous  and  unrelenting,  displaying 
great  legal  acumen  and  the  most  profound  knowledge  of  English  and  Amer- 
ican jurisprudence.  During  the  trial  the  bombardment  of  Ft.  Sumter  took 
place  and.  judging  from  the  papers  of  the  day,  that  memorable  and  historic 
occurrence  divided  with  the  trial  the  public  interest  and  attention.  It  was  one 
of  the  most  exciting  weeks  in  the  history  of  Greencastle.  At  three  o'clock 
Sundav  morning,  the  day  after  his  conviction,  Evans  tried  to  commit  suicide 
in  the  jail.  The  circumstances  are  thus  set  forth  in  the  Banner:  "On  the  sec- 
ond morning  after  the  commencement  of  his  trial  Evans  succeeded  in  secret- 
ing a  case  knife  (unnoticed  by  the  jailor)  by  breaking  it  in  pieces  and  shoving 
it  into  the  crevices  of  the  wall.  One  of  these  pieces,  about  an  inch  and  a  half 
long,  he  spent  most  of  his  time  in  sharpening  on  the  stone  in  his  cell.  Some 
time  in  the  night  he  requested  his  guard  to  withdraw  from  his  cell  to  the 
entrv  adjoining,  as  he  wanted  to  sleep.  About  three  o'clock  in  the  morning, 
as  stated,  he  got  up  and.  holding  a  mirror  in  one  hand  and  a  bit  of  knife  in 
the  other,  he.  after  iive  attempts,  succeeded  in  entirely  severing  the  jugular 
vein  of  his  neck,  from  which  he  bled  profusely,  so  much  so  that  he  soon 
fainted,  when  the  bloorl  stopped  Bowing.     He  was  found  about  8  o'clock  Sab- 


234 


VVEIK  S    HISTORY    OF 


bath  morning  weltering  in  his  own  blood.  Doctors  Preston  and  ElHs  were 
called  in  and  tor  some  time  it  was  doubtful  whether  he  would  recover  or  not." 
In  about  four  days  he  had  so  far  recovered  as  to  be  able  to  tra\-el.  whereupon 
he  was  taken  to  the  prison  at  Jeffersonville  to  begin  his  sentence.  Several 
years  later,  and  before  the  close  of  the  war.  he  succeeiled  in  escaping  from  the 
prison  and  was  never  seen  or  heard  from  afterwards.  About  nineteen  years 
ago  his  brother  Noah  was  tried  and  convicted  on  the  charge  of  having  killed 
Erastus  R.  Adams,  in  the  town  of  Roachdale.  He  was  also  given  a  life 
sentence,  and  died  while  in  prison  at  Michigan  City. 


CHAPTER  XIV. 

CITY    OF    GREENCASTLE. 

The  history  of  Greencastle,  especially  the  earlier  part  of  it,  is  so  thor- 
oughly inter\vo\-en  with  that  of  the  county  that  much  of  it  has  already  been  re- 
corded in  these  pages.  But  there  came  a  time,  in  later  years,  when  the  city, 
apart  from  its  importance  as  the  center  of  county  government,  began  to  have 
a  histor\-  of  its  own  and  thus  it  happens  that  some  things  yet  remain  to  be 
noted. 

Greencastle  was  a  village  or  town  operating  under  authority  of  the  county 
commissioners  until  March  9.  1849,  when  it  was  incoq^orated  as  a  town  by 
special  act  of  the  Legislature.  The  charter  was  written  by  the  late  D.  R. 
Eckels.  When  the  election  of  town  officers  was  held  Judge  Eckels  was 
chosen  mayor  and  Henry  W.  Daniels,  clerk.  The  following  were  also  the 
first  councilmen:  first  ward.  Russell  L.  Hathaway;  second  ward.  Isaac  Ash; 
third  ward.  Albert  G.  Preston:  fourth  ward,  Hiram  Marshall:  fifth  ward, 
Joseph  F.  Farley. 

Judge  Eckel's  term  as  mayor  ended  May  2.  1850.  when  he  was  succeeded 
by  Russell  L.  Hathaway,  who  served  till  March  13.  185 1  :  John  Hanna,  who 
.served  till  March  7.  1854:  Hiram  Marshall,  till  October  2.  1856:  Dillard  C. 
Donnohue.  till  March  5,  1857;  Joseph  F.  Farley,  to  October  6,  1859;  Reuben 
S.  Ragan.  till  March  15.  i860;  J.  S.  Bachelder.  till  Januar>-  3.  1861 ;  Henry 
Hough,  (town  recorder)  f^ro  tciii  till  March  7.  1861  ;  E.  R.  Kercheval  till 
August  9.  1 86 1,  when  the  town  government  closed. 

FROM    TOWN'    TO    CITY. 

On  July  8.  1861,  an  election  was  held  to  determine  whether  "the  town  of 
Greencastle  should  be  incorporated  as  a  city."  Polls  opened  at  nine  o'clock 
at  the  following  places:  First  ward.  R.  L.  Hathaway's  office:  second  ward, 
mayor's  office ;  third  ward,  Renick's  shop :  fourth  ward.  Braman's  shop :  fifth 
ward.  CowgiU's  law  office. 

The  proposition  to  incorporate  as  a  city  having  carried,  provisions  were 
at  once  made  to  hold  an  election  .\ugust  3,  1861,  for  the  purpose  of  selecting 
"the  following  citv  officers  to  serve  until  the  annual  eIecti(Mi  in   May,   1862: 


236  weik's  history  of 

A[ayor.  clerk,  marslial.  assessor,  treasurer,  engineer  and  two  councilmen  from 
each  ward."  The  number  of  wards  was  reduced  from  five  to  three  and  the 
boundaries  of  the  same  fixed  as  follows:  "All  that  part  of  said  town  lying 
west  of  Ephraim  street  and  north  of  Hanna  street  shall  constitute  the  first 
ward.  All  that  part  lying  east  of  Ephraim  street  and  north  of  Hanna  street 
to  the  east  end  of  said  street,  thence  by  a  line  due  east  to  the  corporation  line, 
shall  constitute  the  second  ward.  All  that  part  lying  south  of  Hanna  street 
and  a  line  due  east  from  the  east  end  of  Hanna  street  shall  constitute  the  third 
ward."  The  voting  places  were:  First  ward,  court  house;  second  ward.  Cow- 
gill's  law  office;  third  ward,  West  End  German  church. 

The  result  of  the  election  was:  E.  R.  Kercheval,  mayor;  Harry  G. 
Hough,  clerk ;  P.  H.  ^IcCamy,  engineer ;  Thomas  J.  Johnson,  assessor ;  Wil- 
liam Atherton.  treasurer;  councilmen,  first  ward,  James  D.  Stevenson  and 
William  S.  Mulholn;  second  ward.  Gasper  Renick  and  Otho  Ward;  third 
ward,  Gustavus  H.  Voss  and  Austin  M.  Puett.  Since  then  the  following  per- 
sons have  held  the  office  of  mayor:  E.  R.  Kercheval,  till  1862;  Marshall  A. 
Moore,  till  1866;  Milton  A,  Osborne,  1868;  Henry  W.  Daniels,  1870;  William 
A.  Brown,  1872;  William  D.  Allen,  1876;  Lucius  P.  Chapin,  1880;  John  R. 
Miller,  1884;  Joseph  S.  McClar}^  188S;  Elisha  Cowgill,  1890;  Charles  B. 
Case,  1894;  Jonathan  Birch,  1902;  John  H.  James,  1904,  and  James  McD. 
Hays,  19 ID.  The  present  incumbent  of  the  office  is  John  R.  Miller,  who  was 
elected  in  November,  1909,  to  serve  from  January  i,  1910.  for  a  period  of 
four  years. 

COMING   OF   THE   RAILROADS. 

The  importance  of  Greerxastle  as  a  commercial  point  dates  from  about 
1850.  At  that  time  the  long-discussed  project  of  uniting  Indianapolis  and 
Terre  Haute  bv  rail  began  to  be  reahzed.  The  Terre  Haute  &  Richmond 
(now  the  Vandalia)  railroad,  which  was  planned  to  parallel  and  run  in  sight 
of  the  National  road — the  great  highway  connecting  Baltimore  with  St.  Louis 
— between  Indianapolis  and  the  Wabash  river  at  Terre  Haute,  was  forced  to 
make  a  detour  of  several  miles  from  its  bee-line  course  in  order  to  reach 
Greencastle.  Building  of  the  road  began  simultaneously  at  Indianapolis  and 
Terre  Haute  and  the  two  sections  were  joined  about  midway  between  Green- 
castle and  Fillmore  on  February  18.  1852,  after  which  regular  trains  were 
run.  Meanwhile  the  New  Albany  &  Salem  (now  the  Monon)  railroad  was 
in  process  of  construction  through  Greencastle  with  the  design  of  connecting 
the  Ohio  river  at  New  Albany  with  Lake  Michigan  at  Michigan  City.  The 
track-Iavers  reached  Greencastle  ^Larch  17.  1854.  and  in  a  few  w-eeks  regular 
trains  were  run.     In  its  issue  March  22,  1854.  noticing  the  completion  of  the 


PUTNAM    COUNTY,    INDIANA.  237 

road,  the  Banner  says :  "The  track  of  the  New  Albany  &  Salem  railroad  from 
the  north  was  finished  to  our  place  on  last  Friday.  The  whistle  of  the  loco- 
motive in  that  part  of  the  town  is  now  daily  heard.  We  have  not  learned 
when  the  passenger  trains  will  commence  running.  There  is  now  ready  at  this 
place  ready  for  shipment  by  this  road  via  Detroit  to  New  York  some  fifteen 
or  twenty  thousand  barrels  of  pork,  lard,  etc.     A  good  beginning." 

The  completion  of  these  railroads*  gave  a  great  impetus  to  the  business 
of  Greencastle  as  the  following  comparative  statement  of  hogs  packed  in  the 
winter  of  1853-54  will  indicate:  Madison,  122,450;  Terre  Haute,  78.169:  In- 
dianapolis, 44.900:  Greencastle,  22.400:  Lafayette.  21.000;  Connersville,  21.- 
000;  Vincennes.  19.202:  Princeton,  17,207;  Logansport,  16.000:  Evansville, 
13.356;  Crawfordsville,  12,000;  Richmond,  10,000. 

The  trade  of  the  town  has  so  increased  in  volume  that  a  bank  of  deposit 
and  exchange  was  necessary  to  meet  the  growing  demands  of  business  and 
accordingly,  in  February,  1856,  the  Exchange  Bank  of  Greencastle  (under 
the  acts  of  the  Legislature  of  May,  1852,  and  March.  1855)  was  organized. 
William  D.  Allen  was  president,  A.  D.  Wood,  cashier,  and  the  concern  num- 
bered among  its  stockholders,  John  S.  Allen,  Jehu  Hadley,  Jacob  McGinness, 
Thomas  O.  .Allen,  John  Wain,  Russell  L.  Hathaway.  J.  D.  Stevenson.  John 
Gilmore,  and  David  L.  Southard.  In  every  respect  the  town  was  abreast  of 
the  times. 

It  is,  however,  somewhat  refreshing  to  read  in  the  files  of  the  early  papers 
of  the  crude  and  primitive  methods  of  doing  business  and  the  lack  of  com- 
forts and  conveniences  in  the  few  public  utilities  of  that  period.  Thus,  for 
several  years  after  the  railroads  began  operations  the  mail  was  still  carried 
o\erland  by  horse-power,  as  this  editorial  notice  in  the  Baiuicr  in  the  fall  of 
1856  will  indicate:  "We  do  hope  the  government  will  make  an  arrangement 
with  the  railroad  to  carry  the  mail  between  Terre  Haute  and  Indianapolis,  if 
for  no  other  reason,  to  save  the  poor  horses  now  employed  in  the  service  from 
being  run  to  death  this  hot  and  dry  weather." 

FIRST    TELEGR.XPH     LINE. 

Even  the  telegraph  lines  were  not  used  by  the  railroads  for  several  years 
after  the  latter  were  put  into  operation.     The  first  telegraph  line  connecting 

*The  Indianapolis  &  St.  Louis  Railroarl,  or  rather  that  part  of  it  between  Indi- 
anapolis and  Terre  Haute,  was  completed  July  11.  1870.  This  made  the  third  railroad 
thro\)!;h  Greencastle.  Since  that  time  the  Indiana.  Decatur  &  Western,  now  a  part 
of  the  Cincinnati.  Hamilton  *  Dayton  Railroad,  has  been  built  through  the  northern 
part  of  the  county,  ami  the  Terre  Haute.  Indianapolis  &  Eastern,  an  electric  line,  has 
been  built  through  Greencastle.  There  ar?,  therefore,  four  steam  roads  and  one  elec- 
tric road  through  the  county. 


238 


WEIK  S    HISTORY    OF 


Greencastle  with  the  outside  world  was  constructed  by  tlie  Cincinnati  &  St. 
Louis  Telegraph  Company  in  1850.  The  line  ran  from  Cincinnati  via  Ham- 
ilton, Ohio.  Connersville.  Rushville.  Shelbyville,  Indianapolis,  Danville, 
Greencastle.  Terre  Haute,  Indiana.  Paris.  Charleston.  Hillsboro,  and  Alton, 
Illinois,  thence  to  St.  Louis.  For  a  time  the  office  in  Greencastle  was  over 
a  store  on  the  southeast  corner  of  the  public  square,  then  was  removed  to  the 
upper  story  of  a  room  on  the  north  side  of  the  square.  The  operator  was  the 
late  Henry  \V.  Daniels,  who  likewise  had  charge  of  the  maintenance  of  the 
line  between  Manhattan,  where  it  struck  the  National  road,  and  Danville, 
Indiana.  The  line  only  touching  the  larger  places,  the  service  was  somewhat 
limited  and  it  wa.s  a  long  time  before  sending  messages  by  telegraph  became 
very  general. 

Late  in  the  forties,  before  lines  were  built  or  offices  opened  for  business, 
men  traveled  over  the  country  explaining  the  "magnetic  telegraph"  and  en- 
lightening the  people  as  to  its  operation  and  use.  They  were  doubtless  sell- 
ing stock  in  some  of  the  lines  then  being  promoted.  A  citizen  of  Greencastle, 
who  was  a  toy  then,  relates  that  he  remembers  seeing  the  experiments  con- 
ducted by  one  of  these  men  in  the  old  Presbyterian  church  in  the  west  part  of 
town.  The  stranger  placed  one  instrument  in  the  pulpit  and  another  in  the 
opposite  end  of  the  room,  connecting  the  two  by  a  wire  running  outside 
through  a  window,  then  around  the  building  and  back  in  through  another 
window.  The  operator  not  only  transmitted  messages  by  sound,  but  ignited 
and  exploded  a  handful  of  gunpowder  by  means  of  the  electric  spark.  The 
house  was  filled  with  people,  all  of  whom  were  impressed  if  not  actually  awed, 
at  the  contemplation  of  the  possibilities  of  this  wonderful  mysterious  power. 

In  1859  the  old  highway  line  was  abandoned  and  thereafter  all  business 
was  done  over  the  railroad  lines,  which  prompts  the  Banner  in  August,  1859, 
to  admonish  the  public  that  "a  reliable  telegraph  operator  and  a  telegraph  in 
first-class  working  order  running  from  Terre  Haute  to  Indianapolis  over  the 
Terre  Haute  &  Richmond  railroad  has  i-ecently  been  erected.  A  battery  has 
been  located  at  the  depot  at  this  place  for  the  benefit  of  the  company  and  the 
public.  The  New  Albanv  &  Salem  railroad  will  also  install  a  telegraph 
along  their  road  in  a  short  time,  when  the  public  will  have  the  privilege  of 
sending  dispatches  to  all  points  of  the  compass."  It  is  recalled  that  in  July, 
1861,  an  eager,  impatient  throng  filled  the  little  telegraph  office  in  the  "depot" 
of  the  St.  Louis.  Xew  Albany  &  Chicago  railroad  at  the  foot  of  Jackson 
street  during  the  greater  part  of  the  night  anxiously  awaiting  the  meager  and 
unsatisfactory  news  as  it  slowly  dripped  from  the  wires  indicating  the  rising 
or  falling  of  the  tide  at  the  distant  battle  of  Bull  Run. 


PLTNA.M    COLXTV.    IXDIAXA.  2T,q 

But  in  many  things  we  of  today  are  not  much  in  advance  of  our  fathers 
after  all;  and  when  we  think  of  their  crude  appliances  and  primitive  equip- 
ment we  wonder  they  were  ever  able  ti5  effect  the  little  history  tells  us  thev 
accomplished.  The  traveler  wlio  hoards  the  richly  upholstered,  vestibuled, 
gas-lighted  train  at  the  noon  hour  in  Greencastle  and  by  virtue  of  a  bee-line 
route,  a  smooth  track  and  the  fewest  possible  stops  rolls  into  Chicago  by  six 
o'clock,  often  wonders  what  the  past  generation  would  think  could  it  but  wit- 
ness or  realize  the  magnitude  of  the  accomplishment.  Here  is  the  time  table 
of  the  Xew  Albany  &  Salem  railroad  published  within  a  year  after  the 
first  train  ran  over  it :  Chicago  and  Detroit  Express  :  Leaves  Greencastle.  12  :io 
p.  m. ;  Crawfordsville,  1:45;  Lafayette.  3:30:  Michigan  City.  7:30,  and 
Chicago.  9  :30  p.  m.  To  make  this  journey  within  the  prescribed  time  and 
with  the  rude  macliinery  in  vogue  almost  sixty  years  ago  required  numerous 
stops,  a  change  of  trains  entire  at  Michigan  City  and  that.  too.  with  twentv- 
eight  more  miles  of  track  to  cover  than  the  present  route! 

AX    E.XTERPRISIXG    SPIRIT. 

Xor  can  it  be  said  that  w  ith  all  our  present  commercial  ad\-antages  we  are 
more  enterprising  or  aggressive  than  the  Greencastle  of  fifty  years  ago.  Mer- 
chants' associations  and  other  commercial  bodies,  to  advertise  and  develop 
the  material  and  industrial  resources  of  our  city  are  not  original  with  us  of 
the  twentieth  century.  As  early  as  1857,  the  Board  of  Trade — an  institution 
designed  to  call  the  "attention  of  outside  capital  to  our  natural  advantages  for 
manufacturing  purposes" — was  organized  in  the  old  court  house.  John  A. 
^Nlatson  was  elected  president;  G.  W.  Ames,  secretary;  R.  L.  Hathawav,  treas- 
urer; and  Dr.  A.  C.  Stevenson.  W.  H.  Thornburgh,  D.  L.  Southard.  Doctor 
Cowgill,  Basil  Brawner.  Dan.  S.  Place.  Addison  Daggy.  John  S.  Jennings.  T. 
C.  Hammond  and  W.  H.  Coates.  directors."  The  Banner  of  the  period  indi- 
cates a  purpose  of  raising  a  fund  of  from  ten  to  fifteen  thousand  dollars  with 
which  to  encourage  well-established  firms  or  companies  to  construct  factories 
in  Greencastle. 

As  indicative  <>f  the  commercial  growth  and  industrial  status  of  Green- 
castle fifty  years  ago  the  following  article  by  Doctor  Stevenson,  entitled 
"Greencastle  Thirty  Years  Ago."  was  published  in  the  Banner  January  4. 
i860: 

■"Greencastle  has  grown  much  within  thirty  years.  The  citizens  of  thirty 
vears  ago  have  nearlv  all  died  or  removed;  but  few  remain. 


240  WEIK  S    HISTORV    OF 

"Thirty  years  ago  there  were  three  small  dry  goods  stores  in  Greencastle 
and  five  or  six  groceries.  The  latter  contained  each  about  one  barrel  of 
whisky  and  a  dozen  tin  cups.  Now  there  are  about  thirteen  large  dry  goods 
stores,  two  large  drug  stores,  two  heavy  hardware  and  tin  establishments,  two 
exclusively  tin  and  stove  stores,  and  four  heavy  clothing  establishments. 
Thirty  years  ago  there  was  one  saddler  who  put  new  seats  in  old  saddles. 
There  were  two  cabinet  shops,  t\vo  smith  shops,  a  few  carpenters  and  a  brick 
layer.  Now  there  are  two  saddler  shops,  doing  a  large  business,  two  cabinet 
shops,  one  of  them  propelled  by  steam.  There  are  now  five  or  si.x  smith 
shops,  a  large  number  of  carpenters,  bricklayers,  plasterers  and  painters; 
two  shops  by  steam  for  planing  or  dressing  lumber,  making  doors,  sash,  etc. ; 
two  woolen  factories,  three  steam  grist-mills  and  one  foundry;  two  plow  fac- 
tories, two  wagon  shops,  and  one  carriage  factory  doing  a  large  business. 
Thirty  years  ago,  there  was  one  six-months  school.  Now  there  is  one  flourish- 
ing college,  one  femafe  seminary  and  a  numlier  of  common  schools  and  prob- 
ably some  two  or  three  high  schools.  There  was  but  one  church — an  inferior 
log  building.  Now  there  are  two  large  brick  Methodist  churches,  two  Presby- 
terian churches  and  one  each  of  the  Christian,  Baptist  and  Catholic  denomina- 
tions.    There  is  now  one  bank. 

"These  are  some  of  the  very  striking  differences  between  now  and  then, 
to  which  may  be  added  now  two  railroad  depots  within  our  town.  Circuit 
court  ^vas  then  held  in  a  small  room  of  a  dwelling  house  and  presided  over  by 
Judge  Porter.  The  leading  attorneys  were  Robert  F.  Glidewell  and  George 
F.  Waterman.  Henrv  Secrest  was  then  looked  upon  as  a  promising  beginner. 
A  few  others  attended  from  other  points,  viz :  Thomas  Blake  and  Judge  Kin- 
ney, from  Terre  Haute;  Thomas  Adams,  from  Spencer;  James  Whitcomb  and 
Craven  P.  Hester,  from  Bloomington.  Now  there  is  a  good  court  house :  but 
whether  there  has  been  an  improvement  in  the  bar  we  will  not  undertake  to 
decide,  as  that  might  be  considered  invidious.  Then  the  "overjoyful'  was  not 
feared  as  now  and  we  very  well  remember  several  little  frolics  that  the  young 
men  had  in  those  days.  Apple  toddy  till  midnight  and  then  a  moderate  up- 
heaving till  morning. 

"  'Ramp  creek'  and  the  'Forks'  in  those  days  met  weekly  on  the  public 
square  to  drink  whisky  and  crack  jokes  and  sometimes  fists.  The  girls  and 
boys  did  their  courting  in  the  same  chimney  corner  where  the  old  folks  sit, 
as  there  was  commonlv  but  one  room  to  the  dwellings — still  it  was  well  done 
and  soon  through.  A  sociality  pervaded  S(:K:iety  then  which  is  not  found  now, 
as  the  following  instance  of  kind  attention  will  illustrate  : 


PTTXAM    COLXTV.    IXDIAXA.  24I 

■'The  first  temperance  meeting  was  called  ant!  we  had  the  honor  of  being 
speaker.  John  S.  Jennings.  Colonel  Sands  and  friends  manifested  their  good 
feeling  for  the  cause  by  drinking  the  health  of  the  speaker  frequently,  during 
the  speech,  from  a  large  bottle  of  brandy." 

COMMERCIAL  ACTIVITY. 

The  periofl  following  the  close  of  the  Civil  war  was  one  of  great  com- 
mercial and  industrial  activity  everywhere  and  in  no  place  were  the  improx'ed 
conditions  more  marked  than  in  Greencastle.  As  one  means  of  promoting  the 
city's  growth,  a  street  railway  to  connect  the  two  railroad  stations  and  traxers- 
jng  the  residence  section  was  proposed.  On  Monday,  September  25,  1865, 
a  meeting  of  citizens  to  consider  the  project  was  held  in  the  Exchange  Bank. 
A  railroad  builder  named  Sheldon  was  present  and  explained  how  the  road 
could  be  Ixu'lt  and  i~)perated.  "propelled  by  a  dum  engine,  etc.,"  for  thirtv 
thousand  dollars.  A  stock  company  was  proposed  and  can\'assers  were  sent 
out  to  secure  the  requisite  subscriptions.  'Tf  this  enterprise  is  pushed  forward 
t(i  completion."  says  the  Banner,  "it  will  mark  an  epoch  in  the  historv  of  our 
city  of  the  utmost  importance.  It  will  be  but  the  beginning  of  the  work 
which  shall  raise  Greencastle  to  a  position  in  point  of  wealth,  enterprise  and 
notoriety  inferior  to  none  of  our  sister  cities  in  Indiana.  It  will  give  an  im- 
petus to  our  onward  march  in  growth  and  prosperity  which  shall  sweep  awav 
all  obstacles  and  render  us  one  of  the  most  thriving  and  commanding  com- 
munities in  the  state.  Other  and  vaster  improvements  and  enterprises  will 
follow  upc^n  the  heels  of  this  one;  manufactories  of  every  character  will  spring 
up  and  the  immense  wealth  of  Putnam  county  in  undeveli^ped  material  will  he 
brought  into  requisition  and  we  shall  march  on  as  the  leading  countv  rif  the 
state." 

In  due  season  the  re([uired  thirty  thousand  dollars  of  stock  was  subscribed 
and  the  company  dul_\-  organized.  At  the  meeting  of  the  stockholders  the  fol- 
lowing directors  were  chosen:  W.  D.  .\llen.  Lee  \V.  Sinclair,  G.  H.  Voss, 
E.  T.  Keightley.  Melvin  ^[cKee.  Reuben  Slavens  and  William  Dagg}-.  The 
road  was  promptly  built  antl  successfully  operated  for  many  years,  the  cars 
being  drawn  by  horses.  In  1895  a  new  franchise  permitting  the  road  to  substi- 
tute electricitv  for  horses  was  granted  h\-  the  city  council,  but  owing  to  the 
removal  of  the  \'andalia  passenger  station  and  the  probable  entry  into  the 
city  of  an  interurban  electric  road  from  Indianapolis  the  further  operation  of 
the  horse-car  line  was  deemed  unprofitable  and  the  enterprise  was  abandoned. 

.\notlier  industry  which  sprang  up  soon  after  the  construction  of  the 
(  16 ) 


242  WEIK  S    HISTORY    OF 

street  railway  was  the  Greencastle  Iron  and  Nail  Company.  The  organiza- 
tion was  formed  in  the  spring  of  1867.  After  sixty  thousand  dollars  worth 
of  stock  had  been  taken  the  concern  was  organized  as  follows :  J.  F.  Darnall, 
president;  A.  S.  Bryant,  secretary  and  treasurer;  F.  P.  Nelson,  R.  M.  Hazlett. 
William  Bridges,  John  Lundy,  Samuel  Catherwood.  Andrew  ^I.  Lockridge 
and  Oliver  P.  Badger,  directors.  The  factory  was  built  near  the  Terre  Haute 
&  Indianapolis  depot  and  was  operated  under  the  supervision  of  John  Lundy, 
who  had  come  from  near  Pittsburg  and  was  familiar  with  the  iron  industry 
in  all  its  branches.  It  at  once  began  the  manufacture  of  nails  and  employed 
in  the  neighborhood  of  one  hundred  fifty  hands.  By  virtue  of  a  commend- 
able policy  on  the  part  of  the  management,  it  was  free  from  labor  troubles  and 
rarely  ever  shut  down  save  for  necessary  repairs.  It  was  in  continuous  opera- 
tion for  over  twenty  years.  When  natural  gas  was  discovered  in  northeastern 
Indiana,  the  stockholders  accepted  an  offer  from  the  city  of  Muncie  of  free 
fuel,  free  factory  site  and  immunity  from  taxation  for  five  years  and  moved 
(the  plant  there.  It  was  the  greatest  and  most  profitable  industrial  enterprise, 
so  far  as  the  interests  of  the  people  were  concerned,  Greencastle  harl  ever  had. 
In  January,  1868,  the  prosperity  of  Greencastle  had  evidently  reached 
high  tide,  as  the  following  item  in  the  Banner  at  that  time  will  indicate : 
"Greencastle  is  becoming  a  place  of  importance.  We  have  one  iron  and  nail 
factorv.  one  foundry  and  machine  shop,  two  flouring  mills,  one  pump  factory, 
one  carriage  factor\-,  four  wagon  shops,  seven  blacksmith  shops,  six  saloons, 
eight  churches,  thirty-five  clergymen,  one  college,  one  high  school,  one  young 
ladies'  school,  a  number  of  other  schools  with  efficient  teachers,  ten  physicians, 
twentv-four  lawyers,  a  population  of  five  thousand,  and  more  handsome  ladies 
than  any  other  town  in  Indiana." 

DISTINGUISHED    CITIZENS. 

Greencastle  has  been  the  home  and  in  some  cases  the  birthplace  of  many 
persons  of  distinction.  Among  the  persons  who  have  thus  attracted  public 
attention  are  Edward  W.  AIcGaughey,  John  Hanna  and  Courtland  C.  Mat- 
son,  who  have  represented  this  district  in  Congress ;  Andrew  J.  Hunter,  con- 
gressman from  Paris,  Illinois,  who  was  born  in  Greencastle;  Joseph  E.  Mc- 
Donald, late  United  States  senator  from  Indiana;  Newton  Booth,  United 
States  senator  from  California;  James  Harlan,  United  States  senator  from 
Iowa  and  a  member  of  President  Lincoln's  cabinet;  Daniel  W.  \'oorhees, 
L'nited  States  senator  from  Indiana,  who  graduated  from  Asbun,-  University 
and  was  married  in  Greencastle;  Albert  J.  Beveridge,  United  States  senator 


PUTXAM    COUNTY,    INDIANA.  243 

from  Indiana,  who  likewise  was  educated  and  married  in  Greencastle ;  Albert 
G.  Porter,  late  governor  of  Indiana  and  a  graduate  of  Asburs^  University; 
Delana  R.  Eckels,  late  chief  justice,  supreme  court  Utah  Territory;  Delano  E. 
Williamson,  late  attorney-general  of  Indiana;  Dr.  Hiram  E.  Talbott,  auditor 
of  Indiana;  Thomas  Hanna.  lieutenant-governor  of  Indiana;  John  Clark  Rid- 
path.  the  eminent  historian,  born  near  Fillmore;  Amelia  Kussner,  the  famous 
miniature  painter,  born  in  Greencastle;  Robert  Hitt,  late  congressman  from 
Illinois,  who  lived  and  attended  college  here  :  William  C.  Larrabee  and  Miles  J. 
Fletcher,  late  superintendents  of  public  instruction  for  Indiana;  W.  R.  Mc- 
Keen.  late  president  of  the  V'andalia  railroad,  who  attended  college  here,  and 
Matthew  Simpson,  Thomas  Bowman,  Isaac  W.  Joyce  and  Edwin  H.  Hughes, 
bishops  of  the  Methodist  Episcopal  church,  all  of  whom  were  residents  of 
Greencastle. 

CASUALTIES. 

Only  two  casualties  worthy  of  record — and  neither  of  them  attended  by 
a  single  death — have  ever  visited  Greencastle.  The  first  was  a  tornado — or 
cyclone  as  it  is  now  called — which  struck  the  city  at  eight  o'clock  in  the  even- 
ing, November  8,  1867.  The  current  issue  of  the  Banner  contains  a  detailed 
account  of  the  disaster  which  is  too  elaborate  for  insertion  here.  The  storm, 
which  came  from  the  southwest,  after  blowing  over  dwellings,  barns  and 
everything  else  in  its  path,  "next  struck  Asbury  University,  smashing  in  the 
windows,  tearing  the  bricks  from  the  walls  and  starting  the  immense  roof, 
which  for  a  wonder  it  did  not  carry  off.  Had  the  roof  gone,  two  hundred 
students  who  were  in  the  building  at  the  time  would  have  been  buried  beneath 
the  ruins.  Simpson  Chapel  and  the  Old  Seminary  were  next  struck  and  al- 
most entirely  unroofed  and  parts  of  the  walls  carried  away.  The  upper  room 
in  Simpson  Chapel  was  a  complete  wreck — furniture,  chandeliers,  evervthing, 
in  fact,  broken  to  pieces.  The  roof  was  precipitated  into  the  yard  of  Mr. 
Westerfield,  doing  considerable  damage.  The  old  Seminary  is  injured  beyond 
repair.  A  part  of  it  was  carried  across  the  street  and  landed  in  the  vard  of 
J.  F.  Duckworth.  *  *  *  *  ^he  Baptist  church  was  then  struck  and  en- 
tirely destroyed.  It  was  a  brick  building,  erected  only  a  few  years  since  at 
a  cost  of  five  thousand  seven  hundred  dollars.  It  seems  impossible  that  a 
building  apparently-  so  strong  could  be  so  utterly  destroyed — the  walls  torn 
down  within  a  few  feet  of  the  ground.  *  *  *  _4^g  j^g-jj-  ^g  ^.^^^  j^g  gathered 
the  loss  will  exceed  thirteen  thousand  dollars." 

The  second  misfortune  or  casualty  which  visited  the  good  little  city  of 
Greencastle  was  the  noted  fire  of  October.  1874;  and  as  no  better  storv  of  it 


244 


VVEIK  S    HISTORY    OF 


is  extant  than  the  account  by  Gilkim  Ridpath.  the  hberty  is  taken  to  incor- 
porate it  in  these  columns.  It  was  prepared  five  years  after  the  fire  occurred 
and  is  as  follows  : 

"The  history  of  Greencastle  for  a  period  of  more  than  fifty  years  was  one 
of  uninterrupted  prosperity.  During  that  time  no  great  calamity  of  any  kind 
befell  the  city  to  mar  the  general  prosperity  or  happiness  of  its  citizens.  No 
great  epidemic  or  contagion  has  ever  spread  within  its  borders,  and  the  relig- 
ious character  of  its  citizens  has  allowed  no  moral  deformity  to  rear  itself  in 
their  midst. 

"The  historv  of  the  city  up  to  the  memorable  night  of  October  28.  1874, 
shows  a  remarkable  exemption  from  fires,  only  four  of  any  note  having  oc- 
curred previous  to  that  date.  The.se  were  the  destruction  of  Lee  W.  Sinclair's 
woolen-mill  in  1865,  R.  L.  Higert's  brewery  in  187 1,  Mr.  Gage's  flouring- 
mill  in  1872,  and  the  Indiana  Female  College  in  the  year  following.  In  con- 
sequence of  this  immunity  from  anything  like  a  general  conflagration,  the  city 
was  totally  unprepared  for  such  an  emergency  when  the  time  of  trial  came. 

"On  the  night  mentioned,  about  half  past  ten  o'clock,  the  planing-mill  of 
C.  J.  Kimble  &  Son  caught  fire  and  was  soon  enveloped  in  flames.  A  brisk 
gale  from  the  southwest  carried  the  burning  embers  in  its  course,  and  in  the 
short  space  of  four  or  five  hours  nearly  six  squares  of  the  best  business  blocks 
and  private  residences  were  laid  waste.  In  those  few  hours  were  consumed 
thirty-seven  business  houses,  twelve  dwellings,  two  livery  stables,  one  hotel, 
one  furniture  factory,  one  express  office  and  the  postoffice.  Added  to  these, 
a  large  number  of  outhouses  and  a  vast  amount  of  personal  property  fell  a 
prey  to  the  devouring  flames.  Both  in  its  suddenness  and  destructiveness, 
the  damage  done  to  Greencastle  was  greater,  in  proportion  to  size,  population 
and  wealth,  than  that  done  to  Chicago  by  the  great  fire  in  that  city. 

"At  the  anniversary  meeting  held  by  the  citizens  one  year  after  the  fire, 
a  committee  on  losses  and  insurance  reported  a  loss  of  capital  amounting  to 
two  hundred  fifty-six  thousand  one  hundred  and  thirty-four  dollars,  on  which 
there  was  an  insurance  of  one  hundred  sixteen  thousand  three  hundred  and 
eio-hty-one  dollars.  The  same  committee  reported  that  there  should  be  added 
to  the  above  sum  a  considerable  amount  of  unestimated  loss,  making  the  total 
much  larger  than  that  presented,  and  the  historical  committee  placed  their  esti- 
mate at  the  sum  of  four  hundred  thousand  dollars. 

"On  the  night  of  ]\Iarch  8.  1875.  another  fire  broke  out,  originating  in 
Sherfey's  furniture  store.  The  flames  soon  communicated  to  the  block  of 
buildings  fronting  on  the  south  side  of  the  square,  the  best  block  remaining  in 
the  citv.     The  reported  losses  by  this  fire  were  in  the  aggregate  forty-three 


PL'TXA.M     COUNTY,    IXDIAXA.  245 

thousand  and  seventy-seven  dollars,  on  which  tiiere  was  an  insurance  of  thirty- 
seven  thousand  six  hundred  and  twenty-seven  dollars. 

"Never  did  the  character  of  Greencastle's  citizens  show  to  better  advan- 
tage than  during  the  year  succeeding  the  fire.  Within  that  time,  there  were 
made  or  nearly  completed  brick  and  store  improvements  to  the  value  of  two 
hundred  fifty-two  thousand  five  huntlred  dollars  and  wooden  buildings  and  re- 
pairs wonh  ninety-eight  thousand  three  huntlred  and  five  dollars,  making  a 
total  of  three  hundred  fifty-nine  thousand  eight  hundred  and  five  dollars. 
These  works  required  the  consumption  of  four  million  eight  hundred  sixty-five 
thousand  brick,  and  stone  valued  as  it  came  from  the  quarr>'  at  thirty 
thousand  dollars.  During  the  same  period,  there  were  made  by  the  city,  street 
improvements  worth  six  thousand  dollars.  Within  the  same  time,  the  city 
had  provided  two  fire  engines,  two  engine  houses  with  alarm  bells,  eleven  cis- 
terns and  one  pool,  having  a  united  capacity  of  nearly  ten  thousand  barrels, 
and  there  was  organized  a  fire  department  in  two  companies  alrearly  well 
drilled  and  disciplined,  to  fight  the  fire  fiend  whenever  he  might  show  his 
lurid  front. 

"At  the  end  of  the  year  there  were  in  the  city  seventy-five  mercantile 
houses,  employing  a  business  capital,  exclusive  of  cash  and  real  estate  neces- 
sary for  their  various  operations,  amounting  in  the  aggregate  to  three  hundred 
fifty-five  thousand  dollars,  doing  a  business  of  over  nine  hundred  thousand 
dollars  per  annum,  employing  directly  about  one  hundred  and  seventy-fi\e  per- 
sons and  supporting  over  four  hundred  and  fifty. 

"There  were,  also,  eighteen  manufacturing  establishments,  having  a  com- 
bined capital  of  three  himdred  six  thousand  dollars  and  employing  three  hun- 
dred and  fifty-eight  operatives.  The  weekly  payments  for  labor  in  these  were 
four  thousand  five  hundred  and  fifteen  dollars  and  per  annum  two  hundred 
twelve  thousand  dollars.  The  annual  products  from  these  factories  were 
worth  at  first  sale  five  hundred  eighty-seven  thousand  four  hundred  dollars. 
The  value  of  raw  material  consumed  cannot  be  given.  These  estimates  for 
merchandising  and  manufacturing  are  given  exclusive  of  persons  indirectly 
eniphjyed,  such  as  railroaders,  draymen  and  common  laborers." 

What  has  taken  place  in  Greencastle  since  the  incidents  just  related  are 
matters  of  such  recent  occurrence  no  part  of  their  history  has,  thus  far,  es- 
caped the  attention  of  the  average  reader  of  this  volume.  To  recount  them, 
therefore,  would  be  a  needless  repetition.  Some  items  may  have  been  over- 
looked, but  they  are  of  minor  importance  and  their  omission  in  no  degree 
mars  the  outline  of  the  story.  Of  her  people  and  her  achievements  Green- 
castle is  justly  proud.  She  rejoices  in  her  past  prosperity  and  her  future  is 
full  of  promise. 


Col. Alexander   S.  Farrow 


BIOGRAPHICAL. 


COL.  ALEXANDER  SHORE  FARROW. 

Xo  history  of  Putnam  county  would  be  complete  without  a  resume  of 
the  intensely  interesting  and  useful  life  record  of  Col.  Alexander  S.  Farrow, 
who  was,  more  than  three  decades  ago,  called  to  a  higher  plane  of  action.  He 
is  well  remembered  for  his  many  good  deeds  and  strong  innate  characteristics, 
having  left  behind  him.  among  many  other  treasured  inheritances,  what  is 
most  to  be  desired— a  good  name. 

Colonel  Farrow  was  bom  near  Grassy  Lick.  Montgomen.-  county,  Ken- 
tucky, April  21,  1794.  His  father.  William  Farrow,  a  sterling  representative 
of  Scotch-Irish  parentage,  caught  the  spirit  of  the  tide  of  emigration  that 
poured  through  the  Cumberland  Gap  and  other  passes  of  the  Blue  Ridge 
mountains  in  the  early  days,  and  left  his  Virginia  homestead  to  try  his  for- 
tunes anew  in  the  then  boundless  undeveloped  middle  West.  Those  were  days 
that  tried  men's  souls  and  such  tedious,  hazardous  journeys  were  no  pleasure 
excursions,  and  for  years  after  the  advent  of  the  first  settlers,  the  stockaded 
village  ami  huge  block-house  were  the  only  title  proofs  to  the  soil,  but  the 
reign  of  the  savage  here  was  forever  ended  by  General  Wayne's  campaign  of 
1794.  In  the  closing  year  of  this  Indian  war,  Mr.  Farrow  was  born,  and  he 
grew  to  manhood  before  the  countty  around  his  home  had  been  entirely  re- 
claimed from  primitive  conditions.  Thus  familiarized  from  childhood  with 
the  simple  customs  and  wants  of  the  pioneer  farmer,  he  became  qualified  for 
the  part  he  afterward  performed  in  the  opening  and  settling  of  a  new  country. 

In  August  following  the  declaration  of  war  against  Great  Britain  in  1812, 
three  regiments  of  volunteer  infantry  and  one  of  regulars  left  Georgetown, 
Kentucky,  for  the  relief  of  Detroit.  Alexander  S.  Farrow,  then  a  lad  of 
eighteen,  could  not  repress  his  youthful  patriotism  and  joined  this  detach- 
ment under  Capt.  Samuel  L.  Williams.  At  the  crossing  of  the  Ohio  they  re- 
ceived the  news  of  the  surrender  of  Detroit  and  Michigan  Territory  by  Gen- 
eral Hull  to  the  British,  but  continued  their  march  under  General  Harrison  to 


24o  WEIK  S    HISTORY    OF 

Ft.  Wayne,  on  the  Maiiniee.  which  was  invested  by  the  Indians,  and  young 
Farrow  participated  in  the  subsequent  operations  against  the  red  men,  under- 
going the  vicissitudes  incident  to  a  soldier,  their  sufferings  from  hard  marches, 
cold  and  privations  in  general  lieing  ver\-  tiying,  and  thev  were  frequently  re- 
duced to  the  point  of  starvation.  '"At  one  time,"  Mr.  Farrow  related,  "we 
went  seventeen  days  without  a  mouthful  of  bread,  subsisting  on  fat  pork 
alone."  It  was  interesting  to  hear  him  relate  the  trials  of  those  davs,  how  the 
horses  died  of  exhaustion  or  became  useless  from  star\ation,  so  that  the  sleds 
carrying  their  baggage  were  drawn  by  the  soldiers  themselves,  si.x  men  being 
harnessed  in  the  place  of  one  horse.  At  night  they  bivouacked  in  the  frozen 
forest,  sleeping  on  beds  of  bark  and  boughs  upon  which  thev  spread  their 
blankets.  The  morning  reveille  woke  many  a  poor  fellow  to  the  consciousness 
of  frosted  limbs  and  racking  rheumatic  pains.  The  first  week  in  January  a 
two- foot  snow  fell  which  rendered  their  marches  slower  and  more  painful. 
At  this  stage  of  the  return  march  a  runner  brought  news  of  the  threatening 
of  Frenchtown  by  the  British  and  Indians  and  a  detachment  of  five  hundred 
soldiers  was  sent  to  the  town's  relief.  In  that  detachment  was  young  Far- 
row, who  was  destined  shortly  to  more  trying  experiences  than  ever.  He 
fought  under  General  Winchester  there  iji  a  losing  battle  against  General  Proc- 
tor's forces  and  was  taken  prisoner  to  Maiden,  escaping  the  famous  massacre 
of  the  River  Raisin.  He  with  his  comrades  were  confined  for  many  days 
in  open  warehouses,  where  they  suffered  from  lack  of  fire  and  food.  From 
^Maiden  they  were  marched  through  southern  Canada  to  Fort  George  on  the 
Niagara  river,  a  journey  of  two  weeks,  at  which  place  they  were  parolled  and 
sent  across  the  line.  From  this  point  the\'  crossed  the  country  on  foot  to 
Pittsburg,  and  thence  by  water  to  Kentucky.  Xotuithstanding  the  hard- 
ships of  this  adventure  in  the  wild  and  frozen  north,  be.set  with  the  gravest 
dangers,  young  Farrow  never  regretted  his  service  to  iiis  countr)-. 

Shortly  after  his  return  from  his  experience  in  tiie  army.  Colonel  Far- 
row was  married,  being  }et  under  age.  and  settled  in  the  neighborhood  of  his 
old  home,  adopting  the  occupation  of  a  fanner.  On  ^-fay  26,  1815,  he  was 
commissioned  bv  Gov.  Lsaac  Shelby  adjutant  of  the  Thirty-first  Regiment  of 
the  Kentucky  Militia,  and  on  December  22.  1820.  Governor  Adair  appointed 
him  brigade  inspector  of  the  Fifth  Brigade,  -\bout  this  time  he  became  a 
candidate  for  the  Legislature,  and  canvassed  his  nati\-e  county  in  a  series  of 
convincing  sjjceches,  being  an  enthusiastic  supporter  of  Henr\-  Cla\'  and  his 
doctrine.  He  was  subsequently  elected  and  \ery  ably  served  one  or  more 
terms  in  the  General  .\s.semijly,  being  barely  eligible  at  the  time  of  his  first 
election  and  perhaps  the  \oungest  man  in  tlie  .\ssembly. 


PUTXAM    COLNTV,    IXDIAXA.  249 

In  1830  Colonel  I'arrow  tleteniiined  to  cast  his  lot  in  the  new  state  of 
Indiana,  where  cheaper  lands  and  better  facilities  were  offered  to  the  wants 
of  a  large  and  growing  family.  Accordingly  he  arrived  in  Putnam  county 
in  the  antnmn  i)f  that  year,  and  settled  nine  miles  north  of  Greencastle.  on 
lands  purchased,  in  part,  of  the  original  preemptors.  He  immeiliately  took 
an  active  and  leading  part  in  the  opening  and  deselopment  of  the  new  country, 
and  from  the  first  assumed  broad  antl  liberal  \ieus  in  all  his  undertakings 
and  in  his  intercourse  and  dealings  with  his  neighbors.  He  was  one  of  the 
first  to  introduce  blue  grass  into  the  coimty.  and  was  the  first  to  sow  it  ex- 
tensively, having  brought  a  supply  of  the  seed  on  his  removal  from  Kentucky. 
He  also  made  several  trips  to  Ohio  and  his  native  state,  bringing  back  valuable 
breeds  of  horses  and  cattle,  which  he  used  extensively  for  the  improvement  of 
the  stock  of  the  country.  March  15,  183J.  Governor  Xoble  commissioned 
him  colonel  of  the  Fifty-sixth  Regiment  of  Militia  and  as  such  he  regularly 
took  part  in  the  annual  drills  and  musters. 

Being  a  devoted  member  of  the  church.  Colonel  Farrow  early  felt  the 
deprivation  occasioned  by  the  want  of  such  an  association  in  his  new  home. 
and.  with  characteristic  promptitude,  he  organized  in  his  own  house,  with 
the  aid  of  a  few  of  his  neighbors,  the  first  church  association  e\er  held  in  that 
part  of  the  country,  the  organization  consisting  of  nine  members.  Colonel 
Farrow  and  wife.  James  Xelson  and  wife.  Henr\-  Foster  and  wife  and  a  Mr. 
Blake,  also  John  Leaton  and  wife. 

In  185 1  Colonel  Farrow  was  elected  one  of  the  representatives  from  Put- 
nam county  to  the  state  constitutional  convention,  and  the  records  of  that 
assemblage  will  show  that  during  the  four  months"  session  he  was  never 
absent  from  his  seat  or  evaded  a  vote  on  any  of  the  r|uestions  that  came  be- 
fore that  body,  for  he  never  desired  to  conceal  his  views  on  any  subject. 

Early  in  life  Colonel  Farrow  took  a  decided  stand  for  the  cause  of  tem- 
perance and  the  suppression  of  the  litpior  traffic.  He  was  among  the  first 
to  throw  the  whiskv  jug  from  his  house  and  announce  to  his  neighbors  that 
he  would  furnish  no  more  liquor  at  log-rollings  and  husking-bees,  let  the 
consequences  be  what  thev  would.  His  example  was  later  followed  by  many 
of  his  neighbors. 

Colonel  Farrow  [xisses.sed  remarkably  strong  qualities  lx)th  of  head  and 
heart,  and  he  w  as  at  all  times  manly  and  dignifiefl  in  character  and  honest  and 
outspoken  in  the  expression  of  his  views  and  opinions.  Hyp<icrisy  and  du- 
plicity found  no  lodgment  in  his  composition,  and  his  inability  to  see  such 
traits  in  others  often  led  to  his  being  imposed  upon  by  designing  and  un- 
scrupulous men.     He  was  alike  free  from  an  envious  and  jealous  disix)sition. 


250  WEIK  S    HISTORY    OF 

and  it  has  been  said  of  him,  indeed,  that,  practically,  he  did  not  know  the 
meaning  of  the  terms.  He  possessed  the  virtue  of  patience  in  a  remarkable 
degree,  and  whether  in  health  or  sickness,  in  prosperity  or  misfortune,  his 
mind  adapted  itself  with  philosophic  complaisance  to  the  conditions  of  his  lot. 
His  natural  bent  of  mind  was  toward  politics,  subject  to  a  strong  moral  and 
religious  supervision,  and  being  an  honest  opponent  and  always  remarkably 
conscientious,  the  later-day  school  of  politics  found  no  favor  in  his  sight.  He 
was  a  close  and  constant  reader  on  all  topics  of  the  day,  his  mind  being,  seem- 
ingly, as  clear  at  fourscore  to  percei\e  and  analyze  the  drift  of  events  as  in 
the  prime  and  vigor  of  life.  His  religious  convictions  were  the  steady  and 
gradual  growth  of  a  lifetime,  and  became  at  length  remarkably  strong  and 
deep  seated.  He  was  moral  from  his  childhood,  and,  as  an  instance  of  his 
moral  rectitude  of  mind,  it  may  be  told,  that  on  the  occasion  of  his  marriage, 
although  not  a  member  of  the  church,  he  announced  to  his  wife  that  they 
would  begin  life  with  the  daily  practice  of  family  prayer. 

Colonel  Farrow  was  twice  married,  and  was  the  father  of  six  sons  and 
four  daughters,  all  of  them  the  children  of  his  first  wife,  whose  maiden  name 
was  Elizabeth  Nelson.  The  total  number  of  his  descendants  at  the  time  of  his 
death  was  ninety-six.  Two  of  his  children,  William  Simpson  and  Francis 
Marion,  had  died. 

This  venerable  and,  in  many  respects,  remarkable  patriarch  was  gathered 
in  the  fullness  of  his  years  to  the  reward  of  his  merits  on  March  31,  1877, 
at  the  home  of  his  eldest  daughter  in  Greencastle,  leaving  behind  him  the  rich 
remembrance  of  a  blameless  life  to  become  the  inheritance  of  his  children  and 
his  children's  children  forever,  while  he  sleeps  the  sleep  of  the  just  on  the 
old  homestead  nine  miles  north  of  Greencastle,  in  the  family  cemeterj-.  Here, 
in  the  soil  he  had  reclaimed  from  the  wilderness,  by  the  highway  he  had 
traveled  when  it  was  but  a  blazed  trail,  and  in  sight  of  the  church  he  had  or- 
ganized in  his  early  manhood,  he  rests  from  his  weary  pilgrimage  of  four 
score  years,  but  the  light  of  his  example  is  still  shining  brightly  on  the  path- 
wavs  of  his  numerous  descendants. 


COL.  COURTLAXD  CUSHIXG  MATSON. 

It  is  no  easy  task  to  describe  adequately  a  man  who  has  led  an  eminently 
active  and  busy  life  and  who  has  attained  a  position  of  relative  distinction 
in  the  community  with  which  his  interests  are  allied.  But  biography  finds 
its  most  perfect  justification,  nevertheless,   in  the  tracing  and   recording  of 


PUTNAM    COUNTY,    INDIANA.  25 1 

such  a  life  history.  It  is.  then,  with  a  full  appreciation  of  all  that  is  demanded 
and  of  the  painstaking  scrutiny  that  must  be  accorded  every  statement,  and 
yet  with  a  feeling  of  satisfaction,  that  the  writer  essays  the  task  of  setting 
forth  the  details  of  such  a  record  as  has  been  that  of  Colonel  Matson,  who  has 
won  wide  distinction  as  a  lawyer,  soldier,  statesman  and  public-spirited  citizen 
of  Putnam  county,  where  he  has  been  too  well-known  for  more  than  a  half 
century  to  need  a  formal  introduction  to  the  readers  of  this  work.  In  exam- 
ining his  life  record  we  find  much  that  is  worthy  of  commendation  and  his 
varied  and  mteresting  career  could  be  profitably  emulated  in  many  ways  by 
the  youth  whose  destinies  are  yet  matters  for  the  future  to  determine.  In 
early  life  he  found  it  essential  that  he  should  conquer,  and  this  could  only  be 
done  by  labor,  study,  resolute  and  heroic  action.  He  obeyed  the  commands 
of  industry  from  the  beginning  and  his  methods  have  always  been  those  of 
persevering  and  indefatigable  attention  to  business — truly  the  philosopher's 
stone  which  transmutes  all  things  to  gold.  His  energies  lia\e  always  been 
concentrated  on  a  fixed,  steady,  unalterable  and  honorable  purpose,  that  of 
attaining  success  in  his  profession  and  dignifying  it  by  obser\'ing  the  canons 
of  morality,  honestv  and  integrity,  by  which  it  can  only  be  exalted. 

Colonel  ^latson  is  a  native  of  Brookville.  Indiana,  where  he  first  saw 
the  light  of  dav  April  2^.  1S41.  the  son  of  Hon.  John  A.  ^latson,  one  of  the 
distinguished  attorneys  and  politicians  of  his  day  and  generation  in  Indiana,  a 
descendant  of  an  excellent  pioneer  ancestry.  He  received  a  good  education 
for  tho.se  early  davs  and  equipped  himself  for  his  profession,  beginning  the 
practice  of  law  in  Brookville  in  1833  and  continued  there  until  1S51.  becom- 
ing known  as  one  of  the  leading  lawyers  of  that  section  of  the  state,  and  from 
which  place  he  moved  to  Greencastle,  seeking  a  larger  field  for  the  exercise 
of  his  talents,  successfully  practicing  here  until  his  death.  July  15.  1870.  He 
was  a  strong  man  in  the  political  affairs  of  the  state  for  many  years  and  had 
the  distinction  of  being  the  Whig  candidate  for  Congress  in  the  old  Brook- 
ville district,  and  he  was  a  member  of  the  Legislature  in  1S41.  He  was  a 
man  of  many  sterling  characteristics  and  wielded  a  very  potent  influence  in 
his  section  of  the  state.  He  was  married  in  1833.  while  living  at  Brookville, 
to  Margaretta  M.  Woelpper,  a  native  of  Philadelphia,  who  came  to  Brook- 
ville in  1832.  She  was  of  Welsh  descent,  while  Mr.  Matson's  ancestors 
were  Scotch-Irish. 

Colonel  Matson  was  ten  years  old  when  he  accompam'ed  his  parents  to 
Greencastle.  in  185 1.  When  he  reached  the  proper  age  he  was  placed  in 
school,  and,  being  an  ambitious  latl  and  desirous  of  following  in  the  footsteps 
of  his  father  in  the  legal  profession,  he  was  very  studious  and  made  an  excel- 


252  WEIK  S    HISTORY    OF 

lent  record,  both  in  public  and  private  schools.  Completing  his  preparatory 
work,  he  entered  DePauw  (then  Asbury)  University,  from  which  institution 
he  was  graduated  with  honor  in  the  class  of  1862,  having  left  the  university 
at  the  breaking  out  of  the  Civil  war  for  the  purpose  of  enlisting.  later  grad- 
uating from  this  institution  without  further  study. 

As  a  law  student.  Colonel  Matson  had  for  his  able  preceptor  none  other 
than  his  worthy  father,  with  whom  and  Hon.  Solomon  Claypool  he  formed 
a  partnership  after  being  admitted  to  the  bar,  the  firm  continuing  as  one  of 
the  strongest  in  the  county  until  the  death  of  the  senior  Matson,  young  JVIat- 
son  then  forming  a  partnership  with  Judge  Cla}-pool,  which  continued  until 
the  latter's  removal  to  Indianapolis  in  1873,  after  which  he  practiced  his 
profession  alone  until  1880  with  the  e.xception  of  one  year,  when  he  had  as 
a  partner  Henr\-  H.  Mathias,  under  the  firm  name  of  Matson  &  Mathias. 

Having  taken  an  active  interest  in  politics  from  early  youth,  Colonel 
Matson  was  soon  singled  out  by  party  leaders  as  a  likely  candidate  for  public 
offices  of  importance,  and  in  the  early  eighties  he  was  elected  to  Congress 
from  the  fifth  district  of  Indiana  and  served  with  a  most  creditable  and 
praiseworthy  record  through  four  consecutive  Congresses,  from  the  forty- 
seventh  to  the  fiftieth,  inclusive.  In  these  he  was  one  of  the  conspicuous 
Democratic  figures  in  our  national  politics,  winning,  by  his  unusual  tact, 
fidelity  to  the  trusts  reposed  in  him  and  his  persistency  in  what  he  believed 
to  be  right,  not  only  the  admiration  and  respect  of  his  colleagues  but  the 
hearty  commendation  of  his  constituents,  irrespective  of  party  affiliations. 
Having  become  so  popular  in  Indiana  as  a  result  of  his  splendid  record  in 
Congress,  his  party  selected  him  as  their  candidate  for  Governor  in  1888, 
but  he  was  defeated  in  a  very  spirited  contest  by  Hon.  Alvin  P.  Hovey,  by 
two  thousand  one  hundred  and  ninety-one  votes.  The  Colonel  then  resumed 
his  practice  at  Greencastle,  and  soon  afterwards  became  attornev  for  the 
Louisville,  Xew  Albany  &  Chicago  Railroad  Company,  for  the  state  of 
Indiana,  which  position  he  held  very  satisfactorily  for  a  period  of  four  vears, 
at  the  end  of  which  he  again  took  up  practice  at  Greencastle,  and  also  formed 
a  partnership  with  Hon.  Joseph  Giles  at  Bedford,  Indiana,  which  was  con- 
tinued for  several  years,  his  son.  Smith  C.  Matson,  becoming  his  partner  in 
the  Greencastle  office  in  the  meantime.  In  1872  Colonel  Matson  was  elected 
prosecuting  attorney  of  Putnam  county  and  during  his  incumbencv  of  this 
office  he  successfully  prosecuted  the  Vandalia  Railroad  Company  to  recover 
school  fund  money  due  from  its  earnings  under  the  special  charter.  From 
1868  to  1870  he  was  district  attorney,  the  prosecuting  office  of  the  common 
pleas  court.  In  1878  he  was  chairman  of  the  Democratic  state  committee 
and  as  such  did  a  great  work  for  the  party  in  Indiana. 


PCTNAM    COUNTY,    INDIANA.  253 

Colonel  Matson.  when  twenty  years  of  age  and  while  a  student  in  Green- 
castle,  enlisted  in  a  company  of  students,  known  as  "'Asbury  Guards."  on 
April  14.  i86r.  the  day  after  Fort  Sumter  was  fired  upon,  and  serving  as 
such  until  June  5.  1862.  in  Company  K,  Sixteenth  Regiment  Indiana  Volun- 
teer Infantry.  On  the  last  mentioned  date  he  was  elected  second  lieutenant 
of  his  company  and  served  very  gallantly  as  such  until  the  expiration  of  his 
term  of  enlistment.  Soon  after  his  discharge  he  was  appointed  adjutant  of 
the  post  at  Terre  Haute.  Hon.  R.  W.  Thompson  being  the  commandant, 
and  upon  the  organization  of  the  Seventy-first  Regiment,  Indiana  Volunteer 
Infantry,  he  was  made  adjutant  of  the  regiment,  which  lost  all  its  field 
officers.  August  30.  1862.  they  being  killed  at  the  battle  of  Richmond.  Ken- 
tucky, and  Mr.  Matson  was  at  once  appointed  to  succeed  Lieut.-Col.  M.  D. 
Topping.  Early  in  1863  the  Seventy-first  was  changed  to  a  cavalrv  regiment, 
— the  Sixth  Indiana. — of  which  organization  Mr.  ^latson  served  as  lieu- 
tenant-colonel until  the  close  of  the  war.  May.  1865  ;  then  the  Fifth  and  Si.xth 
Indiana  Cavalry  were  formed  into  one  regiment  and  Mr.  Matson  was  appointed 
its  colonel,  in  which  capacity  he  continued  to  serve  until  October,  followino-, 
when  he  was  mustered  out  of  the  service,  having  made  a  gallant  soldier  and 
a  most  creditable  record,  having  participatetl  in  all  the  important  battles  in 
the  \\'est  up  to  Atlanta,  in  1864.  also  took  part  in  numerous  skirmishes  in 
Sherman's  campaign.  He  has  long  been  an  active  member  of  the  Grand 
Army  of  the  Republic. 

On  December  12.  1871,  Colonel  Matson  was  married  to  Mary  X.  Far- 
row, second  daughter  of  Col.  William  L.  Farrow,  an  old  and  highlv  esteemed 
family  of  the  county.  The  Colonel  and  wife  are  the  parents  of  three  chil- 
dren. Smith  C.  a  prominent  attorney  at  Ardmore.  Oklahoma:  Rees  F..  and 
Mary  Xelson.  now  the  wife  of  Charles  Walter  Brown,  living  in  Chicago. 

Colonel  Matson's  record  in  the  service  of  his  fellow  men  is  a  lono-  one 
and  many  instances  could  be  cited  of  his  fidelity  to  his  country-men,  especiallv 
while  a  member  of  Congress.  In  the  forty-ninth  session  he  introduced  a  bill 
.  and  had  it  passed  under  the  suspension  of  the  rules,  known  as  the  "Dependent 
Pension"  bill,  which  President  Cleveland  vetoed.  He  was  chairman  of  the 
committee  on  invalid  pensions  in  the  forty-eighth,  forty-ninth  and  fiftieth 
Congresses.  Fraternally  he  is  well  up  in  Masonr}',  having  attained  the 
Royal  Arch  degree. 

On  August  24.  1909.  Governor  Marshall  appointed  Colonel  Matson  a 
member  of  the  state  board  of  tax  commissioners,  for  four  years,  on  his  own 
motion,  when  there  were  seventy-three  applicants. 


254  WEIK  S    HISTORY    OF 

Colonel  Matson  has  tried  many  of  the  most  important  civil  and  criminal 
cases  in  Indiana,  his  record  as  a  lawyer  ranking-  second  to  none  in  the  state. 
He  infuses  his  personality,  courage  and  conscience  into  his  work,  is  active 
among  his  books,  is  determined  and  has  the  strength  of  will  for  achievement. 
Habits  of  systematized  thought,  study  and  reflection  have  invigorated  his 
mind  and  he  has  always  had  clear  discernments  of  the  law,  comprehension 
of  its  principles,  and,  to  points  in  contention,  the  genius  of  their  application. 
He  is  a  safe  and  competent  adviser,  being  a  man  of  firm  and  decided  convic- 
tions, whether  in  the  law,  in  politics  as  a  Democrat  or  in  any  department  of 
thought  or  action  embodying  his  time  and  attention.  Frank,  bold,  honest, 
aggressive,  he  or  his  position  can  not  well  be  misunderstood,  acting  and 
thinking  quickly,  but  never  evading,  always  meeting  a  situation  squarely. 
He  is  known  as  a  man  of  energy,  intellect,  will;  has  self-purpose,  resolution 
and  determination,  throwing  his  entire  force  of  body  and  mind  upon  his 
work;  but  his  self-reliance  has  not  been  wholly  acquired;  it  was  born  in  him. 
In  his  private  and  social  relations  he  is  enjoyable,  genial,  animated,  enter- 
taining and  at  all  times  the  well  bred,  genteel  gentleman.  There  is  no  pre- 
tense or  display  about  him,  caring  little  for  the  "lime  light,"  merely  desiring 
to  do  his  duty  as  he  sees  and  understands  it  and  to  be  of  the  greatest  service 
to  his  country. 


SIMPSON  FARROW  LOCKRIDGE. 

The  gentleman  whose  name  forms  the  caption  of  this  sketch  belongs  to 
that  class  of  men  who  win  in  life's  battles  by  sheer  force  of  personality  and 
determination,  coupled  with  soundness  of  judgment  and  keen  discernment, 
and  in  whatever  he  has  undertaken  he  has  shown  himself  to  be  a  man  of 
ability  and  honor,  always  ready  to  lend  his  aid  in  defending  principles  affect- 
ing the  public  good,  having  very  ably  and  conscientiously  served  his  country 
in  the  capacities  of  legislator  and  soldier  and  equally  well  in  many  roles  dur- 
ing a  career  altogether  commendable. 

Simpson  Farrow  Lockridge  was  born  on  his  father's  farm,  fifteen  miles 
north  of  Greencastle,  Indiana,  January  23,  1846,  the  son  of  Andrew  M. 
Lockridge.  one  of  the  early  pioneers  of  Putnam  county  and  a  man  remem- 
bered by  a  large  circle  of  friends  and  acquaintances  for  his  probity  of  char- 
acter and  habits  of  industry.  He  was  of  Scotch  descent  on  his  father's  side 
and  of  Irish  extraction  on  his  mother's,  both  born  in  Montgomery  county, 
Kentucky,  where  they  grew  to  maturity,  married  and  successfully  engaged  in 


PUTNAM    COUXTY.    INDIANA.  255 

farming,  in  fact  the  Lockridges  for  many  generations  have  been  well-known 
agriculturists  and  stock  breeders  and  raisers  in  both  Kentucky  and  Indiana, 
and  Simpson  F.  seems  to  have  inherited  from  his  worthy  progenitors  his 
love  for  fine  stock  and  well  cultivated  fields,  thus  making  him  one  of  the  best 
known  breeders  of  fine  stock  in  this  part  of  the  state.  In  1835  the  family 
moved  from  Kentuclcy  to  Indiana,  locating  upon  land  in  Putnam  county, 
which  was  purchased  by  Grandfather  Lockridge  shortly  before  his  death, 
and  here,  amid  primitive  conditions,  like  other  pioneers  of  those  early  days, 
a  home  was  established,  a  clearing  made  in  the  wilderness  and  in  due  course 
of  time  a  good  farm  developed. 

Andrew  M.  Lockridge  married  Elizabeth  S.  Farrow,  daughter  of  Col. 
A.  S.  Farrow,  a  sterling  pioneer  of  Indiana,  having  come  to  this  state  from 
Kentucky  in  1830.  He  was  a  prominent  man  in  political  affairs  and  had  the 
distinction  of  being  a  member  of  the  convention  that  framed  the  constitution 
of  the  state.  The  names  Lockridge  and  Farrow  appear  on  the  regimental 
rolls  of  the  Revolutionary  war  and  the  war  of  1S12.  also  the  frontier  Indian 
wars.  Desiring  to  perpetuate  the  military  records  of  these  sterling  families, 
Simpson  F.  Lockridge  endeavored  to  enlist  in  the  Union  army  early  in  the 
Civil  war,  but  was  not  permitted  to  do  so  longer  than  a  short  period  at  a  time ; 
however,  he  saw  some  service  during  the  years  1862,  1863  and  1864,  while  a 
member  of  the  Seventy-eighth  and  One  Hundred  and  Thirty-third  Indiana 
A'olunteer  Regiments.  He  proved  his  mettle  so  well  and  was  so  faithful  in 
the  performance  of  every  duty  that  when  he  received  his  last  honorable  dis- 
charge he  wore  the  straps  of  a  sergeant.  This  service  made  him  eligible  for 
membership  in  the  Grand  Army  of  the  Republic,  and  he  was  honored  by 
General  Torrence  of  Minnesota,  as  aide-de-camp  on  his  staff  when  the  latter 
was  commander-in-chief  of  the  organization. 

After  he  returned  from  his  army  career  Mr.  Lockridge  entered  Asbury 
(now  DePauw)  University,  where  he  made  a  splendid  record  and  from  which 
institution  he  was  graduated  in  1868.  He  had  applied  himself  so  assiduously 
to  his  text  books  that  he  impaired  his  health,  and  to  recuperate  he  visited 
the  Pacific  coast,  remaining  there  about  a  year,  returning  home  greatly  in- 
vigorated. He  then  gratified  an  ambition  of  long  standing  by  beginning  the 
study  of  law;  but  finding  Blackstone  more  irksome  than  he  had  anticipated 
and  having  a  natural  longing  for  the  out-of-doors,  he  abandoned  the  law 
and  turned  his  attention  to  breeding  fine  cattle,  having  always  been  a  lover 
of  blooded  stock,  and  he  readily  conceived  the  idea  of  greatly  improving  the 
breed  of  the  cattle  then  in  Putnam  county,  knowing  that  this  would  mean 
much  in  a  financial  way  to  not  only  himself  but  to  the  whole  community, 


256  weik's  history  of 

and  lie  accordingly  set  to  work  developing  a  plan  with  this  end  in  view,  with 
the  result  that  he  has  accomplished  an  untold  amount  of  good  for  his  fellow 
men  and  has  doubtless  surpassed  in  this  and  in  a  financial  way  anything  ht 
could  have  done  had  he  continued  in  the  law.  His  pure-bred  stock  soon 
became  widely  known  and  were  the  admiration  of  all,  buyers  coming  to  him 
from  all  parts  of  the  county  and  adjoining  counties  soon  after  he  began  his 
work  in  1872.  In  1874  he  visited  Canada  in  quest  of  a  bull  as  leader  of  the 
herd,  finally  selecting  "Lord  Strathallan,"  an  unusually  splendid  specimen 
of  the  bovine  tribe.  He  was  bred  in  Scotland  and  Mr.  Lockridge  paid  the 
sum  of  twenty-five  hundred  dollars  for  him  and  shipped  him  to  his  farm  in 
Putnam  county.  Since  that  time  great  advancement  has  been  made  and  Mr.' 
Lockridge  has  become  widely  known  as  one  of  the  best  authorities  on  Short- 
horn cattle  in  the  country,  now  keeping  a  large  herd  of  pure-bred  Shorthorn 
cattle  on  his  excellent  farm  of  several  hundred  acres,  which  is  one  of  the 
model  farms  of  Putnam  county,  being  well  improved  in  every  respect,  is  well 
tilled  and  on  it  stands  a  modern  and  attractive  residence  and  substantial  and 
commodious  barns  and  outbuildings. 

Mr.  Lockridge  has  the  distinction  of  being  one  of  the  organizers  of  the 
American  Shorthorn  Breeders'  .-\ssociation.  and  he  has  been  an  important 
factor  in  the  affairs  of  the  same  from  the  first,  having  been  a  director  in  the 
association  since  its  incorporation  and  he  has  held  the  office  of  president  and 
secretary. 

Mr.  Lockridge  formerly  took  considerable  interest  in  politics  and  was 
often  called  into  the  councils  of  his  party.  As  a  result  of  his  public-spirit, 
his  genuine  worth  and  his  efforts  in  behalf  of  the  Republican  party,  he  was 
nominated  and  elected  as  state  senator  from  Putnam  and  Hendricks  counties, 
serving  two  tenns  from  1880  to  1884,  making  a  record  that  was  entirely 
creditable  to  himself  and  to  the  satisfaction  of  his  constituents,  irrespective 
of  party  ties.  Personally  he  is  a  good  mi.xer,  genial,  genteel,  well  informed 
on  all  current  topics  and  a  man  in  whom  the  utmost  confidence  is  reposed 
bv  those  who  know  him  best. 


GEORHE  WORTH  BEXCE.  M.  D, 

In  presenting  the  record  of  this  successful  and  representative  member  of 
the  Bence  familv.  one  of  the  best  established  and  most  highly  honored  of  Put- 
nam county  during  the  i)ast  half  century,  the  reader  will  not  only  find  much 
that  will  prove  interesting,  but  may  profit  by  those  experiences  which,  when 


^Ix^-v-^^^'-C 


PUTNAM    COUNTY,    INDIANA.  257 

properl\-  applied  to  those  conditions  that  (juite  generally  fall  to  the  lot  (jt  the 
a\erage  man.  invariably  lead  to  success.  For  the  past  quarter  of  a  century 
he  has  been  one  of  the  leading  physicians  in  this  community  which  has  long 
been  noted  for  the  high  order  of  its  medical  talent,  his  name  having  become 
a  household  w  ord  not  only  to  the  citizens  of  Greencastle  but  to  those  residing 
in  remote  parts  of  the  county  and  in  adjoining  coimties.  He  is  also  regarded 
as  one  of  the  county's  foremost  citizens,  being  deepl\'  concerned  in  all  that 
pertains  to  its  general  uplift  and.  although  a  very  busv  man.  he  is  always  readv 
to  do  his  full  share  in  furthering  any  mo\ement  looking  to  the  general  good. 

Doctor  Bence  was  born  near  Louisville,  in  Jefferson  county,  Kentucky, 
Xovember  1 1,  1846.  His  father,  Philip  Bence.  was  also  a  native  of  the  Blue 
Grass  state,  where  he  grew  to  maturity,  was  educated  and  where  he  took  up 
farming,  which  he  made  his  life  work.  He  moved  to  Indiana  in  1853.  locating 
in  Washington  township.  Putnam  county,  where  he  lived  until  his  death,  in 
i88j,  at  the  age  of  eighty-one  years,  having  been  born  in  1801.  He  \\as  a 
very  industrious  and  honest  man.  respected  by  all  who  knew  him,  and  he 
became  inriuential  in  Washington  township,  although  he  led  a  rather  quiet  life 
on  his  farm.  He  was  one  of  fifteen  children  bom  to  Pliilip  Bence,  Sr..  and 
wife.  The  Bence  family  comes  of  good  old  German  stock  on  both  the  pa- 
ternal and  maternal  sides.  C^irandfather  Philip  Bence,  Sr..  was  a  nati\"e  of 
Pennsylvania,  from  which  state  he  descended  the  Ohio  rixer  in  a  flatboat  to 
Louisville.  Kentuck}-.  in  a  veiy  early  da\'.  The  Doctor's  father  first  married 
L}-dia  Doup.  of  Mar\land.  In-  w  hich  union  four  children  were  born,  nameh- : 
Fountain  R.,  Onesimus  O..  Tabitha  E.  and  Jeptha  D.  These  children  have 
long  since  passed  to  the  great  be\"ond.  each  ha\'ing  li\'ed  to  be  over  se\'entv 
years  of  age,  the  psalmist's  allotted  span  of  }-ears  to  mankind.  Philip  Pence 
chose  as  his  second  wife  Anna  ^'enawine.  by  which  union  si.x  children  were 
Ijorn,  named  as  folliiws  :  luhn  A.,  who  li\es  on  the  old  home  farm  in  Washing- 
ton township:  Lydia.  now  deceased,  was  the  wife  of  John  Lydick,  of  Putnam 
count}- :  Lcnn'sa  J.  is  the  wife  of  Philip  Plutcheson.  residing  in  Washington 
township;  Genexa  .\..  wIki  nnrried  G.  C.  Smith,  is  deceased;  ]\[atikla  M.  mar- 
ried Levi  Plepler  and  the\'  are  both  deceased:  Dr.  G.  W..  of  this  review,  was 
the  youngest  in  order  of  biith. 

When  se\en  veai's  of  age.  George  W.  Bence  came  to  Putnam  count  v. 
Indiana,  w  ith  his  parents.  He  received  a  common  school  education  and  w  orked 
nn  the  hduie  farm  until  he  was  twenty-three  years  of  age.  In  1869  he  grati- 
fied a  desire  of  long  standing  by  beginning  the  study  of  medicine  with  Dr. 
Jiihn  Wilcox  in  Greencastle.  with  whoiu  he  remained  one  year,  then  entered 
the  medical  department  of  the  L'niversity  of  \'irginia,  where  he  made  rapid 

(17) 


25S  weik's  history  of 

strides  in  materia  medica  and  from  which  institntion  he  was  graduated  with 
honor  in  June.  1S71.  being  one  of  thirteen  who  were  graduated  from  a  class 
of  sixt}'-fi\'e. 

Thus  being  well  equipped  to  enter  his  chosen  profession,  the  Doctor 
opened  an  office  on  August  i,  1871,  at  Carbon.  Clay  county,  Indiana,  where 
he  soon  had  a  good  foothold  and  where  he  practiced  with  increasing  success 
for  a  period  of  eight  years.  On  July  9,  1879.  he  came  to  Greencastle  and 
he  has  maintained  his  office  here  ever  since.  While  living  at  Carbon  he  took 
a  post-graduate  course  on  diseases  of  the  eye,  in  New  York,  with  the  noted 
Doctors  Noyes  and  Mittendorf.  He  also  studied  for  three  months  with  Dr. 
John  Green  of  St.  Louis.  He  has  successfully  engaged  in  continuous  practice 
here  since  the  date  mentioned  above. 

Doctor  Bence  has  long  been  interested  in  politics,  finding  time  in  the  midst 
of  his  manifold  duties  to  take  an  active  part  in  party  affairs,  and  while  living 
in  Clay  count v  in  1874.  he  was  elected  to  the  lower  house  of  the  state  Legisla- 
ture, and  was  a  member  of  the  regular  and  special  sessions  of  1875,  in  which 
he  made  his  influence  felt  on  the  floor  and  in  committee  work,  and  he  repre- 
sented his  locality  in  a  very  able  and  conscientious  manner,  reflecting  credit 
upon  himself  and  receiving  the  hearty  commendation  of  his  constituents. 
Doctor  Bence  was  secretary  of  the  Putnam  county  board  of  health  for  a  period 
of  twentv-two  vears,  beginning  in  1882,  when  the  law  was  first  passed,  and 
serving  until  1904.  During  that  long  period  the  affairs  pertaining  to  this 
branch  of  the  countv's  business  were  looked  after  with  a  fidelity  that  resulted 
in  incalculable  good  and  in  winning  for  the  Doctor  the  hearty  praise  of  all 
classes. 

The  domestic  chapter  in  the  life  of  Doctor  Bence  dates  from  1873,  '^vhen 
he  espoused  Kizzie  C.  Pratt,  a  native  of  Clay  county,  who  lived  only  three 
weeks  after  their  wedding.  In  1876  he  married  Sibbie  Loftus.  of  Carbon, 
Indiana,  who  was  a  native  of  this  county,  and  her  death  occurred  in  October, 
1881.  Two  children  resulted  from  this  union,  one  dying  before  the  mother 
passed  awav  and  the  other  four  years  later.  On  January  16,  1884,  Doctor 
Bence  married  Alinnie  Brandon,  of  Greencastle,  who  was  born  on  a  boat  on 
the  Hudson  river.  New  York.  Three  children  were  born  to  this  union, 
namely;  Era,  born  in  1890:  Edna,  bom  in  1891 ;  the  other  child  died  in  in- 
fancy. Both  the  living  children  are  at  this  writing  attending  DePauw  Uni- 
versitv,  where  they  are  making  excellent  records. 

The  Doctor  is  a  Mason  in  his  fraternal  relations,  belonging  to  Temple 
Lodo-e,  No.  47.  He  has  also  taken  the  degrees  of  the  Scottish  rite  up  to  and 
including  the  thirty-second.     He  has  been  very  successful  from  a  financial 


PL'TXA.M    COUNTY,    INDIANA.      '  259 

Standpoint,  and  he  is  at  this  writing  president  of  the  Owl  Drug  Company  and 
the  Red  Cross  Drug  Company,  both  of  Greencastle.  He  was  one  of  the  first 
breeders  of  Angora  goats  in  Indiana  and  has  shipped  them  all  over  the  coun- 
try, having  recently  shipped  a  consignment  to  Argentine  Republic.  He  now 
maintains  a  goat  farm  and  his  fine  goats  are  admired  by  all  who  see  them. 
He  owns  some  valuable  farms  and  much  city  propertv.  He  endowed  the 
German  library  of  DePauw  University  with  the  sum  of  two  thousand  dollars. 
He  is  president  of  the  Plezee  Company,  manufacturers  of  the  celebrated  soft 
drink  known  as  "Plezee"  all  over  the  country.  He  is  president  of  the  Green- 
castle Commercial  Club,  the  success  of  which  has  been  very  largely  due  to  his 
wise  counsel  and  active  interest  in  promoting  the  city's  various  affairs.  He  is 
secretary  of  the  Live  Oak  Plantation  Company,  which  owns  over  twelve  thou- 
sand acres  of  lands  in  Louisiana.  The  company  raises  hogs,  cattle,  rice, 
fruits,  etc..  and  it  has  proven  to  be  a  very  successful  venture. 

Doctor  Bence's  methods  are  in  keeping  with  the  progressive  spirit  of  the 
twentieth  centur}-  and  the  splendid  condition  of  the  propertv  over  which  he 
has  charge  is  a  monument  to  his  well  directed  efforts.  He  is  a  man  of  broad 
humanitarian  principles,  earnest  purpose  and  upright  life,  and  bv  all  is  es- 
teemed for  his  courteous  manner,  genial  disposition  and  genuine  worth. 


OUIXTOX  BROADSTREET. 

Among  the  best  known  and  most  highly  respected  families  of  Putnam 
county  is  found  the  one  bearing  the  name  that  forms  the  caption  of  this 
article,  members  of  which  have  figured  conspicuously  in  the  business  and 
social  life  of  the  county  since  the  pioneer  days,  assisting  in  the  general 
development  of  the  same  whenever  possible.  Ouinton  Broadstreet  is  regarded 
by  all  who  know  him  as  a  man  of  strong  mentality,  invincible  courage  and 
determined  individuality,  and  he  has  so  entered  into  the  historv  of  his 
section  of  the  great  Hoosier  state  as  to  make  his  presence  felt  as  a  factor 
in  its  industrial  affairs,  and  in  a  large  sense  he  may  be  classed  as  a  director 
of  thought  in  matters  of  business  coming  within  his  special  province.  Like 
many  of  the  solid  and  substantial  men  of  Greencastle.  he  has  long  endeavored 
to  advance  the  interests  of  the  community  at  large  while  laboring  for  his  own 
advancement  and  he  has  therefore  won  the  confidence  and  esteem  of  all 
classes.  He  is  a  native  of  Hendricks  county,  Indiana,  having  been  born  at 
Stilesville.   August    14,    1837,   the  son  of  James   and   Alelvira   A.    (Gentry) 


26o  WEIK  S    HISTORY    OF 

Broadstreet.  the  former  a  native  of  Jackson  county.  Indiana,  and  the  latter 
of  BuHitt  county.  Kentucky.  The  father  was  a  plain,  old-fashioned  farmer, 
but  a  man  of  influence  in  his  community,  being  scrupulously  honest  and  kind 
to  his  neighbors  and  strangers  as  well.  He  spent  practically  all  his  life  in 
Mill  Creek  township.  Putnam  county,  where  his  death  occurred  in  1884,  at 
the  age  of  sixty-si.x  years.  His  paternal  ancestors  were  Irish  and  they  came 
to  America  prior  to  the  Revolutionary  war.  his  father  being  Thomas  Broad- 
street,  who  was  a  pioneer  of  Washington  county.  Indiana,  settling  there  very 
early  in  the  nineteenth  century.  He  removed  to  Marion  township,  this 
countv.  in  i8_'5,  where  he  entered  eighty  acres  which  he  worked  in  connection 
with  church  work,  he  having  been  an  earnest  Missionary  Baptist  minister  and 
"he  became  well  known  in  this  locality  in  that  connection  and  his  services 
were  greativ  appreciated  by  the  first  settlers  here.  Melvira  A.  Gentry,  the 
maiden  name  of  the  mother  of  Ouinton  Broadstreet,  was  a  woman  of  many 
admirable  traits  of  character.  She  spent  her  early  youth  in  Kentucky,  coming 
to  Hendricks  county,  Indiana,  when  fifteen  years  old,  accompanying  her  par- 
ents, who  located  there.  Her  death  occurred  in  1894.  To  Mr.  and  Mrs. 
Tames  Broadstreet  ten  children  were  born,  namely :  Ouinton,  of  this  review ; 
Eliza  J.,  now  deceased,  married  Calvin  Hurst;  Isaac  B.  died  when  seventeen 
years  of  age;  Rachael,  who  married  David  Haines,  is  deceased;  Sarah  Ann, 
who  married  Henderson  Layne,  is  deceased;  Xancy  is  the  wife  of  John  W. 
Stringer,  residing  in  Mill  Creek  township.  Putnam  county;  Thomas  H.  lives 
at  Coatsville,  Hendricks  county ;  Mary  Ellen  is  deceased ;  Jerusha  died  when 
eighteen  vears  of  age ;  John  C.  resides  in  Mill  Creek  township. 

Ouinton  Broadstreet  removed  with  his  parents  from  Stilesville.  Indiana, 
to  a  farm  when  he  was  but  a  child,  and  when  of  proper  age  he  began  working 
on  the  farm  and  continued  agricultural  pursuits  until  1888.  when  he  mo\ed  to 
Greencastle  and  engaged  in  the  real  estate,  loan  and  insurance  business  with 
W.  B.  Vestal.  He  has  succeeded  in  building  up  a  large  and  lucrative  business 
in  this  line  owing  to  his  close  application  to  his  individual  affairs,  his  minute 
knowledge  i)f  real  estate  values  in  this  locality  and  his  fair  and  conscientious 
treatment  of  all  with  whom  he  has  dealings.  He  was  very  successful  as  a 
farmer  and  stockman,  and  he  still  retains  his  farming  interests,  which  are 
e.\tensi\e  and  waluable. 

Mr.  Broadstreet  was  first  married  on  ]^Iarch  22.  1864,  to  Sarah  Ellen 
Euis.  who  was  born  in  this  county,  her  people  being  highly  respected  here 
in  the  latter  half  of  the  nineteenth  century.  This  marriage  resulted  in  the 
birth  of  the  following  children :  Melvira  Ann  is  the  wife  of  C.  Elmer  Wal- 
lace, of  Mill  Creek  township:  Ida  E.  died  when  eighteen  years  of  age:  Francis 


PL'TNAM    COrXTY,    INDIANA.  261 

Marion  died  at  tlie  age  of  t\\ent\':  Leander  died  at  the  age  of  eighteen  years; 
Charles  P.  was  a  leading  grocer  of  Greencastle  and  one  of  the  most  popular 
young  business  men  of  the  city,  but  is  now  farming;  James  Virgil  died  at  the 
age  of  eighteen  years;  Delia  May  is  the  wife  of  William  B.  Peck,  of  Green- 
castle; Ernest  died  in  childhooc.l.  The  mother  of  these  children  was  called 
to  her  rest  in  1887  and  Mr.  Broadstreet  was  marriefl  in  1900  to  Margaret  J. 
Walters,  of  Greencastle.  where  she  has  a  wide  circle  of  friends.  This  union 
is  without  issue. 

Mr.  Broadstreet  was  trustee  (^f  Mill  Creek  township  for  several  vears 
and  was  also  assessor  of  that  township,  filling  each  office  with  credit  to  him- 
self and  satisfaction  to  all  concerned.  Politically  he  is  a  Democrat,  but  is 
not  active  in  the  party.  Owing  to  his  well-known  business  ability  he  acts 
as  administrator  of  numerous  estates,  and  d(ies  much  similar  work  in  con- 
nection with  his  own  office  work.  Personally  he  is  a  man  of  imposing  pres- 
ence, portly,  energetic,  jolly,  courteous  and  always  generous  and  hospitable, 
hence  his  easy  manner  of  making  and  retaining  friends.  He  has  been  very 
successful  in  life  in  a  financial  way.  and  now  that  the  shadows  of  the  evening 
of  life  have  begun  to  lengthen  he  can  look  backward  over  a  career  that  is  satis- 
factorv  in  the  main,  one  o\er  which  no  shadow  of  evil  rests,  conscii^us  of  the 
fact  that  he  has  done  the  best  he  could  with  his  opportunities  and  enxironment 
and  that  he  has  benefited  man\-  who  ha\-e  been  associated  with  him  in  all  the 
relatiiins  n\  life. 


ALEXANDER  H.  LOCKRIDGE. 

A  worthy  representati\  e  of  one  of  the  leading  families  of  Putnam 
county  is  .Me.xander  H.  Lockridge.  well  kn<n\n  farmer  and  stock  dealer. 
Throughout  tlie  country  he  eiijo}'s  distinctive  prestige  among  the  enterprising 
business  men.  having  earned  the  right  to  be  called  one  of  the  progressive 
men  of  this  locality,  having  fought  Ins  way  onward  and  upward  to  a  promi- 
nent position  in  industrial  circles  and  in  e\ery  relation  of  life  his  \'oice  and 
influence  are  on  the  side  of  right  as  he  sees  and  understands  the  right.  He 
is  a  native  of  this  county  and  has  spent  his  life  here,  his  birth  having  occurred 
June  10.  1848.  the  son  of  Andrew  M.  and  Elizabeth  (Farrow)  Lockridge. 
His  ancestors  i:)n  both  sides  of  the  house  were  pioneers  of  Putnam  countv, 
and  owing  to  the  fact  that  much  space  is  devoted  to  them  elsewdiere  in  this 
work,  their  life  records  will  not  be  repeated  here;  suffice  it  to  say  in  passing 
that  no  more  worth v  rir  influential  people  ever  honored  the  Hoosier  state  with 
their  j^resence. 


262  weik's  history  of 

Alexander  H.  Lockridge  was  educated  in  the  public  schools,  later  at- 
tended DePauw  University,  which  in  those  early  days  was  known  as  Asbury 
University,  receiving  an  excellent  education.  He  began  working  on  the  home 
place  early  in  his  youth  and  he  has  devoted  his  life  to  farming  and  stock 
raising  with  splendid  success  attending  his  efforts.  He  is  a  typical  twentieth- 
century  agriculturist,  broad  minded,  alert,  promoting  new  lines  and  phases 
of  the  same  in  a  manner  that  stamps  him  as  fully  abreast  of  the  times,  and  only 
a  cursory  glance  at  his  model  and  very  desirable  farm  is  sufficient  to  indicate 
that  a  gentleman  of  thrift  and  good  taste  has  its  management  in  hand,  and, 
being  one  of  the  best  and  most  extensive  stock  feeders  in  the  county,  he  has 
become  widely  known  to  stock  men  locally  and  at  distant  markets  where 
high-grade  stock,  such  as  he  always  offers  for  sale,  are  duly  appreciated  and 
sought  after. 

Mr.  Lockridge  is  the  owner  of  fifteen  hundred  acres  of  valuable  land 
in  Putnam  county,  which  is  kept  well  improved  and  tilled,  bounteous  crops 
being  harvested  therefrom  annually  under  his  able  supervision ;  however, 
much  of  the  minor  detail  work  of  his  fields  are  left  to  others  and  a  great  deal 
of  Mr.  Lockridge's  attention  is  directed  to  his  large  herds  of  cattle,  with  which 
he  has  been  very  successful.  At  one  time  he  sold  eighty-six  head  of  cattle  on 
the  Chicago  market  which  brought  eight  dollars  and  forty-five  cents  per 
hundred  pounds,  which  is  on  record  as  one  of  the  highest  prices  ever  paid 
for  any  one  herd  of  cattle. 

The  Lockridge  residence  is  beautifully  located,  commodious,  attractive 
and  elegantly  furnished,  having  all  modern  conveniences  and  surrounded 
by  substantial  barns  and  outbuildings. 

On  January  23.  1S79.  Mr.  Lockridge  was  united  in  marriage  with  Laura 
Pickrell.  of  Springfield,  Illinois,  daughter  of  William  and  Amanda  (Robin- 
son) Pickrell.  an  old  and  highly  respected  family.  Mrs.  Lockridge  was  well 
educated  and  is  known  to  a  large  circle  of  friends  as  a  woman  of  excellent 
attributes.  This  union  has  resulted  in  the  birth  of  two  children.  Andrew  M., 
born  October  16,  1879,  who  is  living  in  California,  and  William  P..  born  April 
I  J,  1 88 1,  who  is  living  at  home  and  is  ably  assisting  his  father  in  the  man- 
agement of  his  large  interests.  He  is  one  of  the  most  popular  young  men  of 
the  community  and  is  evincing  splendid  business  qualifications.  He  is  a 
member  of  Lodge  No.  1077.  Benevolent  and  Protective  Order  of  Elks. 

Mr.  Lockridge  showed  his  patriotism  during  the  great  war  l^etueen 
the  states,  although  a  mere  lad,  by  enlisting  in  the  One  Hundred  and  Thirtv- 
third  Regiment.  Indiana  Volunteer  Infantry,  in  1864.  for  the  one-hundred- 
dav  service,  during  which  time  he  had  some  interesting  experiences.     After 


PUTNAM    COUNTY,    INDIANA.  263 

the  war  he  returned  liome  ami  resumed  farming'.  He  is  a  member  of  the 
Grand  Army  of  the  RepubHc.  Post  ii.  at  Greencastle.  PoHtically  he  is  a 
RepubHcan,  but  has  never  aspired  to  party  honors,  preferring  to  devote  his 
exclusive  attention  to  his  private  business  affairs.  He  is  a  quiet,  unassuming 
man  whom  evePv'body  likes  because  of  his  straightforward,  honest  dealings 
w  ith  liis  fellow  men  and  his  genial  disposition. 


THOMAS  GILLESPIE. 

Xo  name  is  more  familiar  in  Putnam  county  than  that  of  Gillespie;  The 
first  settlers  of  this  name  came  in  as  early  or  before  the  organization  of  the 
countv  and  their  descendants  have  ramified  until,  by  increase  and  intermar- 
riage, thev  are  connected  with  a  large  part  of  the  population.  Members  of 
the  family  have  been  engaged  in  many  kinds  of  business,  have  developed  good 
business  men  and  achieved  unusual  success  in  their  various  callings.  It  would 
take  several  volumes  to  give  a  history  of  the  Gillespies,  who  have  enriched 
the  citizens  of  Putnam  county  by  their  energy,  industry  and  law-abiding  char- 
acter. They  have  done  much  individually  and  collectively  for  the  develop- 
ment of  Putnam  county  and  take  credit  for  a  good  deal  of  the  progress  which 
has  marked  the  last  half  century.  James  Gillespie,  who  was  born  in  Virginia 
in  1810,  came  west  when  still  young  and  settled  in  Clinton  county, 
Ohio,  where  he  died.  He  worked  for  a  while  at  a  tanner.  Thomas  Gillespie 
came  to  Putnam  county  in  18:28.  when  this  region  was  still  in  almost  primitive 
condition,  with  onlv  a  sparse  population.  log  cabins,  scattered  here  and  there, 
wide  apart  and  the  woods  still  full  of  game.  He  followed  his  occupation  as 
a  tanner  until  1S50.  wdien  he  changed  to  farming.  He  hail  but  a  limited 
education,  as  in  his  day  schools  were  poor  and  scarce,  but  he  made  up  for  this 
deficiencv  in  after  life  by  much  reading  an<I  study.  Though  a  Democrat  in  a 
mild  wav,  he  never  sought  office,  being  a  quiet  unobtrusive  man.  who  attended 
industriouslv  to  his  own  business  and  did  not  interfere  with  that  of  others. 
He  had  the  reputation  of  being  the  strongest  man  physically  in  the  county 
and  many  stories  are  told  of  his  feats  in  lifting  and  throwing.  He  died 
August  21.  1890.  and  was  laid  away  in  Forest  Hill  cemeten,-.  James  G. 
married  Katherine  Peck,  and  Thomas  Gillespie  was  a  son  of  this  union.  He 
married  Elizabeth  Shore  Farrow,  who  was  born  December  28.  1S21.  her 
parents  being  Richarrl  and  !\lary  fXelson)  Farrow,  one  of  the  old  pioneer 
families   of   the   county.      The   children    are    as    follrnvs :      Mary   Jcjsephine. 


264  weik's  history  of 

born  June  30,  1840.  and  married  Isaac  H.  Meekins  and  lives  in  Iowa; 
Katherine  Howard,  born  January  i,  1842,  now  ]^Irs.  Arthur  \Vood, 
is  a  resident  of  Champaign,  Illinois;  James  M.,  born  June  15,  1843, 
lives  in  \  igo  county:  Martha,  born  March  2^,  1845,  "'^''^'  ^frs. 
J.  W.  Fletcher,  lives  in  Shenandoah,  Iowa;  Elizabeth  F..  born  February  21, 
1847.  ''"'^^'  ^Irs-  \\  illiani  Hathawav.  resides  in  Clinton  township,  Putnam 
county;  Sarah  Evelyn,  born  September  29,  1849,  died  September  29,  185S; 
William  F.,  born  October  9,  1850,  is  a  resident  of  Inilianapolis ;  Margaret, 
born  December  30.  1851,  is  a  resident  of  Greencastle ;  Richard  A.,  born  Sep- 
tember 25,  1853,  lives  in  Greencastle  and  is  a  farmer  by  occupation;  Thomas 
P.,  born  March  26,  1855,  is  a  resident  oi  Log-anspc irt :  Susan  F.,  Ijorn  Jan- 
uary 3,  1857,  died  November  2j.  1857;  Emma  Clay,  born  January  10,  185S, 
is  now  Mrs.  P.  \\'.  McXary ;  Anna  D.,  Ixirn  January  14.  i860,  is  now  Mrs. 
D.  C.  Stairwalt.  and  resides  in  Greencastle;  Daniel  A.,  born  March  8.  1862. 
is  a  resident  of  Logansport:  Joseph  F.  is  a  physician  of  Greencastle;  Be\'erly 
is  a  dentist  in  the  same  city.  The  mother  of  this  family  died  .\ugust  9,  1896, 
at  the  age  of  seventv-four  vears. 


JAMES  LAF.VYETTE  RAXDEL. 

The  family  of  this  name  originated  in  Xew  York,  from  which  state  rep- 
resentatives removed  to  South  Carolina,  where  Thomas  Randel  was  born 
during  the  latter  part  of  the  eighteenth  century,  coming  in  early  life  to  In- 
diana and  finding  a  last  resting  place  near  Bainbridge.  Putnam  county.  His 
son,  William  Randel.  was  born  in  Union  cijunty.  South  Carolina,  August  26, 
1793,  lived  in  Franklin  county,  Georgia,  from  [801  to  1807.  anrl  went  through 
the  Cherokee  Indian  nation  to  Barren  county,  Kentucky,  where  he  grew  to 
manhood,  married,  and  in  1824  came  to  Putnam  county,  settling  on 
a  farm  in  Monroe  township,  where  several  generations  of  the  family  were 
born  and  developed.  He  married,  first.  Xancy  McReynolds,  by  whom  he  had 
a  numl)er  of  children,  including  Gibson  Randel.  Mrs.  Malinda  Sharp.  Mrs. 
^[aria  ]\[cCov,  Mrs.  Man-  Daniels.  John  \\'.,  and  Mrs.  Emma  Summers,  all  of 
whom  are  dead.  Harrison  M.  Randel  was  the  youngest  of  the  children  and 
is  the  onl\-  one  li\ing.  The  mother  died  about  1845  and  a  second  marriage 
was  contracted  with  Xanc}'  (Siddons)  Stevens,  who  died  about  1881,  with- 
out issue.  The  father  died  in  18S5,  when  ninety-two  }-ears  old,  longevity 
being  a  characteristic  of  this  hard\-  race.      Harrison  M.  Randel  was  born  in 


PTTXAM     COLXTV,    INDIANA.  265 

Putnam  county.  Indiana.  December  j;.  1838.  and  after  reaching  manhootl 
engaged  in  faniung,  which  has  been  his  hte  work.  In  1862  he  was  elected 
county  sur\eyoi-  and  served  eight  years.  In  1S70  he  was  elected  countv 
treasurer  and  re-elected  in  1873  on  the  Democratic  ticket.  In  1874  he  was 
elected  county  auditor,  in  which  otfice  he  served  four  rears,  after  which  he 
retired  to  his  farm  and  subsequently  remnveii  to  Greencastle.  where  he  has  re- 
sitled  for  some  ten  or  eleven  years.  He  first  married  Xancy  A.  Stevens,  a  na- 
tive of  PYitnam  county  from  near  Rainbridge.  and  bv  this  union  there  were 
seven  children,  five  of  whom  are  living:  \\'illiam  M..  of  Greencastle:  James 
L..  the  subject :  Thomas  F..  of  Hendricks  county.  Indiana  :  Daniel  \'..  of  Alibe- 
vdle.  Louisiana:  and  Harry  Clay,  a  druggist  at  Terre  Haute.  The  mother 
died  in  1892,  when  about  fifty-one  years  old.  she  and  F.  :M..  the  oldest  child, 
and  .Mrs.  Carrie  Hirt,  the  only  daughter,  dying  of  typhoid  fever  within  a 
month  of  each  other.  The  father's  second  wife  was  Ella  King,  who  died  one 
year  later  without  issue.  A  third  marriage  occurred  with  Amanda,  daughter 
of  Elsephus  Thomas,  one  of  the  early  and  wealthy  pioneers  of  the  count}-. 

James  L.  Randel.  seccjud  of  his  father's  sur\iving  children,  was  born 
near  Bainbridge,  Putnam  county,  Indiana.  December  to.  i86j.  He  remained 
on  the  farm  until  his  father's  election  as  county  treasurer  and  went  with  the 
latter  to  Greencastle  when  nine  years  old.  He  attended  school  at  the  county 
seat  and  assisted  his  father  in  the  office.  After  his  father's  election  as  auditor, 
he  was  appointed  deputy  and  retained  this  place  for  four  vears.  attending 
school  a  part  of  the  time.  He  afterwards  was  appointed  deputv  treasurer 
under  W.  R.  Gnigan  and  later  deputy  auditor  under  J.  U.  Edwards.  He  also 
ser\ed  as  deput\-  treasurer  under  Ephraim  Tucker  and  in  1886  was  elected 
county  audit(-ir,  in  which  position  he  served  from  1887  to  November  i,  189 1. 
January  i.  189J.  he  accepted  employment  with  the  First  Xational  Bank  as 
collection  clerk:  in  .\pril,  1893,  'i^  ^^'^■'^  appointed  assistant  cashier  of  the  Cen- 
tral Xational  Bank  and  served  until  1904.  when  he  was  elected  cashier.  In 
May.  1900,  he  was  one  of  the  organizers  of  the  Central  Trust  Companv,  of 
which  he  was  elected  secretar\-  and  has  since  retained  that  positi(in.  In  1893 
he  was  elected  a  meml)er  of  the  city  council  from  the  first  ward  and  served 
four  years.  He  ranks  high  in  financial  circles,  as  is  evidenced  by  the  honors 
bestowed  u[)on  him  by  various  organizations.  He  is  president  of  the  Fifth 
District  Bankers'  Association,  was  a  member  of  the  executive  council  of  the 
Indiana  Bankers'  As.sociation  for  1909-10.  president  of  the  trust  company 
section  of  the  Indiana  Bankers'  Association,  vice-president  for  Indiana  of  the 
trust  com]iany  section  of  the  American  Bankers'  Association,  and  member  of 


2(56  weik's  history  of 

the  building  committee  of  Putnam  county's  new  court  house,  being  appointed 
to  act  with  the  board  of  county  commissioners  by  the  judge  of  the  circuit 
court. 

'Sir.  Randel's  fraternal  connections  are  numerous  and  indicative  of  his 
standing  and  popularity.  He  is  trustee  of  Temple  Lodge,  Xo.  47,  Free  and 
Accepted  Masons,  past  high  priest  and  trustee  of  Greencastle  Chapter.  Xo. 
22,  Royal  Arch  Masons,  past  eminent  commander  of  Greencastle  Command- 
ery.  X'o.  11.  Knights  Templar,  and  grand  warder  of  the  grand  commandery 
Knights  Templar  of  Indiana.  He  is  also  a  member  of  Indiana  consistory, 
Scottish  rite,  and  Murat  Temple,  Ancient  Arabic  Order  X'obles  of  the  Mystic 
Shrine.  He  is  also  a  member  of  the  Knights  of  Pythias,  and  treasurer  of 
Greencastle  Lodge,  Xo.  1077,  Benevolent  and  Protective  Order  of  Elks.  He 
has  always  been  active  and  influential  as  a  Democrat  and  holds  the  position  of 
chairman  of  the  city  committee  of  his  party. 

On  October  9.  1883,  Mr.  Randel  married  Martha  E..  daughter  of  John 
\V.  A.  Llall,  who  lives  in  the  vicinity  of  Roachdale,  where  she  was  born  April 
II,  1866.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Randel  have  had  four  children:  Frank  H.,  who  died 
in  infancy;  Walter  C.,  who  died  when  three  years  old  ;  Clyde  R.,  who  was  born 
Julv  14,  1888,  is  a  senior  at  DePauw  University;  Xaomi,  who  was  born  No- 
vember 30,  1893,  is  a  student  at  DePauw  University.  Mr.  Randel  is  a  deacon 
and  trustee  of  the  Christian  church  and  a  citizen  of  the  highest  standing  and 
regarded  as  an  unusually  able  business  man  by  the  people  of  Putnam  county, 
who  have  so  often  exhibited  their  regard  and  respect  for  him. 


WILLIAAI   B.  VESTAL. 

The  Vestals  have  been  conspicuous  in  the  affairs  of  Putnam  county 
since  the  days  of  the  first  settler,  the  several  members  playing  well  their 
parts  in  all  the  relations  of  life  and  establishing  reputations  for  both  industry 
and  integritv  as  well  as  public  spirit  and  hospitalit}'.  and  no  member  of 
this  familv  is  better  known  or  has  been  of  greater  service  to  his  fellow 
men  than  William  B.  Vestal,  who  was  born  in  Warren  township,  Putnam 
countv,  Februarv  i,   1843,  and  whose  home  is  now  in  Greencastle. 

The  Vestal  familv  comes  of  Scotch-Irish  stock  on  the  paternal  side, 
William  Vestal  being  the  first  of  the  name  to  come  to  the  United  States. 
having  emigrated  here  in  1683  with  the  famous  William  Penn  cr.ldnists. 
Meeting  a  Miss  INlercer,  a  \\'elsh  lady,  on  the  vessel  which  brnuglit  them  to 


PUTNAM    COUNTY,    INDIANA.  267 

America,  they  were  married  and  upon  arriving  on  our  shores  located  in 
Lancaster  countv,  Pennsylvania.  One  of  their  children.  Thomas,  moved  to 
Xortli  Carolina,  where  he  married  a  Miss  Davis.  Their  son,  William,  mar- 
ried into  the  Wheeler  family,  who  lived  near  Rock  River,  that  state,  in  which 
vicinity  Mr.  Vestal  had  settled.  Thomas,  one  of  their  children,  married  a 
Miss  Brower  and  these  were  the  great-grandparents  of  William  B.  X'estal. 
of  this  review.  Thomas  Vestal,  brother  of  William,  of  North  Carolina,  was 
a  soldier  in  the  Revolutionary  war. 

Samuel  \'estal.  father  of  William  B.,  was  a  native  of  Kentucky,  who 
came  to  Indiana  in  1S22.  settling  in  Warren  township,  Putnam  county.  Indi- 
ana. His  father.  \\'illiam  \"estal.  also  came  here  at  that  time.  They  were  both 
farmers  and  hardy  pioneers.  The  latter,  grandfather  of  the  subject,  was 
born  in  Rock  River,  North  Carolina,  in  1790,  and  he  died  in  1863  at  the  age 
of  seventy-three  years,  spending  his  last  days  in  Iowa,  where  he  had  moved 
in  184S.  He  was  twice  married,  first  to  Sarah  Moore,  a  native  of  Kentucky, 
and  lastly  to  her  sister,  Esther.  Samuel,  father  of  William  B.,  of  this  review, 
was  born  of  the  first  union,  another  child  born  to  them  dying  in  infancy. 
Ten  children  were  born  of  the  second  union. 

Samuel  \'estal  was  born  in  18 17  and  he  died  in  Warren  township.  Put- 
nam county.  Indiana.  January  20.  1891,  at  the  age  of  seventy-four  years. 
He  married  Tillitha  Erinton,  who  was  born  near  Lebanon,  Kentucky,  1819, 
and  who  died  on  Februar\'  15.  1904.  Seven  children  were  born  to  this  union, 
namely:  ]\Iary  Jane,  wife  of  John  Branhan,  of  Limedale,  Putnam  county; 
William  B-.,  of  this  review;  Margaret  A.  died  in  1880;  James  A\'.  lives  one 
mile  north  of  Cloverdale ;  Ellen  died  in  1866.  at  the  age  of  twelve  years; 
Emilv  F.  is  the  wife  of  ^Manford  Chamberlin,  living  near  Goverdale,  this 
county;  Elizabeth  P.  is  the  wife  of  Havila  Jones,  living  near  Cloverdale. 

William  B.  Vestal  remained  on  the  old  home  farm  until  1870,  where 
he  alternated  farming  with  schooling  in  the  district  sch(Mls.  He  studied  hard 
and  recei\'ed  a  good  education,  and  taught  school  in  a  very  acceptable  manner 
for  a  period  of  fifteen  years  in  Putnam  county,  in  the  country  schools,  prin- 
cipally at  Cloverdale  and  Manhattan.  From  1875  to  1880  he  engaged  in  the 
li\-ery  business  at  Cloverdale.  after  \\hich  he  farmed  for  a  few  years  near 
that  town.  From  1887  to  1888  he  was  mail  clerk  on  the  Vandalia  railroad. 
In  1888  he  was  elected  sheriiif  of  Putnam  county  on  the  Democratic  ticket 
and  so  faith  fullv  and  well  did  he  perform  the  duties  of  this  important  office 
that  he  was  re-elected  in  1890.  making  one  of  the  best  officials  the  county  has 
e\-er  had,  according  to  manv  of  his  constituents,  .\fter  leaving  this  office, 
y\r.  Vestal  engaged  in  the  real  estate  business,  abstracts  and  loans,   forming 


2bO  WEIK  S    HISTORY    OF 

the  firm  of  X'estal  &  Broatlstreet  in  1894.  which  has  C(nitinue<l  until  the  present 
time,  a  very  satisfactory  Ixisiness  lia\'ing  l)een  hiiilt  up.  From  1S72  to 
1878  lie  was  trustee  of  CIo\erclale  township. 

Mr.  \'estal  was  one  of  the  loyal  supporters  of  the  Union  cruise  during 
the  (lark  days  of  the  sixties,  having  enlisted  in  Company  T.  Fifty-fifth  Regi- 
ment Indiana  Volunteer  Infantry,  in  1862.  and  in  1864  he  re-enlisted  in 
Company  E.  Fifty-first  Indiana  Regiment.  He  saw  much  active  service  in 
general  warfare  in  Kentucky,  and  he  f<night  at  Columbia  and  Xa.shville  and 
at  the  many  and  almcist  continuous  skirmishes  between  those  battle  grounds. 
At  the  close  of  hostilities  he  received  an  honorable  discharge  and  returned 
home. 

In  September.  1869.  Mr.  Vestal  married  Isis  M.  East,  daughter  of  Baily 
East,  of  Heltonville.  Lawrence  county.  Indiana,  where  JVIrs.  Vestal  was 
bom.  reared  and  educated.  This  union  resulted  in  the  birth  of  five  children, 
namely:  Clarence  A.,  now  engaged  in  the  livery  business  in  Greencastle ; 
Capt.  Samuel  Curtis,  who  is  now  on  the  general  military  staff  at  ^Manila. 
Philippine  Islands,  is  a  graduate  of  the  Annapolis  Military  Academy;  Xellie 
M.  was  born  in  1876  and  died  in  1880:  Edith  is  the  wife  o£  Tilden  McNeff, 
Ii\-ing  near  Putnamville.  this  count}':  the  youngest  child  died  in  infancv  un- 
named. 

Mr.  Vestal  is  a  ^klason,  belonging  to  the  blue  lodge,  chapter  and  com- 
mandery,  and  he  also  holds  membership  in  the  local  post  of  the  Grand  Armv 
of  the  Republic.  Personally  he  is  a  good  mixer,  genial,  public-spirited  and 
honest,  as  were  his  ancestors  before  him.  hence  he  enjoys  the  confidence  and 
friendship  of  all  who  know  him. 


SENATOR  FRANCIS  CALVIX  TILDEX. 

The  life  of  the  scholarly  or  professional  man  seldom  exhibits  anv  of  those 
striking  incidents  that  seize  upon  public  feeling  and  attract  attention  to  him- 
self. Hi.s  character  is  generally  made  up  of  the  aggregate  qualities  and 
qualifications  he  may  possess,  as  these  may  be  elicited  b\-  the  exercise  of  the 
duties  of  his  vocation  or  the  particular  profession  to  which  he  belongs.  But 
when  such  a  man  has  so  impressed  his  individuality  upon  his  fellow  men  as 
to  gain  their  confidence,  and  through  that  confidence  rises  to  high  and  im- 
portant public  trust,  he  at  once  becomes  a  conspicuous  figure  in  the  boflv 
politic  of  the  communit}'  and  the  state.  Such  a  man  is  Senator  Francis 
Calvin  Tilden.  who.  not  content  to  hide  his  talents  amid  life's  sequestered 


PL"TN'AM    COL'XTV.    IXDIANA.  269 

^\'a^•s,  lias  hv  the  force  of  will  and  a  laudable  ambition  forged  to  the  front 
in  a  responsible  and  exacting  calling  and  while  yet  young  in  years  earned  an 
honorable  reputation  in  one  of  the  most  important  branches  of  public  service. 
His  life  has  been  one  of  hard  study  and  research  from  his  youth  and.  since 
maturity,  of  laliorious  professional  duty  in  the  several  relations  in  which 
lie  has  been  placed:  and  the  hi.gh  public  position  to  which  he  has  attained  is 
evidence  that  the  qualities  he  possesses  afford  the  means  of  distinction  under  a 
system  of  government  in  which  places  of  honor  and  usefulness  are  open  to 
all  who  may  be  found  worthy  of  them. 

Senator  Tilden.  who  is  one  of  the  l)est  known  men  in  Putnam  county, 
or,  in  fact,  this  portion  of  the  state,  is  fortunate  in  a  long  line  of  distinguisheil 
ancestr\-.  man\-  of  whom  figured  pronn'nently  in  ever\-  walk  of  life.  Me 
was  born  in  Grundy  county.  Illinois.  September  20,  1872,  the  son  of  -\llen 
Sherwood  Tilden,  a  native  of  \'ermont  who  joined  the  tide  of  emigration 
setting  in  stronglv  from  the  Xew  England  states  to  the  West  in  1S52  and 
located  in  Crrundy  county,  Illinois,  where  he  successfully  (Operated  a  farm  ; 
he  was  also  a  skilled  machinist.  He  remaineil  in  Illinois  until  his  death. 
in  1887.  which  occurred  in  a  runaway  accident.  He  was  a  highly  respected 
and  influential  man  in  his  ciMnmunity.  although  he  led  his  life  along  quiet 
paths  and  did  not  seek  official  preferment;  however,  he  was  appointed  by 
President  Lincoln  on  the  Illinois  bounty  board  during  the  Civil  war  period, 
and  he  rendered  very  efficient  service  as  treasurer  of  the  same,  w  hich  was  a 
verv  responsible  position,  it  having  come  to  him  unsought  soon  after  his 
enlistment  as  a  soldier  in  the  Union  army. 

The  Tilden  family  is  of  English  extraction  and  may  be  traced  back  to 
Sir  Richard  Tilden.  who  was  knighted  under  Queen  Elizabeth.  Under  King 
Tames  II  he  came  to  America  and  surveyed  the  colony  of  Massachusetts,  in 
which  state  he  located  and  reared  a  family,  some  members  of  which  went  to 
\'emiont.  and  some  to  Connecticut.  Samuel  J.  Tilden  being  of  the  latter 
branch.  The  branch  of  which  Senator  Tilden  is  a  descendant  lived  in  \'er- 
mont.  This  is  one  of  the  thirty-one  families  in  America  really  entitled  to  a 
coat  of  arms.  Crandfather  Isaac  Tilden  w-as  a  native  of  Vermont,  from 
which  state  he  came  to  Illinois,  bringing  his  son,  Allen  Sherwood,  father  of 
the  Senator.  He  was  a  typical  pioneer  of  sterling  qualities  and  remained  in 
Illinois  until  his  death. 

.Mien  Sherwood  Tilden  married  Elvira  Elizabeth  ^\■iIlis.  a  woman  of 
manv  beautiful  characteristics,  the  daughter  of  a  highly  honored  family  of 
Vermont,  where  she  was  born,  reared  and  educated.  To  this  union  three 
children  were  l>orn.  named  as  follows:  Eva  E.  Tilden  is  living  in  Alarvville. 


270  WEIKS    HISTORY    OF 

Tennessee,  where  also  resides  the  other  daughter,  Lucy  M.,  now  the  wife  of 
W.  A.  McTeer;  Francis  Calvin,  of  this  review. 

Francis  C.  Tilden  was  reared  on  the  parental  farm  in  Grundy  county, 
Illinois,  and  received  his  primary  education  in  the  district  schools.  He  as- 
sisted with  the  lighter  work  about  the  place  during  the  summer  months,  and 
amid  the  bracing  airs  and  wholesome  rural  surroundings  of  the  prairies  grew 
to  vigorous  manhood.  Coming  to  Greencastle,  Indiana,  he  entered  DePauw 
Academy,  then  took  the  university  course,  which  he  finished  in  a  most  credit- 
able manner  in  1897.  Desiring  still  higher  mental  discipline,  he  entered 
Harvard  University,  which  institution  conferred  upon  him  the  degree  of 
Master  of  Arts  in  1899,  after  he  had  spent  two  years  there.  He  was  very 
active  during  his  college  days,  finding  time  aside  from  his  regular  work  to 
de\'0te  his  attention  to  literature  and  athletics.  He  was  editor  of  the  college 
annual,  Mirage,  also  the  college  paper,  The  Palladium,  filling  these  positions 
in  a  very  creditable  manner,  as  he  did  also  that  of  secretary  of  the  athletic 
association,  during  which  time  the  loan  was  negotiated  by  which  they  se- 
cured the  McKeen  field.  He  was  elected  a  member  of  the  Phi  Beta  Kappa — 
the  scholarship  society — only  those  students  who  make  exceptionally  high 
grades  being  elected. 

In  1900  Senator  Tilden  was  honored  by  being  elected  professor  of  Eng- 
lish language  and  literature  at  Dakota  University,  located  at  Vermillion,  South 
Dakota,  and  during  the  same  year  he  was  elected  professor  of  English  lit- 
erature at  De?auw  University,  where  he  remained  until  1904,  giving  the  ut- 
most satisfaction,  as  he  had  done  at  his  former  post,  being  naturally  gifted 
along  these  lines  and  profoundly  versed  in  his  chosen  subjects,  besides  possess- 
ing the  rare  trait  of  being  both  an  entertainer  and  an  instructor  in  the  school 
room.  Desiring  to  more  fully  equip  himself  for  this  line  of  endeavor,  he 
spent  the  summer  of  1904  in  study  at  Oxford  and  London,  England,  then 
returned  to  America  for  the  purpose  of  taking  the  English  work  in  the  Winona 
schools,  then  being  organized.  He  continued  in  the  Winona  school  until 
May,  1907,  when  he  resigned  to  take  up  journalistic  work  in  Greencastle, 
having  then  become  associated  with  the  Star-Democrat  Publish- 
ing Company,  to  which  he  has  given  his  attention  and  talent  up  to  the  present 
time,  greatly  enhancing  the  prestige  of  this  influential  organ  and  rendering 
it  a  power  for  good  in  this  vicinity,  the  Senator  being  an  interesting  and 
polished  writer,  always  wielding  a  true  and  trenchant  pen  in  championing  the 
rights  of  his  constituents  and  whatever  would  tend  to  the  general  good  of 
Putnam  county. 

Senator  Tilden  has  long  taken  an  active  interest  in  the  political  arena. 


PUT.N'AM    COUNTY,    INDIANA.  2'JX 

in  which  he  made  his  influence  felt  from  the  first,  and  his  public  spirit  and 
talents  attracted  the  attention  of  local  political  leaders  and  in  1908  the  Demo- 
crats nominated  him  for  state  senator  for  the  district  comprising  Putnam, 
^lorgan  and  Marion  counties  and  he  was  subsequently  elected.  In  this  im- 
portant trust  he  has  shown  himself  to  be  eminently  well  qualified  and  has  dis- 
charged his  duties  in  such  an  able  and  conscientious  manner  as  to  excite  the 
admiration  of  his  constituents,  irrespective  of  party  alignment.  His  in- 
fluence among  his  colleagues  was  potent  from  the  first,  they  at  once  recog- 
nizing his  earnestness  and  his  fidelity  to  the  right.  He  was  closely  connected 
with  the  local  option  legislation,  being  one  of  the  two  Democrats  who  pre- 
vented the  repealing  of  the  law.  His  term  expires  in  1912,  and  he  will  doubt- 
less accomplish  much  for  this  locality  ere  that  date. 

In  1907  the  Senator  began  lecture  work,  since  which  time  he  has  fre- 
quently appeared  at  Chautauquas  and  before  teachers'  institutes,  where  he 
is  always  accorded  hearty  welcome,  being  a  forceful  and  at  times  a  truly  elo- 
quent speaker,  and  always  has  a  helpful  and  uplitting  message.  In  January, 
19 10,  he  was  further  honored  by  being  appointed  special  lecturer  in  literature 
at  DePauw  University. 

Senator  Tilden's  ideal  domestic  life  began  September  13.  1900,  when 
he  married  Ethel  Nash  Arnold,  the  accomplished  and  cultured  daughter  of 
F,  A.  Arnold,  a  prominent  citizen  of  Greencastle,  in  which  city  Mrs.  Tilden 
■was  born,  reared  and  educated,  being  a  graduate  of  DePauw  University. 
This  union  has  been  graced  by  the  birth  of  three  children,  named  as  follows : 
Francis  Allen,  born  July  19,  1901 ;  Elizabeth,  born  April  10,  1905;  Richard 
Arnold,  born  December  30,  1906.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Tilden  are  faithful  mem- 
bers of  the  College  Avenue  Methodist  Episcopal  church.  They  are  popular 
in  all  circles  in  this  citv  and  highlv  esteemed  bv  all  classes. 


ARTHUR  L.  EVENS. 


The  gentleman  whose  name  heads  this  review  is  one  of  the  leading  con- 
tractors and  builders  of  the  southern  part  of  Putnam  county  and  he  is  also 
extensively  engaged  in  fanning,  owning  a  valuable  piece  of  property  near 
Putnamville,  and  the  history  of  this  township  would  be  incomplete  were 
there  failure  to  make  mention  of  him  and  the  enterprise  with  which  he  is 
identified.  Tireless  energy  and  honesty  of  purpose  are  the  chief  character- 
istics of  the  man. 


272  WEIKS    HISTORY    OF 

Arthur  I.  E\ens  was  born  in  CloN'erdale  township,  this  county,  .\ugust 
23.  1S62.  and  is  a  son  of  John  W.  and  Margaret  (  Calhihan)  E\ens.  He 
received  a  common  sciiool  e<hication  and  when  very  young,  fourteen  years  of 
age.  he  began  working  out  by  the  montii  in  .jrder  to  get  a  start,  and.  lieing 
an  energetic  lad.  he  soon  had  a  good  foothold.  He  married  Louisa  E.  Lewis, 
daughter  of  Israel  G.  and  Susan  J.  Lewis,  her  father  being  a  well-known 
minister  in  the  Methodist  Episcopal  church  of  Putnam  county,  and  regarded 
bv  everyone  as  a  good  and  useful  man.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Evens  began  their 
married  life  on  the  farm  belonging  to  the  latter's  mother.  It  is  located  in 
section  15,  consisting  of  two  hundred  and  sixty  acres,  in  Warren  township. 
This  splendid  farm  is  now  owned  by  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Evens,  they  having  bought 
out  the  other  heirs,  except  that  of  Susan  Jane  Lewis.   Mrs.   Evens'   sister. 

Mr.  Evens  carries  on  general  farming  very  successfully,  but  he  finds  time 
to  do  a  great  deal  of  general  contracting  and  building.  He  is  also  interested 
in  stock  raising  and.  although  a  very  busy  man  the  year  round,  he  manifests 
an  interest  in  the  afifairs  of  his  county,  serving  very  creditably  as  trustee 
of  his  township  for  a  term  of  four  years,  from  1904  to  1908:  he  also  served 
iiis  township  as  assessor  from  1890  to  1896.     He  is  a  Republican. 

Mr.  and  Mrs.  Evens  are  the  parents  of  one  child.  Roy  Lewis,  born  June 
^,  1890.  He  attended  the  common  schools,  after  which  he  took  a -course  in 
DePauw  University.  He  is  assisting  his  father  in  the  management  of  the 
home  farm  and  is  a  voung  man  of  much  business  ability  and  promise. 


:  ■•    -  :     .    -     WILLIAM  L.   DEXMAX.  •    - 

Tlie  able  and  po])ular  cashier  of  the  Eirst  Xational  Bank  of  Creencastle. 
William  L.  Denman.  is  most  consistently  accorded  recognition  in  a  work  of 
the  province  assigned  to  the  one  at  hand,  since  it  has  to  do  with  the  represent- 
ati\e  citizens  of  Putnam  county,  of  whicli  numlier  he  is  unquestionaljly  a 
worthv  member  and  has  long  played  well  his  part  in  the  development  of  the 
interests  of  this  locality,  indorsing  eveiy  movement  which  he  believes  will 
prove  beneficial  to  the  general  public.  ?Ie  has  sought  to  maintain  tlie  high 
standing  of  his  ancestors,  who  were  prominent  and  highly  respected  citizens 
of  Montgomery  county  in  the  early  days,  and  he  has  therefore  won  and  re- 
tained the  confidence  and  good  will  of  all  classes. 

Mr.  Denman  was  born  on  December  7.  185S.  near  Alamo.  Montgrmiery 
county.   Indiana.     His    father.   Moses    H.    Denman.    was   also   b(-irn    in    that 


WILLIAM  L.   DESMAN 


PUTNAM    COUXTV,    IXDIAXA.  273 

county,  his  birth  occurring  in  iSjj.  He  was  a  prosperous  farmer  and  oper- 
ated the  first  steam  threshing  machine  ever  seen  in  his  vicinity.  He  was  sum- 
moned to  close  his  earthly  accounts  on  October  39,  1868,  as  the  result  of  in- 
juries received  to  his  arm,  which  was  caught  in  the  machinery  of  his  thresher. 
William  L.  Denman's  mother  was  known  in  her  maidenhood  as  Jemima  Lee. 
She  was  born  in  1823,  in  Vigo  county.  Indiana,  the  daughter  of  John  Lee,  a 
pioneer  Baptist  minister,  living  four  miles  east  of  Crawfordsville  at  a  hamlet 
known  as  Smartsberg.  Her  parents  came  to  Montgomen*'  county  as  earlv  as 
1824  and  here  the  father  became  widely  known  and  accomplished  a  great  deal 
of  good  among  the  early  settlers.  John  Lee,  brother  of  Jemima,  was  the 
first  white  male  child  born  in  Montgomery  county.  He  became  a  noted  con- 
tractor and  built  the  Logansport  division  of  the  \'andalia  railroad.  Mrs. 
Moses  H.  Denman,  a  w.oman  of  many  praiseworthy  traits  of  character,  passed 
to  her  rest  in  1896,  at  the  age  of  seventy-two  years.  She  was  the  mother  of 
twehe  children,  si.x  of  whom  are  li\-ing  in  1910,  namely:  John  \\'.,  Elizabeth 
A..  James  \V.,  Mary,  Sarah  J.  and  Joel  M.  are  all  deceased;  Cynthia  L.  is  the 
widow  of  Thomas  F.  \'an  Cleave;  ^lartha  R.  is  the  wife  of  James  A.  Mvers, 
of  Alamo.  Indiana;  Alice  M.  is  the  wife  of  William  Payton,  of  Judson,  In- 
diana ;  Susan  M.  is  the  wife  of  Thomas  Foster,  of  Waveland,  Indiana ;  William 
L.,  of  this  review;  Ida  F.  is  the  wife  of  Addison  Van  Clea\e.  li\ing  near 
Alamo,  this  state. 

The  Denman  family  is  of  English  stock.  William  Denman.  the  paternal 
grandfather  of  the  gentleman  whose  name  introduces  this  sketch,  was  a  native 
of  Georgia.  He  was  a  sterling  pioneer,  a  Southerner  of  such  a  combination 
of  initiati\'e.  courage  and  gentleman!}'  attrilnites  that  he  could  claim  scores  of 
friends  \\here\er  he  was  kn(n\n  and  he  was  \-er}'  successful  in  his  life  work. 
He  and  his  wife  rode  on  horseback  from  (jeorgia  to  Indiana,  a  long  and  some- 
what hazardous  jcjurney.  in  the  early  days,  packing  all  their  w  orldly  pcissessions 
on  their  horse  and  while  one  rode  the  other  walked.  They  located  in  ^lont- 
gomery  count}-.  He  had  the  distinction  of  serxing  in  the  war  of  i8[j.  His 
death  occurred  about  1870  at  the  age  of  eighty-fi\'e  years.  He  married  Polly 
Ann  Hicks,  of  Georgia,  and  they  reared  a  large  family. 

William  L.  Denman  remained  in  the  town  of  Alamo  until  he  was  thirty 
years  of  age.  and  there  received  his  primar}-  education,  later  attending  the 
State  Xormal  School  at  Terre  Haute.  He  liegan  life  as  a  teacher,  which  line 
of  endeavor  he  followed  with  gratifying  results  for  a  period  of  four  years, 
and  had  he  elected  to  continue  teaching  he  would  doubtless  have  become  one 
of  the  noted  educators  of  the  state,  but  the  business  world  attracted  him  and 
he  entered  the  general  mercantile  business  at  Alamo  and  built  up  an  excellent 
(18) 


274 


WEIK  S    HISTORY    OF 


trade  during  the  four  years  he  maintained  his  store.  During  this  period  he 
was  trustee  of  Ripley  township,  being  the  youngest  trustee  ever  elected  in  the 
county  up  to  that  time.  He  performed  his  duties  so  faithfully  that  he  was  re- 
elected to  the  office  by  a  greater  majority  than  formerly,  in  fact,  it  was  the 
largest  majority  ever  given  in  that  township.  This  was  certainly  evidence  that, 
althougli  then  finite  a  young  man,  the  people  of  his  community  regarded  him 
as  the  possessor  of  unusual  acumen  and  business  ability.  He  has  always  been 
loyal  to  the  Democratic  cause. 

Mr.  Denman  then  moved  to  Craw  fords ville  and  went  into  the  insurance 
business,  which  he  followed  for  one  year.  He  attracted  the  attention  of  vari- 
ous insurance  companies  by  his  judicious  management  of  his  affairs  in  this 
line,  and  he  was  delegated  by  the  Ohio  Farmers'  Insurance  Company  to  come 
to  Greencastle  and  take  charge  of  their  a'gency  here,  where  the  company  had 
maintained  an  office  for  twelve  years  and  had  at  that  time  four  hundred  and 
fiftv  risks.  Mr.  Denman  prosecuted  his  work  so  vigorously  that  within  three 
vears  there  were  twenty-two  hundred  policy  holders  and  the  office  was  doing 
a  thriving  business. 

After  two  years'  residence  here  Mr.  Denman  was  elected  secretary  of  the 
Democratic  central  committee,  and  two  years  later  he  was  nominated  for 
countv  auditor  and  in  1894  he  was  elected  to  this  office  for  a  period  of  four 
years.  He  took  office  in  1S95  and  after  serving  out  his  allotted  time  he  served 
two  years  in  the  same  office  as  deputy  for  his  successor.  He  gave  the  utmost 
satisfaction  in  this  capacity  to  all  concerned. 

After  severing  his  connection  with  the  auditor's  office  he  purchased  a  half 
interest  in  the  furniture  and  undertaking  establishment  of  W.  P.  Ledbetter, 
in  which  he  remained  one  year.  On  February  9.  1903,  he  became  cashier  of 
the  First  National  Bank  of  Greencastle.  He  came  to  this  position  well  quali- 
fied in  everv  respect,  being  a  man  of  rare  innate  business  ability  and  experience 
and  he  was  popular  throughout  the  county  and  a  man  of  known  reputable 
standing.  Since  that  time  this  institution  has  doubled  its  total  assets  and 
added  the  sum  of  thirty  thousand  dollars  to  its  surplus  fund.  In  Januaiy, 
1910,  Mr.  Denman  assumed  the  position  of  auditor  of  the  Marg  ^Mining  Com- 
pany, whose  mining  property  is  at  Ano  Nuevo,  Old  Mexico,  a  gold  and  silver 
property  in  which  he  is  a  heavy  stockholder.  He  expects  to  be  gone  for  two 
years. 

The  chapter  in  the  life  of  'Sir.  Denman  relating  to  his  domestic  affairs 
dates  from  lune  29,  1S89.  when  he  married  Ella  Sparks,  daughter  of  a  highly 
respected  family  of  Alamo.  Montgomer}-  county.  She  was  called  to  her  re- 
ward in  March.  1898.     Four  children  were  born  to  this  union,  named  as  fol- 


PUTNAM    COUNTY,    INDIANA.  2/5 

lows:  Mary  L.  is  tlie  wife  of  Paul  S.  Dee.  of  Cairo.  Illinois;  Darnall  S..  Rich- 
ard \Y.  and  Joel  J.  On  February  14,  1900,  ^[r.  Denham  married  Louise  A. 
Abrams.  wh(3  was  bc^rn  in  Mt.  Sterling.  Kentucky,  the  daughter  of  an  excel- 
lent famil}'.     This  union  is  without  issue. 

Mr.  Denman  is  a  member  of  the  Christian  church,  of  which  he  has  been 
deacon  for  a  number  of  years  and  a  liberal  supporter,  being  interested  in  all 
phases  of  church  work.  Fraternally  he  belongs  to  the  Masons,  in  which  he 
has  attained  to  the  degree  of  a  Knight  Templar,  and  the  Knights  of  Pythias. 
Personally  ^Mr.  Denman  is  a  man  whom  everybody  likes — genial,  jovial,  hon- 
orable in  all  his  dealings  with  his  fellow  men,  and  he  is  always  readv  to  do 
his  part  in  furthering  the  interests  of  Putnam  county. 


BEX7AMIN  F.  CORWIN. 

Praise  is  always  due  to  merit  and  especially  where  merit  is  the  product 
of  unassisted  energv-  anrl  perseverance.  The  self-made  man  commands  our 
highest  respect.  Those  struggles  by  means  of  which  he  has  risen  from  ob- 
scurity to  honorable  distinction  can  not  fail  to  enlist  sympathy  and  call  forth 
our  warmest  applause.  Benjamin  F.  Corwin,  popularly  regarded  as  one  of 
the  ablest  and  busiest  attorneys  of  Putnam  county,  is  a  notable  example  of 
the  successful  self-made  man.  and  as  such  has  made  his  influence  felt  among 
his  fellow  citizens  in  private  and  public  life  and  by  his  exemplary  life,  which 
has  been  spent  in  his  home  county,  he  is  eminently  deserving  of  the  high 
esteem  in  which  he  is  held. 

Mr.  Corwin  was  born  in  Putnam  county.  Indiana.  December  4,  1859,  the 
son  of  Benjamin  F.  Corwin.  a  native  of  Mason  county,  Kentucky,  having  been 
born  there  on  February  26,  1811.  He  was  of  English  descent,  being  of  the 
sixth  generation  from  Mathias  Corwin.  His  father,  George  Corwin,  was  a 
native  of  Kentucky,  from  which  state  he  came  to  Indiana,  locating  in  Henry 
county,  but  remained  there  only  a  short  time  when  he  came  on  to  Putnam 
county,  where  he  farmed  successfully  and  died  here  in  the  late  forties.  He 
married  Xancy  Thornton  and  six  children  were  born  to  them.  Thus  the 
Corwin  family  has  been  among  the  history  makers  in  this  locality  since  the 
pioneer  da_\s.  and.  without  invidious  comparison,  suffice  it  to  say  that  each 
member  of  the  same  has  played  his  part  in  all  relations  of  life  as  well  as  any 
of  the  county's  foremost  citizens.  Benjamin  F.  Corwin.  Sr.,  father  of  the 
gentleman  \\hose  name  initiates  this  review,  devoted  his  life  to  farming  and 


276  weik's  historv  of 

merchandising,  mai<ing  a  snccess  of  both.  He  first  launched  in  the  mercantile 
business  soon  after  he  came  to  this  county,  about  1835,  selecting  the  village 
of  Bainbridge  for  his  store,  which  he  maintained  there  for  a  period  of  aI)out 
fifteen  vears.  doing  a  very  satisfactorv-  business  with  the  surrounding  country, 
manv  of  his  customers  coming  from  long  distances,  for  in  those  days  of  the 
first  settlers,  stores  and  trading  points  were  not  numerous.  He  acquired  con- 
siderable land  west  of  Bainbridge.  which  he  operated  on  an  extensive  scale 
until  his  death,  May  2,  187 J.  He  was  always  ready  to  assist  in  the  de- 
velopment of  the  county  in  any  way,  and  was  especially  interested  in  promot- 
ing education,  and  the  schools  of  Bainbridge  bore  his  name  on  account  of 
his  work  in  their  behalf  and  his  liberal  support.  He  was  also  interested 
in  good  roads,  and  was  probably  the  first  man  to  make  an  effort  to  secure 
macadamized  roads  for  Putnam  county.  He  was  identified  with  the  Christian 
church,  but  he  held  independent  views  on  religion, 

Benjamin  F.  Corwin,  Sr.,  married  Juliet  St.  Clair  Whitsett,  who  was 
born  in  Montgomery  county,  Kentucky,  June  8,  1825,  and  when  eleven  years 
old,  in  1836,  she  came  to  Putnam  county,  Indiana,  with  her  parents.  She 
was  a  woman  of  many  sterling  traits  of  character  and  beloved  by  all  who 
knew  her;  she  reached  an  advanced  age,  dying  August  13,  1908,  at  Indian- 
apolis. To  this  union  seven  children  were  bom,  five  of  whom  are  living 
at  this  writing,  namely:  Henry  C.  died  in  Knoxville,  Tennessee,  in  1864, 
while  a  soldier  in  the  Union  army;  William  R.  is  a  teacher  at  Fulton,  ;\Iis- 
souri ;  Mrs.  Margaret  Dunnington  lives  in  Indianapolis;  George  \V.  died  in 
June,  1905;  Mary  Corwin  lives  in  Indianapolis,  an  instructor  in  the  art  depart- 
ment of  the  school  for  the  deaf;  Benjamin  F..  Jr..  of  this  review;  ]\[ilton  T. 
lives  in  Cincinnati. 

Benjamin  F.  Corwin  was  b(5rn  on  the  home  farm  in  Monroe  township, 
where  he  assisted  with  the  general  work  on  the  place  during  the  summer 
months,  receiving  his  primaiy  schooling  in  the  common  schools.  When  thir- 
teen vears  of  age,  in  1872,  he  came  to  Greencastle  and  spent  one  year  in 
the  public  schools,  then  entered  the  preparatory  school  of  DePauw  University 
and  there  diligentlv  pursued  his  studies  for  a  period  of  two  years,  then  en- 
tered the  universitv  proper,  taking  a  four-year  course,  doing  very  creditable 
and  satisfactorv  work,  graduating  in  June.  1S79,  f^^en  being  only  nineteen 
vears  of  age.  He  had  decided  to  devote  his  talents  to  the  law.  and  he  scon 
thereafter  became  a  law  student  in  the  office  of  Williamson  &  Daggey,  in 
Greencastle,  with  whom  he  remained  for  a  pericxl  of  two  years,  when  he  was 
admitted  to  the  bar  and  at  once  opened  an  office  and  began  practicing  in 
this  citv.     He  was  located  in  the  Williamson  block  until   1892.  when  he  re- 


PCTXAM    COUNTY.    INDIANA.  277 

moved  to  his- present  quarters  over  the  First  National  Bank.  In  18S3  '^"^ 
formed  a  partnership  with  Henry  C.  Lewis,  which  continued  until  the  latter's 
death,  in  February.  1901.  since  which  time  Mr.  Corwin  has  been  practicing 
alone,  having  built  up  a  large  clientele  and  being  one  of  the  most  active  and 
powerful  members  of  the  local  bar. 

As  a  lawyer  Mr.  Corwin  is  the  emanation  of  his  own  first  inclination,  as 
the  echo  is  of  the  sounding  board  that  produced  it.  In  forensic  disputation 
his  strong  weapon  is  pure  reason,  by  both  comparative  and  deducti\'e  processes, 
without  marshaling  the  aids  of  rhetoric  or  eloquence,  accessories,  it  may  be 
added,  which,  when  occasion  suggests,  are  in  available  resen,-e.  He  proceeds 
firmly  and  strongly  on  and  along  direct  lines  to  his  objective,  deflecting  neither 
to  the  right  nor  to  the  left.  Fluent  in  expression,  with  purity  and  elegance  of 
style,  precise  and  faultless  in  language  and  the  orderly  and  symmetrical  ar- 
rangement of  w'ords  and  ideas,  the  stream  of  calm,  subtle,  sinewy,  unbroken 
logic,  disdaining  unnecessary  ornament  and  declining  the  ordinary  resources 
of  the  orator,  is  fascinating  to  hear  and  often  almost  irresistible  in  his  per- 
suasion. He  possesses  the  elements  of  determination,  courage,  and  his  mental 
organism  is  broad,  solid  and  disciplined  to  the  last  degree  by  thought  and 
study:  is  singularly  free  from  any  narrowness  of  professional  badinage  and 
sport,  and  the  prejudice  and  partialities  of  the  mere  attorney. 

Mr.  Corwin  is  a  Republican  and  very  active  in  local  and  state  politics, 
but  he  has  never  held  public  office.  He  has  never  assumed  the  responsibilities 
of  the  married  state.  Fraternally  he  is  a  member  of  the  Knights  of  Pythias, 
the  Modern  Woodmen  and  the  Sigma  Phi  fraternity,  taking  an  especial  inter- 
est in  the  latter. 


CHARLES  HOWARD  BARXABY. 

The  record  of  Charles  H.  Barnaby  is  that  of  an  enterprising  gentleman 
who  worthily  upholds  an  honored  family  name  and  whose  life  has  been  very 
intimately  associated  with  the  material  prosperity  of  Putnam  county  during 
the  most  progressive  period  of  its  history.  He  has  always  been  found  on 
the  right  side  of  questions  looking  to  the  development  of  bis  community  in 
anv  wav.  and  while  he  has  been  prominent  in  the  industrial  affairs  of  the 
county,  he  has  at  the  same  time  won  an  enviable  reputation  for  honesty 
anfl  wholesome  Hving.  He  is  widely  known  as  a  luml>er  dealer — one  of  the 
largest,  in  fact,  in  this  locality,  maintaining  at  Greencastle  an  extensive  yard. 
and  his  office  is  always  a  busy  place. 


270  WEIK  S    HISTORY    OF 

Mr.  Barnaby  was  born  at  Bourbon,  Marshall  county.  Indiana,  December 
21,  1870.  His  father,  long  a  well  known  and  influential  man  of  this  county, 
was  Howard  Barnaby,  a  native  of  Salem,  Ohio,  who  came  to  Indiana  in  the 
early  sixties,  locating  in  Bourbon.  He  engaged  in  the  lumber  and  sawmill 
business,  having  been  associated  with  a  company  owning  several  mills,  and 
in  the  late  seventies,  owing  to  the  scarcity  of  timber,  this  company  located 
one  of  its  mills  in  Owen  county,  and  in  the  spring  of  1S82  Mr.  Barnaby 
moved  his  family  to  Greencastle  that  they  might  be  close  to  him.  In  1883  he 
moved  the  mill  from  Owen  to  Putnam  county  and  he  continued  to  operate 
the  same  here  until  his  death  in  July.  1887.  at  the  age  of  fifty-five  years,  hav- 
ing been  born  in  1832.  He  was  a  successful  business  man  and  honoraljle  in 
his  dealings,  provided  his  family  with  all  the  comforts  of  a  good  home  and 
leaving  them  a  competency.  After  his  death,  Charles  H.  and  Elmer  E. 
Barnaby,  his  sons,  took  up  the  milling  business.  In  the  spring  of  1898,  Charles 
H.  purchased  the  other's  interest  and  carried  on  the  work  in  a  very  successful 
manner,  having  mastered  all  the  details  of  the  lumber  and  milling  business 
under  his  father,  who  was  during  his  career  here  one  of  the  best  known  men 
in  this  line  in  Putnam  and  adjoining  counties. 

The  mother  of  Charles  H.  Barnaby  was  known  in  her  maidenhood  as 
Rachael  Votaw,  born  and  reared  near  Salem,  Ohio,  the  Votaw  family  having 
been  prominent  there  for  many  years.  Nine  children  were  born  to  Mr.  and 
Mrs.  Howard  Barnaby.  named  as  follows  :  Dr.  Emma  is  living  at  Greencastle  ; 
Elmer  E.  is  engaged  in  the  lumber  business  at  Charleston,  Missouri ;  Lorena 
died  in  1888:  Cora  is  the  wife  of  G.  W.  DeLanoy,  of  Xew  York  City:  Louie 
married  E.  Parsons  and  is  living  in  Philadelpliia:  Charles  H..  of  this  re\'iew : 
Mary  married  W.  F.  VanLoan.  of  Dayton.  Ohio:  Darwin  S.  lives  in  Green- 
castle. The  first  child  born  to  these  parents  died  in  infancy.  The  mother 
passed  to  her  rest  in  1897.  at  the  age  of  fifty-eight  years,  liaving  been  bom  in 
1839.  Tlie  Barnaby  family  goes  back  to  an  English  ancestry  on  the  paternal 
side  and  to  French  ancestr\-  on  the  maternal  side.  Stephen  Barnaby.  grand- 
father of  Charles  H.  Barnaby.  was  a  native  of  Pennsylvania  who  settled 
in  Salem,  Ohio,  where  he  followed  his  trade  of  wagon  making. 

Charles  H.  Barnaby  was  eleven  years  old  when  his  parents  brought  him 
from  Marshall  county,  Indiana,  to  Greencastle.  He  was  educated  in  the 
public  schools  at  Bourbon  and  Greencastle  and  he  began  his  commercial 
career  when  only  sixteen  years  of  age  on  account  of  his  father's  death.  In 
Julv.  1887.  he  formed  a  partnership  with  his  brother,  as  already  indicated, 
and  he  has  continued  to  deal  in  lumber  ever  since.     The  plant  was  destroyed 


PUTXAM     COUNTY,    IXDIAXA.  279 

1)}-  hre  ten  years  ago.  but  it  was  replaced,  better  and  more  extensive  tiian  e\"er, 
the  entire  plant  now  covering  about  twenty-tive  acres,  and  is  known  as  one 
of  the  largest  manufacturers  of  hardwood  lumber  in  this  part  of  the  state; 
the  plant  also  turns  out  high  grade  veneer  work,  operating  a  band  sawmill 
which  saws  from  fifteen  thousand  to  twenty  thousand  feet  of  lumber  daih-. 
To  supply  this  large  quantity  logs  are  drawn  from  a  radius  of  fiftv  miles  of 
Greencastle.  Lumber  is  marketed  in  Germany  and  as  far  west  as  San  Fran- 
cisco;  a  hirge  export  trade  is  carried  on  in  both  Germany  and  England. 

;Mr.  Earnaby  was  for  three  years  president  of  the  Indiana  Hardwood 
Lnml:ermen"s  Association,  tluring  which  the  association  thrived  and  accomp- 
lished many  important  things.  He  is  a  member  of  the  National  Hardwood 
Lumber  Association,  being  a  member  of  the  executive  committee,  and  is  a 
member  of  the  executive  committee  of  the  Xational  Wholesale  Lumber 
Dealers'  Association,  the  National  Veneer  and  Panel  Association,  the  Indiana 
Retail  Lumber  Association,  anil  he  takes  a  very  acti\'e  part  in  all  association 
work  and  is  prominent  in  lumljer  circles  throughout  the  United  States. 

The  domestic  chapter  in  'Sir.  Barnaby's  life  began  on  October  30.  1895, 
when  he  married  Bess  Robbins.  a  lady  of  culture  and  refinement,  of  Louisville, 
Kentucky,  the  representative  of  an  excellent  old  Southern  family.  She  was 
born,  reared  and  educated  in  that  city.  Three  interesting  chiklren  have  graced 
this  union,  namely;  Dorothea,  aged  twelve;  Howard,  age  nine,  and  Charles 
H..  Jr..  age  three. 

Airs.  Barnaby  is  a  member  of  the  Episcopal  church.  Fraternallv  Mr. 
Earnaby  is  a  Mason  and  a  member  of  the  Knights  of  Pythias.  He  is  a  Re- 
publican in  politics,  but  he  does  not  find  time  to  take  a  very  active  part ;  how- 
ever, he  is  ileeply  interested  in  whate\er  tends  to  the  general  uplift  of  his  com- 
munity. Personally  he  is  genial,  jolly,  a  good  mixer,  gentlemanlv  and 
straightforward  in  all  his  dealings  with  his  fellow  men.  He  occupies  a  con- 
s])icuous  place  among  the  leading  men  of  Putnam  county  and  enjoys  the  con- 
fidence and  esteem  of  all  who  knew  him.  His  record  demonstrates  that 
w  here  there  is  a  will  there  is  a  way  and  that  obstacles  to  success  mav  be  over- 
come by  courage  and  self-reliance.  His  career,  though  strenuous,  has  been 
fraught  with  good  to  his  fellow  men.  and  his  example  is  cordially  commended 
to  the  youth  of  the  land  whose  life  works  are  yet  matters  for  the  future  to  de- 
termine. 

'Sir.  and  Mrs.  Barnaby  have  an  attractive  and  modern  home  which  is  fre- 
quently the  gathering  place  for  the  many  warm  friends  of  the  family  wdio 
ne\er  fail  to  find  here  genuine  hospitality  and  good  cheer. 


28o  weik's  history  of 


EZRA  B.  E\'AXS.  M.  D. 


Success  in  what  are  popularly  termed  the  learned  professipns  is  tlie  legit- 
imate result  of  merit  and  painstaking  endeavor.  In  commercial  life  one  mav 
come  into  possession  of  a  lucrative  business  through  inheritance  or  gift,  but 
professional  atlvancement  is  gained  only  by  critical  study  and  consecntixe  re- 
search long  continued.  Proper  intellectual  discipline,  thorough  professional 
knowledge  and  the  possession  and  utilization  of  the  ([ualities  and  attributes 
essential  to  success  ha\e  made  Dr.  Ezra  B.  Evans  eminent  in  his  chosen  call- 
ing, and  he  stands  today  amo  ng  the  scholarly  and  enterprising  physicians  and 
surgeons  in  a  community  long  distinguished  for  the  high  order  of  its  medical 
talent. 

Doctor  Evans  was  born  in  Morgan  township,  Owen  county,  Indiana, 
August  5,  1846.  He  comes  from  an  excellent  ancestry.  His  father,  Samuel 
P.  Evans,  was  born  in  Bath  county,  Kentucky,  June  3,  1821,  and  when  four 
years  old  he  came  with  his  parents  to  Indiana,  locating  among  the  pioneers  in 
Cloverdale  township,  Putnam  count}-.  The  Doctor's  grandfather.  Rev. 
Thomas  Evans,  was  born  May  27,  1799.  in  Bath  county,  Kentucky.  He  was  a 
noted  minister  in  his  day  and  did  a  great  deal  of  good  among  the  early  settlers. 
He  married  Amanda  (Dolney)  Martin  and  they  became  the  parents  of  ten 
children.  He  came  to  Putnam  county.  Indiana,  in  1S25,  and,  in  connection 
with  his  ministry  in  the  Methodist  church,  he  carried  on  farming.  Prior  to 
the  breaking  out  of  the  Civil  war  he  moved  to  \\'inter.set,  Iowa,  and  later  to 
Mt.  Pleasant,  that  state,  where  his  death  occurred  in  August.  1870. 

The  Evans  family  originated  in  Wales,  and  in  tracing  the  genealogv  of 
this  interesting  tamil\"  we  find  that  Lot  E\ans  was  born  there  in  1643,  ^''"'1  that 
he  and  his  three  sons  started  on  a  voyage  to  America  with  the  famous  William 
Penn,  but  before  completing  the  long,  tedious  trip,  the  father  died  and  was 
buried  at  sea.  Of  his  three  boys,  Charles  was  born  in  1664.  Thomas  in  1662 
and  Lot,  Jr.,  in  1666.  Thomas  Evans,  the  first,  married  Alartha  Elizabeth 
Roberts,  in  1730.  She  reached  the  almost  incredible  age  of  one  hundred  and 
eleven  years,  dying  in  1803.  One  of  their  se\'en  children.  Thomas  Evans,  [r.. 
born  in  1739.  ran  away  from  home,  joined  the  army  and  was  in  the  Erench 
and  Indian  war  and  later  fought  in  the  Revolution  under  Washington.  He 
died  in  Kentucky  in  1825.  Llis  wife  Sarah  died  at  Russellville.  Indiana,  June 
5.  1S34,  at  the  advanced  age  of  ninety -one  years.  They  became  the  parents 
of  two  children.  John  and  Francis,  the  former  being  the  great-grandfather  of 
OiX'tor  Evans  of  this  review.      He  was  born  October  25,   1763,  and  died  July 


^  /3  & 


(J> 


^/'t^'^-d  2s 


PL'TXAM    COUXTV,    IXDIAXA.  20I 

2.  1 84 1,  at  Russelhille,  Indiana,  having  devoted  his  Hfe  to  the  ministrv.  He 
married  Sarah  Prather.  who  was  Ixirn  in  [76*1  and  who  died  in  1831  at  Rus- 
sellviile.  Indiana.  They  were  tlie  parents  of  seven  children,  one  of  wiiom, 
Thomas  Evans,  was  the  grantlfather  of  Doctor  E\ans. 

Samuel  Parker  Evans,  the  Doctor's  father,  was  born  June  3.  i8ji,  and 
at  an  earl_\-  da\-  entered  land  in  Morgan  township.  Owen  county,  Indiana. 
This  lie  farmed,  later  removing  to  Spencer,  this  state,  where  he  remained  un- 
til the  fall  of  1902.  when  he  moved  to  Greencastle.  He  married  Mary^  Swift, 
who  was  born  near  Bloomington,  Indiana,  where  her  people  were  well  known 
and  influential  for  many  years.  This  union  resulted  in  the  birth  of  four 
children,  namel_\' :  Louis  Benson,  who  died  at  the  age  of  eighteen  years,  while 
a  soldier,  March  20,  1862;  Dr.  Ezra  B.,  subject  of  this  review;  Catherine  mar- 
ried Roi)ert  Speers.  now  deceased:  he  was  principal  of  the  high  school  of 
Evansville  for  a  period  of  twenty  years.  Thomas  Evans  died  January  10, 
1870.  at  the  age  of  twenty-one  years.  The  mother  of  these  children  was 
called  to  her  rest  on  July  29.  1903.  at  the  age  of  eighty-two  years,  having  been 
born  March  8.  182  [. 

Doctor  E\-ans  spent  his  boyhood  days  on  the  home  farm.  He  -^xas  an 
ambitious  lad  and  studied  hard,  early  forming  the  ambition  to  become  a  prac- 
titioner of  medicine.  With  this  end  in  \'iew  he  took  a  course  in  Asbur)-  (  now 
DePauw)  L'nixersity,  beginning  his  stuilies  there  in  1865.  He  began  reading 
medicine  in  1868  under  Dr.  John  Wilcox  of  Greencastle.  and  after  spending 
eighteen  months  in  his  office  he  entered  the  University  of  Virginia,  at  Char- 
lottesville, from  which  he  was  graduated  with  a  very  creditable  record  in  1871. 
In  the  fall  of  that  year  he  began  practice  in  Greencastle.  Indiana,  and  he  has 
remained  here  e\"er  since.  He  soon  had  a  ver}-  satisfactory  patronage  with 
the  towns  and  surrounding  country,  w  hich  has  continued  to  increase  until  he 
has  won  and  retained  a  reputation  second  to  none,  his  name  being  familiar  in 
every  household  in  the  county  and  to  many  in  adjoining  counties;  however, 
he  is  not  at  present  in  active  practice. 

Doctor  Evans  was  married  on  September  2.  1873.  to  Mary  A.  Golding, 
who  was  born  in  Greencastle,  the  acci:implished  daughter  of  an  influential  fam- 
ily, her  parents  being  \A'illiam  O.  and  Charlotte  Adeline  (  Day)  Golding.  Xo 
children  ha\e  Iieen  born  to  this  union. 

Mrs.  Evans  is  a  member  of  the  Presbyterian  church.  Eraternally  the 
Doctor  belongs  to  the  Masonic  Itjdge  Xo.  47,  the  Knights  Templar,  Command- 
ery  Xo.  11.  being  past  eminent  commander;  he  belongs  to  the  Knights  of 
Pythias,  having  passed  through  all  the  chairs  in  the  same,  and  he  is  also  a 
member  of  the  Independent  Order  of  Odd  Fellows.  Politically  he  is  a  Re- 
publican, and  while  be  has  never  iouml  much  time  to  interest  himself  in  po- 


282  WEIK  S    HISTORY    OF 

litical  matters,  he  is  known  to  be  an  advocate  of  whatever  tends  to  promote 
the  county's  interests,  pohtically  or  otherwise.  He  was  a  member  of  the  board 
of  education  for  three  years,  and  he  also  served  very  creditably  on  the  county 
council.  Xo  man  in  tlie  cuunty  is  better  or  more  fa\orably  known  than  he, 
for  he  has  not  only  been  very  successful  as  a  physician,  but  he  is  admired  for 
his  public  spirit  and  his  efforts  to  bear  aloft  the  honor  that  has  attended  the 
familv  name  since  the  earliest  pioneer  days. 


FRAXCIS  ^lARIOX  LYOX. 

Coupled  with  Francis  M.  Lyon's  ability  as  an  attorney  is  his  unusual 
clearness  of  perception,  analytical  tact  and  soundness  of  theory,  also  his 
courteous  manners,  persistency  and  unswerving  integrity,  these  and  other 
commendable  attributes  rendering  him  one  of  the  strong  and  influential 
attorneys  of  Putnam  county  and  one  of  the  successful  practitioners  of  a  com- 
munitv  noted  for  the  high  order  of  its  legal  talent.  For  many  years  his 
office  in  Greencastle  has  been  a  very  busy  place  and  many  of  the  principal 
cases  in  the  local  courts  find  him  on  one  sitle  or  the  other,  always  alert,  fair, 
unswerving  and  always  laboring  for  the  interests  of  his  large  clientele. 

Mr.  Lyon  represents  an  old  and  highly  esteemed  family  of  this  county, 
his  forebears  having  located  here  in  an  epoch  which  historians  are  pleased 
to  allude  to  as  "early"  and  they  have  since  played  well  their  parts  in  trans- 
forming the  locality  from  its  primitive  state  to  the  opulent  present.  He  was 
born  at  Hamrick  Station,  Putnam  county,  Indiana.  :\Lay  9,  1857.  His  father 
was  Valentine  Lyon,  a  native  of  Fluvanna  county,  \'irginia.  born  April  3, 
1798.  He  there  grew  to  maturity  and  moved  to  Owen  county.  Indiana,  in 
1 8 JO.  where  he  lived  until  1846.  when  he  moveti  to  Greencastle  for  the  pur- 
pose of  educating  his  children  in  old  Asbury  L^niversity.  being  a  strong  advo- 
cate of  higher  etlucation  and  a  man  who  delighted  in  giving  his  children  every 
opportunity  possible,  and  he  was  a  strong  supporter  of  the  university  here; 
also  took  an  active  part  in  the  Methodist  congregation.  He  devoted  his  life  to 
farming  and  was  verv  successful.  Remaining  in  Putnam  until  1861.  he  re- 
turned to  Owen  county,  where  he  lived  until  his  death  in  18S7,  at  the  ad- 
vanced age  of  nearly  ninety  years.  His  long  and  useful  life  was  a  lesson  to 
all  who  knew  him  for  he  never  neglected  a  chance  to  be  of  service  in  any  re- 
lation of  life:  scrupulously  honest  and  always  hospitable — a  typical  old-time 
Virginia  gentleman.  He  married  Zarelda  Myers,  daughter  of  Xoble  J.  Myers. 
and  she  was  born  on  a  farm  three  miles  north  of  Greencastle.  January  jj. 


PUTNAM    COL-XTV,    INDIANA.  283 

i8j6.  Her  mother  was  the  daughter  of  Solomon  Kaufman.  [Mrs.  Lyon 
uas  a  woman  of  many  beautiful  traits  of  character,  and  she  passed  to  her 
rest  in  1906,  at  the  age  of  eighty  years.  Valentine  Lyon  was  first  married  to 
]^rary  Payne,  a  native  of  Shelby  county,  Kentucky,  which  union  resulted  in 
the  birth  of  thirteen  children,  twelve  of  whom  lived  to  maturitv.  but  only 
four  of  this  large  family  are  living  at  this  writing.  Seven  children  were  born 
to  the  second  union,  named  as  follows:  Charles  E.  is  living  in  Topeka,  Kan- 
sas: Francis  M.,  of  this  review:  George  W.  lives  in  Clinton.  Iowa:  Henry 
Eascom  is  a  resident  of  Cheyenne.  Wyoming:  Prof.  Oliver  L.  lives  at  Enid. 
Oklahoma:  Mrs.  Emma  Florence  Roberts  lives  near  [Manhattan.  Putnam 
county :  Ulysses  G.  lives  on  a  farm  near  Reelsville.  Putnam  countv. 

The  remote  ancestors  of  the  Lyon  family  were  French  .Acadians,  who 
came  into  the  L'nited  States  from  Xova  Scotia,  having  been  banished  from 
Acadia  and  cast  ashore,  later  landing  on  the  coast  of  Maryland.  From  there 
they  went  to  Virginia  where  the  family  became  well  established  and  pros- 
perous: there,  in  Fluvanna  county,  James  Lyon,  grandfather  of  Francis  M., 
was  born.  The  Lyon  family  has  always  been  strongly  bent  toward  educational 
and  musical  lines:  nine  members  of  this  family  of  the  recent  generation  were 
teachers. 

Francis  'M.  Lyon  was  educated  in  the  high  school  at  Spencer,  Owen 
county,  Indiana,  then  attended  the  Central  Xormal  School  at  Danville  and 
the  State  Xormal  at  Terre  Haute.  His  first  inclination  was  to  practice  medi- 
cine and  with  this  end  in  view  he  studied  medicine  during  the  summer  months 
and  taught  school  in  the  \\  inter  time,  soon  becoming  well  known  throughout 
the  county  as  an  able  and  painstaking  instructor.  In  1889  he  was  elected  su- 
perintendent of  schools  of  Putnam  county,  and  so  faithfully  and  well  did  he 
perform  the  duties  of  this  office  that  he  was  re-elected  three  times,  holding  the 
office  four  terms  or  eight  years,  during  which  time  the  work  throughout  the 
county  was  greatly  strengthened,  the  courses  made  more  attractive  to  pupils, 
teachers  were  encouraged  and  patrons  pleased  with  the  excellent  svstem  per- 
fected by  him.  Flad  he  continued  in  this  line  of  work  he  doubtless  would  have 
become  one  of  the  leading  educators  of  the  state:  but  turning  from  both 
teaching  and  medicine,  he  began  the  study  of  law  under  Silas  A.  Hays,  making 
rapid  progress  and  was  admitted  to  the  bar  in  due  course  of  time.  He  formed 
a  law  partnership  with  Charles  T.  Peck,  which  still  exists,  the  firm  being  one 
of  the  best  known  in  the  county  and  regarded  as  strong  and  reliable,  fio-uring 
prominently  in  all  local  courts.  ;\[r.  Lyon  is  regarded  by  his  large  clientele 
as  a  fair,  painstaking,  energetic  champion  of  their  rights,  and  he  is  a  "ood 
lawyer. 

Mr.  Lyr>n's  domestic  life  began  October  9.  1879.  when  he  married  Anna 


284  weik's  history  of 

A.  Houck,  the  refined  daughter  of  Anthony  and  Martha  A.  Houck.  of  Putnam 
county,  where  Mrs.  Lyon  was  born  October  9.  1861.  This  union  has  re- 
sulted in  the  birth  of  three  sons,  namely:  Oscar  Earl,  who  died  in  infancy, 
Orrell  E.  w  as  born  on  October  26.  1885 ;  Glen  Houck  Lyon  was  born  on  July 
17.  1898. 

Mr.  Lyon  is  purely  a  self-made  man,  educated  himself,  working  liard  to 
do  so.  and  he  is  deserving  of  much  credit  for  the  success  he  has  achieved. 
He  is  attorney  for  the  Western  Tin-Plate  Company.  He  is  the  owner  of  two 
fine  farms  and  is  extensively  engaged  in  loaning  money.  For  ten  years  he 
has  ])een  a  member  of  the  lioard  of  directors  of  the  Commercial  Club  of  Green- 
castle.  Fraternally  he  is  a  Mason,  belonging  to  the  blue  lodge,  the  chapter, 
commandery.  Scottish  rite  and  the  Ancient  Arabic  Order  of  Xobles  of  the 
Mvstic  Shrine.  He  is  also  a  member  of  the  Knights  of  Pythias  and  belongs  to 
the  Gentlemen's  Literary  Club,  a  very  exclusive  organization.  In  politics  he 
is  an  active  and  influential  worker  in  the  Democratic  ranks,  and  he  and  Mrs. 
Lyon  are  members  of  the  College  Avenue  Methodist  Episcopal  church. 

Mr.  Lvon  has  always  taken  a  great  interest  in  the  prosperity  and  ad- 
vancement of  Putnam  county  and  endorses  even.'  movement  which  he  be- 
lieves will  prove  a  benefit  to  humanity.  He  is  genial,  a  good  mixer,  sociable 
and  straightforward  in  his  dealings  with  his  fellow  men.  His  achievements 
represent  the  results  of  honest  endeavor  along  lines  where  mature  judgment 
has  opened  the  way.  He  possesses  a  weight  of  character,  a  native  sagacity, 
a  discriminating  judgment  and  a  fidelity  of  purpose  that  command  the  respect, 
if  not  the  approval  of  all  with  whom  he  is  associated.  He  takes  first  rank 
among  the  leading  citizens  of  Putnam  county,  being  a  leader  in  financial,  edu- 
cational, social  and  civic  affairs. 


CHARLES  LUETEKE. 

The  biographer  is  glad  to  herein  set  forth  the  salient  facts  in  the  emi- 
nently successful  and  honorable  career  of  the  well  remembered  and  highly 
esteemed  citizen  of  Putnam  county  whose  name  appears  alwve.  the  last  chap- 
ter in  whose  life  record  has  been  closed  by  the  hand  of  death  and  the  seal 
set  thereon  forever,  but  whose  influence  still  pervades  the  lives  of  those  with 
whom  he  came  in  contact.  For  many  years  he  was  closely  identified  with 
the  industrial  development  of  the  county  and  aided  in  every  way  possible  in 
promoting  the  general  good  of  the  community.  The  terms  "progress"  and 
"patriotism"  might  be  considered  two  of  the  keynotes  of  the  character  of 


PUTNAM     COUNTY,    IXDIAXA.  285 

Charles  Lueteke.  for  throughout  his  career  he  labored  for  the  improvement 
of  both  business  and  public  interests,  and  at  all  times  was  actuated  by  a 
patriotic  love  for  his  adopted  country  and  her  welfare.  During  his  long  and 
eminently  worthy  career  in  Putnam  county  no  man  was  better  known  or  held 
in  higher  esteem  and  he  is  certainly  deserving  of  most  conspicuous  mention  in 
the  history  of  his  locality. 

Mr.  Lueteke  was  born  in  Mecklenberg.  Germany,  on  }ilarch  7.  1844.  and 
when  fourteen  vears  of  age  he  began  his  apprenticeship  to  the  baker's  trade, 
which  he  thoroughly  mastered  at  an  early  age.  All  trades  are  taught  with 
minute  nicety  in  the  old  country  and  the  case  of  Mr.  Lueteke  was  no  ex- 
ception to  the  common  rule  and  he  devoted  his  life  work  almost  exclusively 
to  this  work,  remaining  in  his  native  land  until  1868,  when  he  emigrated  to 
the  L'nited  States.  He  made  his  way  to  Indiana  and  Uicated  at  Greencastle, 
and  here  he  at  once  secured  work  with  Lyon  &  Weik.  as  a  baker.  After  a  resi- 
dence of  three  years  in  this  country  he  returned  to  Germany,  making  a  visit 
of  three  months  to  his  childhood  home,  during  which  time  he  was  married  to 
Johanna  Voss.  Returning  to  America,  they  located  in  Chicago  and  engaged 
in  the  bakery  business.  He  was  prospering-  when  misfortune  overtook  him 
during  the  great  fire  of  187 1  which  burned  him  out  completely.  Thrown 
again  on  his  own  resources  with  little  capital,  he  went  to  Indian- 
apolis and  after  working  there  for  a  short  time  at  his  trade,  came  to  Green- 
castle and  entered  the  same  business,  locating  on  the  square,  but  the  fire  fiend 
still  pursued  him  and  he  was  one  of  the  victims  of  the  big  fire  in  October, 
1874.  which  proved  so  disastrous  to  Putnam  county's  capital  city.  The  blow 
was  serious,  but.  being  a  man  of  indomitable  courage  and  fortitude,  he  was 
not  to  be  subdued  by  disaster  and  soon  we  find  him  reinstaterl  in  South 
Greencastle  in  the  baking  business,  under  the  firm  name  of  Lueteke  &  Stephen- 
son and  in  a  few  vears  became  sole  owner  by  buying-  out  his  partner.  His 
business  grew  bv  leaps  and  bounds — it  grew  because  he  was  well  informed  on 
all  the  details  of  his  line  of  business,  because  he  was  progressive  and  because 
he  was  honest,  his  numerous  customers  knowing  that  they  would  get  a  fair 
deal  with  him.  his  bakery  long  supplying  by  far  the  greatest  amount  of  bread 
to  this  anil  adjoining  cities,  such  as  Coatesville.  Stilesville.  Amo.  Cloverdale 
and  manv  others.  He  successfully  met  competition  from  many  quarters.  He 
had  a  liig  trade  in  cakes  and  rolls,  his  bread  trade  being  sometimes  enormous 
for  a  small  city.  To  have  built  up  a  business  of  such  proportions  in  a  city 
the  size  of  Greencastle.  and  to  win  a  name  throughout  this  section  of  the  state 
in  the  baking  business  proves  that  ^f^.  Lueteke  was  possessed  of  both  ad- 
ministrative and  executive  abilitv ;  it  means  that  he  discovered  the  truth  of  the 


286  WEIK  S    HISTORY    OF 

old  axiom  that  "there  is  room  at  the  top"  for  any  well  conducted  enterprise. 
He  entered  lite  without  anything  except  his  good  business  judgment,  energy 
and  honesty,  and  besides  his  well  equipped  bakery  he  owned  Lindenhurst, 
one  of  the  finest  homes  in  Greencastle.  He  was  known  as  a  very  charitable 
man.  He  was  exceptionally  kind  in  his  home  and  was  at  all  times  respected 
and  trusted  in  all  walks  of  life. 

This  excellent  citizen  was  called  to  his  rest  June  5,  1902,  having  been 
suddenly  stricken  with  cerebral  hemorrhage  while  engaged  in  the  regular 
course  of  his  duties.  He  was  fifty-eight  years  old  and  was  robust  and  very 
active  up  to  the  day  before  he  passed  away. 

Mr,  Lueteke  was  a  member  and  a  liberal  supporter  of  the  Presbyterian 
church.  He  was  elected  to  the  city  council  about  1890  and  proved  a  useful 
member  in  urging  movements  calculated  to  better  the  condition  of  the  city. 

To  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Charles  Lueteke  eight  children  were  born,  Harriet, 
Charles,  Frank  (deceased),  Nellie,  Harry,  Albert  and  two  children  that  died 
in  infancy.  The  mother  of  these  children,  who,  with  her  husband,  is  sleep- 
ing the  sleep  of  the  just,  is  remembered  as  a  woman  of  pleasing  personality, 
kind  and  gentle  bearing  and  who  spared  no  pains  in  rearing  her  children  in 
a  wholesome  home  atmosphere.  She  was  born  in  ^lecklenberg,  Germany, 
November  2,  1844,  the  daughter  of  Fredrica  and  Carl  Voss,  the  father  a 
forester  of  the  above  named  city.  She  came  to  America  with  Charles  Lueteke, 
whom  she  married  in  the  Fatherland,  August  30,  1870,  and  during  all  the 
business  vicissitudes  of  her  husband  she  proved  to  be  a  wise  counselor  and 
her  encouragement  and  optimism  were  no  doubt  very  largely  responsible  for 
much  of  his  later  success.  The  vocation  of  her  father  and  the  beautiful 
character  of  her  mother  gave  her  superior  advantages  for  the  development 
of  a  rich,  full  life  and  close  comradeship  with  what  is  best  in  the  three  king- 
doms. She  was  bv  nature  of  a  deep  religious  character,  but  in  the  home  was 
where  her  virtues  shone  with  a  peculiar  luster.  She  was  reared  in  the  Lu- 
theran faith,  but  since  this  denomination  had  no  existence  in  Greencastle  she 
united  with  her  family  in  full  membership  with  the  Presbyterian  church,  Oc- 
tober 22,  1 88 1.  She  was  strong  in  humanity  and  large  in  the  making  and 
keeping  of  friends.  She  was  always  ready  and  very  willing  to  comfort  the 
sorrowing  and  raise  the  fallen.  Her  sincere  friendships  included  what  was 
best  in  every  rank  of  society.  This  good  woman  was  called  to  her  reward 
Mav  II.  1908,  and  it  seemed  fitting  that  she  and  her  husband  both  should 
meet  their  Pilot  face  to  face  in  the  full  tide  of  May  when  everything  in  na- 
ture betokens  a  coming  of  perfect  fruit  and  cloudless  skies. 

Charles  Lueteke,  Jr.,  the  eldest  son  of  the  family,  who  is  proving  a  worthy 
son  and  taking  his  place  among  the  progressive  citizens  of  Greencastle,  was 


PUTNAM    COUNTY,    INDIANA.  287 

born  at  Greencastle,  Indiana.  He  received  good  educational  advantages  and, 
under  the  guidance  of  his  father,  he  soon  learned  the  bakery  business  and  was 
thereby  well  qualified  to  assume  full  charge  of  the  same  upon  the  death  of 
his  father,  and  he  has  been  very  successful,  devoting  his  close  personal  at- 
tention to  every  detail  of  the  business,  carr}-ing  on  both  a  wholesale  and  re- 
tail trade  which  are  extensive  in  their  scope,  enjoying  not  only  a  very  satis- 
factory patronage  in  Greencastle,  but  also  with  the  surrounding  towns. 

Fraternally  Mr.  Lueteke  is  a  member  of  the  Elks  and  Independent  Order 
of  Odd  Fellows  and  a  Republican  in  politics.  He  is  a  member  of  the  city  coun- 
cil from  the  third  ward  and  rendering  good  service  to  his  immediate  constit- 
uents as  well  as  the  people  at  large.  He  seems  to  have  inherited  his  father's 
geniality  and  popularity,  is  liked  by  everybody  and  fulfills  all  the  requirements 
of  a  good  citizen.  He  is  a  liberal  giver  in  the  cause  of  worthy  charities,  but 
does  it  without  ostentation. 

On  March  31.  1903,  Charles  Lueteke,  Jr..  married  Mary  E.  Hibbitt, 
daughter  of  Edward  E.  Hibbitt.  of  Greencastle. 

The  Lueteke  family  has  long  been  popular  in  all  circles  in  this  city 
and  none  enjo}'  a  wider  acquaintance  or  more  true  friends.  They  are  fine 
examples  of  our  best  German  citizenship,  industrious,  frugal,  enterprising, 
and  cheerfully  aid  in  all  worthy  causes  to  help  along  the. community  and  build 
up  the  town,  thereby  making  themselves  popular  with  all  classes. 


ISAIAH  VERAIILLION. 

One  of  the  sterling  pioneers  of  the  Middle  West  who  figured  in  the 
history  of  the  early  days  and  assisted  in  paving  the  way  for  subsequent  de- 
\elopment  was  Isaiah  Vermillion,  who  was  bom  ?^Iarch  24,  1782,  probably  in 
\'irginia,  and.  after  a  remarkable  career  for  those  days,  which  was  prolonged 
to  well  nigh  the  century  mark,  he  passed  away  on  October  23,  1871,  in  Monroe 
township,  Putnam  county,  Indiana,  where  he  had  long  been  an  honored  resi- 
dent. He  grew  up  to  hard  toil  and  received  only  the  mere  rudiments  of 
learning.  When  he  reached  maturity  he  married  Tabitha  Cumi  Akers,  who 
was  born  January  iS,  1799,  and  who  passed  to  her  rest  September  15,  1879, 
having  lived  four  score  years. 

Their  family  consisted  of  the  following  children:  Eight  reached  ma- 
turity ;  Anderson,  who  is  mentioned  in  the  sketch  of  O.  L.  Jones :  Woodford 
spent  his  life  in  Putnam  county,  but  died  in  Montgomery  county:  Millie  mar- 
ried Nelson  Wood;  Cvnthia  married  Allen  Cox;  Permelia  married  Franklin 


288  weik's  history  of 

* 

Harrah;  Cvrena.  who  married  Robert  Brothers,  is  the  only  survivor; 
Clarissa  married  Americus  Young;  Franklin  died  when  a  young  man:  Lu- 
cinda  married  Thomas  Slavens.  Isaiah  Vermillion  became  a  well  known 
minister  in  the  Predestinarian  Baptist  church.  He  devoted  his  life  prin- 
cipally to  farming  and  was  fairly  successful,  being  a  hard  worker.  He  was  a 
man  whose  word  was  never  discredited  and  whose  deeds  were  always  in  ac- 
cordance with  right  living  and  right  thinking. 


RASER  BITTLES. 


Raser  Bittles  was  born  near  Water  ford,  Erie  county,  Pennsylvania, 
Octol)er  6,  1857.  He  is  the  scion  of  an  e.xcellent  ancestry,  many  representa- 
tives of  which  figured  more  or  less  conspicuously  in  public  and  business  life  in 
the  Emerald  Isle.  His  father,  Thomas  Bittles,  was  born  in  the  county  of 
Armagh,  near  Belfast,  Ireland,  and  there  grew  to  maturity  and  was  educated. 
He  joined  the  tide  of  emigration  setting  in  strongly  for  the  United  States  in 
1850.  and  selected  as  his  location  Water  ford.  Pennsylvania.  He  devoted  his 
life  to  agricultural  pursuits  in  that  vicinity,  establishing  a  good  home  there, 
winning  the  honor  and  confidence  of  all  his  neighbors,  and  spent  the  remain- 
ing years  of  his  life  very  comfortably,  passing  to  his  eternal  rest  in  1898.  at 
the  advancetl  age  of  eighty-three  years,  his  birth  having  occurred  in  1815.  He 
was  of  strong  religious  convictions.  ha\ing  been  a  member  of  the  Presby- 
terian church.  Thomas  Bittles  married  Jane  !\Iatchett.  a  native  of  county 
Armagh.  Ireland,  where  she  grew  to  maturit\-  and  where  they  were  married. 
This  union  resulted  in  the  birth  of  seven  children,  namely:  Mrs.  Maggie  Rey- 
nolds, of  Springboro,  Crawford  county,  Pennsylvania,  where  John  Wesley 
also  lives;  Robert  James  is  deceased;  Raser.  of  this  sketch:  Addie  Jane  Brown 
lives  in  Carbondale.  Illinois:  William  Charles  lives  in  Westfield.  Xew  "^"ork : 
Andrew  Bell  is  a  resident  of  Oil  City.  Pennsylvania.  The  latter  was  adopted 
bv  an  aunt  and  now  bears  the  name  of  Gordon. 

The  mother  of  the  children  just  enumerated  passed  to  her  rest  on  April 
4.  1863.  at  the  age  of  thirty-seven  years.  The  father  re-married,  his  second 
wife  being  Airs.  Eliza  Taylor,  of  Waterford.  Pennsylvania,  and  this  union 
resulted  in  the  birth  (if  three  children.  Allen  J.,  of  Meadville.  Pennsylvania: 
Emmett.  of  .\lbion.  Pennsylvania:  Elizal)eth.  of  Girard.  Penn.sylvania.  The 
mother  of  these  children  is  living  at  Um'on  City,  that  state. 

Raser  Bittles  lived  at  Waterford.  Pennsylvania,  until  he  was  seventeen 
years  of  age.      He  recei\ed  his  schf)oling  in  the  public  scho(5ls  there.  recei\ing 


PCTXA.M    COUXTY,    IXDIAXA.  289 

a  very  serviceable  education,  which  has  later  in  lite  been  greatly  supiilemented 
bv  miscellaneous  reading  and  contact  with  the  business  world.  He  began  life 
b\-  farming,  and  after  four  years  at  hard  work  in  the  fields  he  began  working 
in  a  factory  as  a  common  laborer,  w  hich  he  continued  for  two  years  or  until 
he  had  learned  the  mechanical  part  of  the  work;  this  was  in  the  handle  factory 
of  A.  L.  Clark  &  Son,  in  which  factory  he  worked  as  a  mechanic  for  a  period 
of  fourteen  years,  thoroughly  mastering  the  business  in  the  meantime.  In 
rSo5  'i>^  went  in  business  for  himself,  having  come  west  to  Putnam  county, 
Indiana,  establishing  the  Roachdale  Handle  Company,  which  he  conducted 
there  for  a  period  of  eight  years,  building  up  a  very  e.xtensive  patronage,  so 
that  he  sought  a  larger  field  and  better  shipping  facilities,  moving  to  Green- 
castle  in  1903.  Here  he  carries  on  his  business  under  the  individual  name. 
R.  Bittles.  having  purchased  the  balance  of  the  stock  owned  by  A.  J.  Brake. 
His  business  has  continued  to  grow  until  it  has  reached  remote  parts  of  the 
country,  his  factory  being  e(juipped  with  all  modem  appliances  where  twenty 
skilled  workmen  are  constantK'  employed,  making  D  handles  for  sho\els  and 
spades.  Onlv  higli  class  work  is  turned  out  and  the  best  of  material  used,  and 
the  result  of  this  conscientious,  straight for\vard  and  honest  manner  of  con- 
ducting his  business  has  been  the  large  rewards  that  always  come  as  the  sequel 
to- rightly  applied  energy.  Mr.  Bittles  is  a  self-made  man  and  is  deserving 
of  the  large  success  that  has  attended  his  efforts. 

The  chapter  bearing  on  the  domestic  life  of  Raser  Bittles  dates  from 
October  31.  1S83,  when  he  married  Susie  M.  Hollingshead,  the  representati\'e 
of  an  honored  and  influential  family  of  Dunkirk.  Indiana,  the  daughter  of 
Thomas  and  Prudence  f  Peck")  Hollingshead,  the  father  a  native  of  Delaware 
county.  Indiana,  and  the  mother  of  Blackford  county,  this  state.  Air.  Hollings- 
heail  was  a  farmer  ami  lived  in  Delaware  county  until  his  death  in  January, 
[Sjj,  at  the  early  age  of  thirty-three  years,  having  been  born  in  1839.  He  was 
a  !\Iason ;  his  parents  came  tr(3m  Greene  coimty.  Ohio,  reaching  Indiana  about 
1836.  The  mother  of  Mrs.  Bittles  was  born  Februarv-  27,  1842.  and  her  par- 
ents came  from  Ohio  in  1838.  Three  children  were  born  to  yir.  and  Airs. 
Hollingshead,  one  dying  in  infancy;  James  H.  lives  in  Ft.  Smith.  Arkansas, 
where  he  is  engaged  in  the  manufacture  of  handles. 

Fi\e  children  have  been  born  to  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Bittles,  named  as  follows : 
Alta.  born  September  10.  1884;  Frank,  born  Februarv-  20.  1887;  Claire,  bom 
Augtist  5,  iS()2:  ?^rary,  born  May  14.  1895:  James,  born  October  6,  1897. 
They  are  all  li\ing  at  home  at  this  writing.  Alta  graduated  from  DePauw 
University  in  iqnj.  and  Frank  is  a  senior  in  that  institution,  and  graduates 
fi9) 


290  WEIK  S    HISTORY    OF 

with  the  class  of  1910.  Claire  is  a  freshman  in  DePauw.  Mary  and  James 
are  in  the  graded  schools. 

Mr.  and  Mrs.  Bittles  and  their  three  oldest  children  are  members  of  the 
College  Avenue  Methodist  Episcopal  church.  Mrs.  Bittle.s  is  an  active  wOrKer 
in  the  Woman's  Christian  Temperance  Union  of  this  congregation. 

Fraternally  Mr.  Bittles  is  a  Mason,  belonging  to  Temple  Lodge.  Xo.  47, 
having  joined  this  fraternity  in  1881.  He  is  also  a  member  of  Greencastle 
Chapter.  Xo.  22.  Royal  Arch  Masons,  and  Greencastle  Commandery.  X'o.  11, 
Knights  Templar.  Politically  he  is  a  Republican  and  he  has  long  taken  more 
or  less  interest  in  public  affairs.  At  the  present  time  is  is  a  member  of  the 
citv  council  of  Greencastle. 

Mr.  Bittles  has  a  fine  home  on  Eash  Washington  street,  which  is  known 
to  a  large  circle  of  friends  as  a  place  where  genuine  hospitality  and  good  cheer 
es'er  prevail. 


EVERETT  AI.  HCRST.  M.  D. 

Among  the  successful  and  well  known  physicians  of  Putnam  county  is 
Dr.  Everett  M.  Hurst,  of  Cloverdale,  who  is  enjoying  a  splendid  reputation 
and  a  large  clientele  because  of  the  ability  he  has  displayed  in  the  treatment 
of  disease  and  also  because  of  his  high  personal  character.  He  is  a  repre- 
sentative citizen  of  the  community  and  is  well  entitled  to  specific  mention  in  a 
work  of  this  character.  A  complete  genealogical  record  of  the  Hurst  family 
appears  elsewhere  in  this  volume  and  mention  will  only  be  made  here  of  the 
Doctor's  immediate  ancestors.  His  paternal  grandfather  was  Jefferson  Hurst, 
who  was  born  in  Marion  township.  Putnam  county,  Indiana,  Alarch  28,  1824, 
the  son  of  William  and  Fanny  Hurst,  the  former  a  native  of  Virginia.  The 
family  came  to  Putnam  county  in  1823.  being  among  the  first  settlers  in  the 
county.  They  located  at  Deer  creek.  Marion  township,  where  the  father 
entered  several  tracts  of  government  land.  He  at  once  cleared  a  small  space 
and  erected  a  log  cabin,  putting  in  a  small  crop  of  corn  the  first  year.  He  died 
in  1850,  widely  known  and  highly  respected  by  all  who  knew  him.  In  politics 
he  was  a  Democrat  and  in  religion  he  was  a  member  of  the  Primitive  Baptist 
church.  He  was  known  far  and  wide  as  a  peacemaker  and  was  frequently 
called  upon  to  settle  neightorhood  disputes. 

Jefferson  Hurst  was  reared  to  manhood  under  the  parental  roof,  receiving 
a  somewhat  limited  education  in  the  common  schools.  He  had  a  large  ex- 
perience in  pioneer  life,  and  it  is  said  attended  log  rollings  for  two  weeks 
at  a  time.     On  December  24,  1S44.  he  married  Elsie  Vowel,  and  they  became 


PUTNAM    COUXTV.    INDIAXA. 


291 


the  parents  of  eight  children.  Martin  C.  WiHiam.  Levi.  Squire  J..  James  H 
George  W'..  Benjamin  F.  and  Mar}-  ]..  the  wife  of  Daniel  V.  Moffett.  Mrs. 
Elsie  Hurst  died  on  Xovember  2.  1879.  and  on  September  i.  1881.  Air  Hurst 
married  Alary  E.  Tilley.  of  O^-en  county,  to  winch  union  were  born  two  chil- 
dren. Joseph  B.  and  Flossie  M.  Mr.  Hurst  settled  upon  his  farm  in  section  36 
Greencastle  township,  about  186..  ownmg  about  six  hundred  acres  of  lan,l 
wh.ch  was  considered  one  of  the  best  farms  in  the  cotmty.  He  was  a  n,embe; 
ot  the  Prnuitive  Baptist  church,  of  which  he  was  clerk 

Anril"^''  rf ''";  '"''"'■■  ^^ '"""'  ^""^-  ""^  ^^"  '"  Greencastle  township, 
comn^on  schools.  He  remamed  at  home  until  his  marriage  on  Februarx-  ; 
Inestock  wh.ch  occupation  he  followed  until  1S80.  when  he  engaged  in  the 
at  that  po  nt.   Durmg  the  last  ten  years  of  his  life  he  was  retired  from  active 

«as  hr.t  established  as  a  branch  store,  but  eventuallv  became  a  prosperous 
busmess.    H,s  death  occurred  on  January  9,  1909.     To'  his  union  w.th  Mlrtl^ 

Afrs    nTr  tT",       '"1°"^  ""•  ^^"""  ''•  '"  "''^J^^^^  '^™P"  '^f  ^'-  -sketch. 

A  i  e  Y    AH        "^     '      f  •  '^'""-  ""'  °"  ^''''''  -'•  ^^'^'^-  -^^^-  H-st  married 
Alice  A.  .Albm.  who  was  born  in  Jefferson  township.  October  -    i8;7    the 

ss;  d::^:::^^'""""  ^  ■^'""-  ^'^  ^-'^-^^-^  ---  --  ^^^  ^ugh^r^o^ 

Everett  M.  Hurst  was  born  October  26.  1874.  at  the  Hurst  homestead  m 
the  northern  part  of  Warren  township,  this  countv.  At  the  age  of  ei-xhteen 
months  he  was  orphaned  by  the  death  of  his  mother  and  he  was  t!,en^aken 
by  his  paternal  grandparents,  with  whom  he  lived  until  he  was  nine  years  old 
when  he  returned  to  the  home  of  his  father,  the  latter  having  again  married' 
Everett  Hurst  attended  the  common  schools  at  Alt.  Aleridian  and  later 
the  high  school  at  Greencastle.  where  he  was  graduated  in  1894.  Durinc.  the 
two  following  winters  he  engaged  in  teaching  school  in  Alarion  township 
Having  determined  to  make  the  practice  of  medicine  his  life  work,  he  entered 
the  College  of  Physicians  and  Surgeons,  the  medical  department  of  the 
University  of  Illinois,  of  Chicago.  He  remained  there  four  vears.  graduat- 
mg  on  April  18.  1900.  with  the  degree  of  Doctor  of  Aledicine.  Dunno-  his 
educational  years  the  Doctor  had  assisted  during  the  summers  with  the  work 
ot  his  father's  farm  and  during  two  summers  he  was  employed  as  a  salesman 
m  the  buggy  and  implement  business  of  his  lincle,  James  Hurst,  at  Green- 
castle. In  his  youth  he  had  to  some  extent  engaged  in  the  business  of  buv- 
mg  and  selling  livestock,  in  which  he  w.is  successful  to  an  unusual  decree 


292  WEIK  S    HISTORY    OF 

possessing  a  remarkable  faculty  for  gauging  the  weight  of  an  animal  by  a 
glance,  he  acquiring  a  widespread  reputation  on  this  account. 

On  January  4,  1900,  Doctor  Hurst  located  at  Cloverdale  and  entered  upon 
the  active  practice  of  his  profession,  in  which  he  has  met  with  a  gratifying 
measure  of  success,  having  built  up  a  large  and  lucrative  patronage  among  the 
best  people  in  the  community.  He  keeps  in  close  touch  with  the  latest  ad- 
vances made  in  the  healing  art  and  has  successfully  handled  many  e.xtremely 
difficult  cases.  The  Doctor  has  erected  in  Cloverdale  a  beautiful  and  attrac- 
tive residence,  one  of  the  finest  in  the  town. and  the  spirit  of  hospitality  is  ever 
in  evidence,  the  Doctor  and  his  wife  being  numbered  among  the  best  social 
circles  of  the  town. 

Politically  Doctor  Hurst  is  a  Democrat,  and  takes  an  intelligent  interest 
in  public  affairs,  though  he  has  never  sought  public  ofiice  of  any  nature. 
Fraternallv  he  is  a  member  of  the  Knights  of  Pythias  and  the  Modern  Wood- 
men of  America.    He  and  his  wife  are  members  of  the  Christian  church. 

In  September,  1900.  Doctor  Hurst  married  Eliza  ]\I.  Herod,  the  daughter 
of  Johnson  C.  Herod,  of  Greencastle,  who  served  as  county  assessor  for  ten 
years.  They  became  the  parents  of  a  son,  Olney  Eugene,  but  he  was  taken 
by  death  at  the  age  of  sixteen  months.  Doctor  Hurst  is  a  man  of  broad  sym- 
pathies and  kindly  disposition  and  is  well  liked  by  all  who  know  him.  He 
takes  a  live  interest  in  everj-thing  tending  to  benefit  the  community  in  anv 
wav,  and  is  thoroughly  reliable  in  every  department  of  activity  in  which  he 
engages. 

Doctor  Hurst  has  business  interests  aside  from  his  profession,  owning  a 
splendid  farm  in  Jeffers<in  township,  and  also  an  interest  in  the  general  store 
at  Putnamville. 


ISAAC  S.  SINCLAIR. 


The  importance  that  attaches  to  the  lives,  character  and  work  of  the 
early  settlers  of  that  part  of  Indiana  of  which  Putnam  county  is  a  part  and 
the  influence  they  have  exerted  upon  the  cause  of  humanity  and  civilization 
is  one  of  the  most  absorbing  themes  that  can  possibly  attract  the  attention  of 
the  local  chronicler  or  historian.  If  great  and  beneficent  results — results  that 
endure  and  bless  mankind — are  the  proper  measure  of  the  good  men  do,  then 
who  is  there  in  the  w^orld's  histor}'  that  may  take  their  places  above  the  hardy 
pioneer.  To  point  out  the  way,  to  make  possible  our  present  advancing  civiliza- 
tion, is  to  be  the  truly  great  benefactors  of  mankind  for  all  time.  This  was  the 
great  work  accomplished  by  the  early  settlers  and  it  is  granted  by  all  that  they 


PCTXAM    COUNTY,    INDIANA.  293 

builded  wiser  than  they  knew.  Among  the  sturdy  old  pioneers  whose  efforts 
counted  for  much  in  the  early  development  of  this  part  of  Indiana,  mention 
should  be  made  of  Isaac  Sinclair,  who  occupied  a  position  of  prominence 
in  the  community  where  he  lived.  He  was  a  native  of  the  state  of  Virginia, 
where  he  was  reared  and  educated.  Subseciuently  he  emigrated  to  Kentucky 
and  in  about  1822  he  came  to  Indiana,  locating  in  the  northern  part  of  Owen 
county.  He  had  married  Anna  Patterson  and  they  were  the  parents  of  the 
following  children:  William.  John  P.,  Isaac  P.,  Samuel  S.,  Cynthia,  Morris, 
Ann  and  Eliza.  These  children  all  came  with  their  parents  to  their  new  home 
in  the  Hoosier  state  and  here  grew  to  honorable  manhood  and  womanhood. 
The  family  located  three  miles  north  of  where  Cloverdale  now  is,  but  several 
years  later  located  in  Owen  county.  The  father  afterwards  returned  again 
to  Putnam  county  and  spent  his  latter  days  with  his  son  Samuel.  His  death 
occurred  about  1852.  his  widow  surviving  until  near  the  close  of  the  Civil  war. 
Isaac  Sinclair  was  one  of  the  grand  old  men  of  his  day,  his  life  being  char- 
acterized by  an  integrity  of  purpose  and  a  consistency  of  conduct  that  won  for 
him  the  unbounded  confidence  of  all  who  knew  him. 

Of  the  children  of  Isaac  and  Anna  Sinclair,  brief  mention  is  made  as 
follows  : 

William,  during  the  late  twenties  and  early  thirties,  owned  land  three 
miles  south  of  Cloverdale,  but  eventually  he  mo\-ed  to  Kentucky  and  did  not 
again  return  to  Indiana. 

John  P.  married  Sarah  Martin  before  he  came  to  Indiana.  He  became  a 
minister  of  the  ilethodist  Episcopal  church,  and  was  numbered  among  the 
early  "circuit  riders."  He  first  lived  a  mile  west  of  Cloverdale.  but  later  lo- 
cated three  miles  south  of  that  place,  where  he  cleared  land  and  made  a  good 
home.  About  1850  he  went  to  Greencastle  and  afterwards  made  several  other 
changes  in  location,  eventually  locating  about  a  mile  north  of  Putnamville. 
About  1854  he  engaged  in  running  a  sawmill  at  Cloverdale.  He  returned 
to  the  old  home  south  of  Cloverdale.  but  his  last  days  were  spent  near 
Putnamville,  where  his  death  occurred.  He  was  survived  by  three  sons  and 
si.x  daughters,  namely:  Strange  \\'..  Isaac  L..  John  T..  Serelda.  Xancy. 
Mary,  Lucinda,  America  Ann  and  Elizabeth. 

Isaac  P.  Sinclair,  Jr.,  lived  just  west  of  Cloverdale  in  his  young  manhood. 
He  married  America  L.  Martin,  of  Kentucky,  a  daughter  of  Thomas  Martin, 
who  came  from  that  state  to  Indiana  with  Isaac  Sinclair,  Sr..  and  entered 
land  north  of  Cloverdale.  He  afterwards  located  near  Cloverdale.  but  a  few- 
years  later  mo\-ed  o\-er  into  Owen  county.  Later  in  life  he  bought  a  farm 
three  miles  south  of  Cloverdale,  where  his  death  occurred.  From  his  home 
west  of  Clo\erdale  Isaac  Sinclair.  Jr..  moved  to  0^ven  county,  but  two  or  three 


294  WEIK  S    HISTORY    OF 

years  later  he  returned  to  the  southern  part  of  Putnam  county,  where  he  built 
a  large  and  attractive  brick  residence  about  1840.  In  1848  he  moved  to 
Greencastle,  which  was  his  home  during  the  remainder  of  his  life.  He  was 
engaged  in  the  management  of  a  warehouse  there  at  the  time  of  his  death. 
He  had  also  laid  out  an  addition  to  the  city  of  Greencastle  and  had  erected  sev- 
eral houses.  He  died  on  October  25,  1854,  and  was  survived  many  years  by 
his  widow,  whose  death  occurred  in  1878.  They  were  the  parents  of  four 
sons  and  four  daughters,  namely:  John  P..  Thomas  Martin.  Lee  W..  Isaac 
S.,  Minerva,  Martha  Ann,  Elizabeth  and  Eliza  J.  Of  these  children.  John  P. 
lived  on  the  home  farm  until  1848,  receiving  his  education  in  the  public 
schools  of  Greencastle.  He  married  Rebecca  A.  Hardin.  He  spent  most 
of  his  life  in  Putnam  county,  removing  in  1875  to  Iowa,  where  his  death  oc- 
curred. Thomas  Martin  died  at  the  age  of  about  se\"enteen  years.  Lee  W. 
spent  his  early  years  in  Greencastle.  looking  after  the  \varehouse  for  his 
father,  and  was  also  engaged  in  the  wool  business.  He  married  Eliza  Brandt 
and  went  to  Salem.  Indiana.  Later  he  went  to  South  Chicago,  where  he 
operated  a  woollen  mill,  and  then  went  to  West  Baden,  Indiana,  where  he  is 
now  engaged  in  running  the  West  Newton  Springs  Hotel.  His  first  wife  died 
in  1873  ^^'^  h^  subsequently  married  Caddie  Percise. 

Isaac  Simpson  Sinclair,  son  of  Isaac  P..  Jr..  was  boi:n  in  1840  on  the 
farm  in  the  southern  part  of  Cloverdale  township,  where  he  remained  until 
eight  years  of  age.  after  which  the  family  made  several  moves,  though  the 
greater  part  of  his  time  was  spent  on  the  farm,  occupying  the  brick  residence 
built  by  his  father.  About  1895  he  moved  to  Cloverdale  and  engaged  in  the 
hay  business,  and  in  1900  he  moved  to  his  present  home,  a  fourth  of  a  mile 
west  of  Cloverdale,  where  he  operates  a  good  farm.  The  familv  are  mem- 
bers of  the  Church  of  Christ  at  Cloverdale.  Isaac  S.  Sinclair  married,  in  1862, 
Minerva  Piercy.  daughter  of  Jacob  Piercy.  Jr.  The  latter's  father.  lacnb 
Pierc\'.  Sr..  came  from  Kentucky  to  Indiana  in  about  1822  and  bought  land  a 
mile  north  of  Cloverdale.  Jacob.  Jr..  married  Rosanna  Hedrick  and  thev  had 
five  children,  of  whom  three  died  in  childhood,  the  two  sur\-iv<5rs  being  Mrs. 
Sinclair  and  Mary  Jane,  who  became  the  wife  of  William  H.  Truesdale.  To 
Mr.  and  Mrs.  Isaac  S.  Sinclair  were  born  six  children.  Albert  P..  Alfred 
Lee.  Charles  S..  Luella.  Mary  Winnie  and  Curtis  C.  Of  these.  Marv  Minnie 
died  at  the  age  of  two  months.  Curtis  C.  at  the  age  of  ten  vears  and  Alfred 
Lee  at  the  age  of  t\\ent_\'-two  years.  Luella.  \\ho  is  now  at  home  with  her 
])arents.  formerly  taught  .-^cliool,  ha\ing  attended  the  normal  school  at  Green- 
castle. Minerva,  daughter  of  Isaac  P.  Sinclair,  became  the  wife  of  Alfred 
Glazehook  and  during  her  later  life  lived  at  Rensselaer.  Indiana.  Martha  Ann 
became  the  wife  of  James  McKenzie  and  spent  most  of  her  married  life  in 


PLTXAM     COUXTY,    INDIANA.  295 

Cumberland  county.  Illinois,  where  her  death  occurred.  Elizabeth  became  the 
wife  of  Richard  Lennon  and  lived  at  St.  Louis,  Missouri.  Eliza  I.  married 
Hiram  T.  Crawley,  and  they  formerly  lived  on  a  farm  in  Putnam  countv, 
later  nKn-insa^  to  Greencastle.  and  then  to  Indianapolis,  where  thev  now   reside. 


HARRY  M.  S^HTH. 


Examples  that  impress  force  of  character  on  all  who  stutly  them  are 
worthy  of  record.  By  a  few  general  observations  may  l;e  conveyed  some  idea 
of  the  high  standing  of  Harry  M.  Smith  as  a  business  man  and  public  bene- 
factor, or.  an  editor  of  unusual  felicity  of  expression,  ha\-ing  niatle  the 
(ireencastle  Biuiucr.  of  which  he  is  proprietor,  one  of  the  brightest  and  most 
influential  papers  in  this  section  of  the  Hoosier  state.  United  in  his  compo- 
sition are  so  many  elements  of  a  solid  and  practical  nature,  which  during  a 
series  of  3'ears  have  brought  him  into  prominent  notice,  and  earned  for  him  a 
conspicuous  ])lace  among  the  enterprising  men  of  the  county  of  his  residence, 
that  it  is  but  just  recognition  of  his  worth  to  speak  at  some  length  of  his 
achie\ements,  although  the  record  of  such  a  life  as  herein  set  forth  is  neces- 
sarily an  abridgement. 

AFr.  Smith  is  desceniled  from  an  old  and  well  established  Indiana  fam- 
ily, members  of  which  have  been  known  for  their  sterling  qualities  tlin^ugh 
se\'eral  generations — from  the  trx'ing  period  which  historians  are  pleased 
to  allude  to  as  "the  early  days"  down  to  the  opulent  present.  His  birth  oc- 
curred at  Thorntown,  Indiana.  November  25,  [86j.  His  boyhood  days  were 
spent  under  his  parental  rooftree  much  like  those  of  other  lads  of  his 
age  and  generation  and  was  without  incident,  .\fter  an  education  in  the 
public  and  high  school  he  turned  his  attentii^n  to  the  printing  and  newspaper 
business,  and  finding  the  same  to  his  liking,  has  continued  his  labors  in  this 
particidar  field  of  endeavor  to  the  present  time,  or  for  a  period  of  over  thirty 
years,  gaining  well-merited  success.  He  learned  the  printer's  trade  in  Dan- 
ville. Indiana,  in  the  otfice  of  the  Danville  U>iioii.  at  the  time  comlucted  bv 
his  father,  and  worked  at  the  trade  while  finishing  his  education. 

Tlie  subject  is  the  son  of  Mr.  and  ]\Irs.  O.  H.  Smith,  mentioned  else- 
where in  this  work,  and  a  member  of  a  famil\-  oi  five  chiUlren.  Though  hav- 
ing resided  at  earlier  periods  in  his  life  in  other  cities,  he  has  for  a  quarter 
oi  .1  century  been  a  citizen  of  Greencastle  and  has  always  been  loval  to  the 
city's  interests.  He  was  a  pronounced  advocate  of  a  new  court  house  for  the 
ctjunty  and  has  alwa\s  been  in  the  aihance  in  urging  improvements  for  the 


296  weik's  history  of 

city  an<l  county,  and  his  labors  in  behalf  of  the  general  interests  of  the 
people  have  been  fully  appreciated  and  recognized. 

After  employment  on  the  Republican  papers  of  the  county  at  diverse 
times,  he  purchased  the  Greencastle  Banner  in  1898  and  has  been  sole  pro- 
prietor of  the  same  since  that  time,  having  so  ably  managed  the  same  as  to 
greatly  increase  its  prestige,  its  influence  in  molding  public  opinion,  its  value 
as  an  advertising  medium  and  its  brightness  in  mechanical  appearance.  The 
Bajiiicr  is  one  of  the  oldest  papers  in  the  state  and  it  has  always  stood  in  the 
front  ranks  of  the  Republican  party,  fighting  for  its  principles  and  has  been 
a  potent  factor  in  local  political  issues. 

On  January  18,  1888,  Air.  Smith  married  Anna  Allen,  daughter  of  Mr. 
and  Mrs.  John  D.  Allen,  and  they  reside  at  No.  122  East  Walnut  street  in 
Greencastle.  The  Allen  family  has  long  been  a  highly  honored  one  in  Put- 
nam county. 

Fraternally  Air.  Smith  is  a  member  of  the  Benevolent  and  Protective 
Order  of  Elks  and  the  Knights  of  Pythias,  and  he  takes  considerable  interest 
in  both  lodges,  and  is  one  of  the  prominent  boosters  for  the  best  interests 
of  Greencastle  in  every  way,  both  through  his  paper  and  as  a  private  citizen. 


CHARLES  W.  LAXDES. 

There  is  no  positi\'e  rule  for  achie\'ing  success,  and  }-et  in  the  life  of  the 
successful  man.  like  that  of  the  late  Charles  W.  Landes.  long  a  well  known 
druggist  of  Greencastle.  there  are  always  lessons  which  might  be  followed. 
The  men  who  gains  prosperity  is  he  who  can  see  and  utilize  the  opportunities 
that  lie  in  his  path,  the  essential  conditions  of  human  life  being  ever  the  same, 
the  surroundings  of  individuals  differing  but  slightly:  and  when  one  man 
passes  another  on  the  highway  of  life  to  reach  the  goal  of  prosperity  before 
others  who  perhaps  started  out  before  him,  it  is  because  he  has  the  power  to 
use  advantages  which  properly  encompass  the  whole  human  race,  and  the  best 
wav  to  measure  the  true  worth  of  a  man  is  in  his  intluence  upon  others.  In 
both  this  and  the  achievement  of  success  Air.  Landes  nnist  be  recorded  as  one 
of  Putnam  countv's  foremost  citizens  of  the  past  generation,  as  all  who  knew 
him  well  can  attest. 

Charles  \V.  Landes  was  bom  in  this  county  on  Januan,-  13.  185 1.  the 
descendant  of  a  prominent  and  influential  ancestry,  one  of  Putnam's  oldest 
pioneer  families,  the  first  representatixes  of  which  located  here  in  an  early 
dav.  having  made  the  long  imirnev  from  Virginia  in  old-fashioned  covered 


CHAKLES  W.   LANDES 


PUTNAM    COL'NTY,    IXDIAXA.  297 

wagons.  They  were  John  and  Henry  Landes.  the  latter  the  father  of  Charles 
W.  and  for  many  years  a  successful  and  prominent  business  man,  having  en- 
gaged in  the  manufacture  of  wagons  in  Greencastle,  being  a  very  skilled  work- 
man so  that  the  products  of  his  shop  were  eagerly  sought  for.  In  April, 
1S49.  he  married  Elvira  Ree\es,  which  union  resulted  in  the  birth  of  four 
children,  namely:  Charles  \V.,  of  this  biographical  memoir;  James  died  in 
infancy;  Sarah  Olive  died  when  eighteen  years  of  age;  Frank  L.  died  in  De- 
cember. 1903. 

Charles  W  .  Landes  received  an  excellent  education,  having  attended  the 
public  schools  and  graduating  in  1872  in  Asbury  (now  DePauw)  University, 
with  proper  honors.  He  had  long  desired  to  devote  his  life  to  the  profession 
of  pharmacy  and  soon  after  leaving  school  he  accordingly,  in  1S73,  entered 
the  drug  business,  the  fimi  being  known  as  Phemister  &  Landes.  The  fol- 
lowing year  he  purchased  his  partner's  interest  and  continued  the  business  with 
gratifying  success,  building  up  a  constantly  growing  and  lucrative  patronage 
Avith  the  city  and  surrounding  county  until  his  death,  February  17,  1899.  In 
all  his  business  relations  with  his  fellow  men  he  is  remembered  as  being  gener- 
ous and  fair,  thereby  winning  and  retaining  the  confidence  and  good  will  of 
all.  Mr.  Landes.  as  was  his  father,  was  a  stockholder  in  the  First  National 
Bank  of  Greencastle.  Mr.  Landes  was  a  Republican  in  politics.  He  left  an 
estate  of  approximately  fifteen  thousand  dollars.  He  was  a  prominent  mem- 
ber from  early  manhood  of  the  College  Avenue  Methodist  Episcopal  church, 
being  on  the  official  board  for  more  than  twenty-four  years. 

Mr.  Landes  was  married  on  October  17,  1877,  to  Lilly  Frances  Root,  a 
lady  of  refinement  and  such  pleasing  address  as  to  gain  for  her  hosts  of 
friends  wherever  she  is  known.  She  is  the  daughter  of  Rev.  Lucius  I.  Root, 
long  a  prominent  Presbyterian  minister  in  Greencastle.  He  was  a  native  of 
the  state  of  Xew  York  and  a  graduate  of  L'nion  College  of  Schenectady,  New 
\ork,  also  of  the  Princeton  Theological  Seminary.  He  was  always  regarded 
as  an  eloquent  and  earnest  exponent  of  the  doctrines  of  the  Nazarene  and  ac- 
complished a  great  work  in  winning  souls  to  his  Master  and  in  building  up 
strong  churches.  Frances  R.  Taft  was  the  maiden  name  of  Mrs.  Landes' 
mother.  She  w  as  a  native  of  Williamstown,  Massachusetts,  and  she  is  a  rela- 
ti\e  of  President  Taft.  he  being  of  this  same  family  tree.  Peter  Taft.  the 
great-grandfather  of  Mrs.  Landes.  was  an  officer  in  the  patriot  army  during 
the  Re\"olutionary  war. 

Two  children  graced  the  pleasant  home  of  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Charles  W. 
Landes.  bearing  these  names.  Nellie,  bom  January  24.  1879.  was  called  to 
the  unseen  world  on  March  27.  1904:  Hallie  was  born  in  February,  1880. 
They  both  recei\  erl  excellent  educations,  graduating  from  DePauw  L'ni\-ersitv. 


29S  weik's  history  of 

The  latter  is  at  this  writing  state  secretary  for  the  Michigan  Young  Women's 
Christian  Association,  and  is  prominent  and  beconn'ng  w  idely  known  in  this 
laudable  line  of  work. 

Xo  more  prominent  or  highly  honored  famih'  than  the  Landes  is  to  be 
found  in  Putnam  county,  and  Charles  W.  was  a  worthy  representative  of  this 
influential  and  esteemed  name,  and  his  influence  in  the  business  and  social  life 
nf  Greencastle  was  far-reaching  and  such  as  to  merit  the  rewards  he  won. 


DAVID  ROBERT  .MAZR. 

An  enumeration  of  those  men  of  the  present  geueratitm  who  ha\e  won 
honor  and  public  recognition  for  themsehes.  and  at  the  same  time  have 
honored  the  locality  to  which  they  belong,  would  be  incomplete  were  there 
failure  to  make  mention  of  the  one  whose  name  forms  the  caption  to  this 
sketch.  Prominent  in  local  political  circles,  successful  in  business  affairs, 
and  keenly  alive  to  the  best  interests  of  the  community,  he  enjoys  to  a  marked 
degree  the  confidence  and  esteem  of  the  entire  community  and  is  numl^iered 
among  the  representative  men  of  the  county. 

David  R  Maze  is  a  native  son  of  the  Hoosier  state,  having  been  born 
near  Cataract  Falls,  Owen  county,  on  June  18.  1849.  ^^  is  a  son  of  Robert 
and  ^lahala  (Campbell)  Maze.  The  father  was  born  near  Crab  Orchard, 
Kentucky,  in  1804.  and  at  the  age  of  five  years  was  taken  by  his  parents  to 
near  Hamilton,  Ohio,  and  later  to  Shelljy  county.  Indiana.  In  1846  he  mo\ed 
t(j  Owen  c<juntv  and  located  in  Jennings  township,  ncit  far  from  the  Putnam 
county  line.  He  married  Mahala  Campbell,  daughter  of  Jijlm  Caaipbell. 
She  was  born  in  Ohio  and  came  with  her  parents  first  to  Union  county, 
Indiana,  thence  to  Edinburg,  Johnson  county,  where  her  parents  died.  Her 
marriage  to  Mr.  Maze  occurred  before  their  removal  to  Owen  county. 

David  R.  Maze  remained  on  the  paternal  estate  in  Owen  county  until 
he  had  attained  his  majority.  He  then  started  out  in  life  on  his  own  account, 
going  into  the  sawmill  business,  which  was  his  chief  occupation  until  [905, 
being-  occupied  either  in  running  the  mill  or  bu}'ing  timber,  in  Ix^th  nf  which 
he  I)ecame  an  expert.  He  commenced  his  active  operations  at  Santa  Fe.  Owen 
township,  but  in  1871  he  moved  the  mill  to  the  eastern  part  of  Cloverdale 
township  and  then  sold  it.  He  then  came  to  Cloverdale  and  ])ecame  head 
sawyer  in  a  mill  owned  by  Howard  Hart.  He  afterwards  I^ouglit  this  mill 
and  operated  it  fi\-e  \-ears.  He  then  sold  the  mill,  but  continued  to  work  in 
it  as  head  sawyer,  which  positi<in  he  held  until   1905.     In  the  pre\ious  year 


PUTNAM    COUNTY,    INDIANA.  299 

he  had  been  elected  sheriff  of  Putnam  county  anti  he  now  appHed  himself 
exclusively  to  the  discharge  of  the  duties  of  this  office.  In  1906  he  was 
re-elected  to  succeed  himself,  thus  holding  the  office  four  years  in  all.  He  made 
a  splendid  official  and  retired  from  the  office  with  the  good  will  and  approval 
of  everyone.  In  July.  1909.  Mr.  Maze  went  into  the  grain  and  feed  busi- 
ness in  Cloverdale.  in  which  line  he  is  still  engageil.  He  is  a  hustling  busi- 
ness man  and  is  meeting  with  a  gratifying  degree  of  success  in  his  new 
venture. 

Politically.  Mr.  Maze  is  a  Democrat,  having  voted  the  tickets  of  this 
party  consistently  since  becoming  a  voter.  In  1890  he  was  elected  trustee  of 
Cloverdale  township  for  a  four-year  term,  which,  by  legislative  enactment, 
was  e.xtended  a  year,  giving  a  five-year  tenure.  He  rendered  efficient  service 
in  this  office  and  gained  additional  prestige  thereby.  As  above  stated,  he 
afterwards  served  two  terms  as  sheriff,  aside  from  which  offices  he  has  never 
been  before  the  people  as  a  candidate.  He  stands  high  in  the  councils  of  the 
party  and  takes  a  leading  part  in  local  campaigns.  Fraternally,  he  is  a  mem- 
ber of  the  Independent  Order  of  Odd  Fellows,  of  which  he  became  a  mem- 
ber December  31,  1873.  ^^  Cloverdale.  He  is  also  a  member  of  the  encamp- 
ment oi  Patriarchs  ]\filitant  at  Greencastle,  being,  with  one  exception,  the 
senior  in  length  of  membership  at  Cloverdale. 

On  June  i.  1881.  Mr.  Maze  married  Nannie  Sinclair,  the  daughter  of 
Rev.  Strange  \\'hite  and  Hannah  |  rirnham  )  Sinclair.  Rev.  Strange  Sinclair 
was  born  December  9,  1829.  on  Raccoon  creek,  near  Greencastle.  and  was  a 
son  of  Rev.  J.  P.  Sinclair,  a  Methodist  minister  who  came  \rom  Kentuckv 
in  an  early  day.  The  latter  was  numbered  among  the  pioneer  ministers  of 
the  gospel  and  "rode  the  circuit"  for  man}-  years.  In  later  life  he  settleil 
down  to  farming  and  trading,  owning  about  a  section  of  land  three  miles 
south  of  Cloverdale.  as  well  as  .several  other  tracts  of  land  between  Green- 
castle and  Owen  county.  He  lived  several  years  at  Greencastle  and  died  on 
his  farm  near  Putnamville  in  1879.  ^^'^  ^'^"-  Rev.  Strange  \Miite  Sinclair, 
was  a  graduate  of  oM  .\sbury  (now  DePauw)  University  and,  following  in 
his  father's  footsteps,  entered  the  ministry  of  the  Methodist  Episcopal  church. 
Pie  was  also  a  school  teacher,  having  taught  for  about  forty  years  in  Putnam 
and  Owen  counties,  or  until  he  was  past  sixty  years  of  age.  Hannah  Sinclair 
was  a  daughter  of  James  and  Hannah  (  McElroy)  Graham,  natives  of  near 
Cork,  Ireland,  and  of  Scotch-Irish  antecedents.  They  were  Presbvterians  in 
religious  belief,  having  descended  from  the  old  Scotch  Covenanters.  .\t  the 
age  of  seventeen  years  Mrs.  ^[aze  began  teaching  school  and  has  been  thus 
engaged  for  nearly  nineteen  years,  the  greater  part  of  the  time  in  Putnam 
county.     Ti)  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Maze  have  been  born  three  daughters.  Xota  Dell. 


300 


WEIK  S    HISTORY    OF 


Coralie  Graham  and  Pearl  White.  The  first-named  became  the  wife  of  Lee 
O.  Cofifman.  son  of  James  Coffman,  by  whom  she  has  three  children,  Marjorie 
Lee,  Virginia  Jeane  and  James  Robert.  The  mother  of  these  children  com- 
pleted her  education  at  the  State  University  and  taught  school  two  terms. 
Coralie  became  the  wife  of  Charles  Gilbert  Shaw,  a  photographer  at  Linton, 
Greene  county,  Indiana,  and  they  have  two  children,  Charlotte  ]VLaze  and 
Analie  Frances.  Mrs.  Shaw  is  a  graduate  of  DePauw  University  and  her 
husband  is  a  graduate  of  the  MclNIinnville  School  of  Photography  at  McMinn- 
ville,  Tennessee,  and  later  was  instructor  in  this  institution.  Pearl  White 
Maze,  who  also  is  a  graduate  of  DePauw  University,  is  now  teaching  her 
second  term  as  English  teacher  in  the  high  school  at  Linton.  The  sAject 
and  his  family  are  all  members  of  the  Methodist  Episcopal  church,  to  which 
they  give  an  earnest  and  liberal  support. 

Mrs.  Maze  is  an  accomplished  painter  of  china,  as  well  as  in  water 
colors,  her  work  being  greatly  admired  by  all  who  see  it.  Competent  judges 
pronounce  some  of  her  work  the  equal  of  any  now  on  exhibition,  possessing 
a  rare  beautv  of  form  and  tone. 


DOUGLAS  HUFFMAN. 

Among  the  numerous  Kentuckians  who  cast  their  lot  with  Indiana  during 
the  formative  period  of  the  state  was  Edmond  Huffman,  a  man  of  sterling 
qualities  and  exemplary  character,  who  became  one  of  the  most  influential 
men  of  his  community.  He  was  born  August  i6.  1824,  and  was  about  nine 
years  old  when  brought  to  Putnam  county  from  the  old  homestead  in  Nelson 
county.  Kentucky,  by  his  parents,  Peter  and  Cynthia  Hufifman.  The  family 
was  of  German  descent  and,  being  seasoned  by  the  early  colonial  struggles 
and  the  dark  days  on  the  border,  their  descendants  were  of  the  material  to 
make  hardy  pioneers  of  new  states.  When  this  family  came  here,  Indiana 
was  still  decidedly  crude,  giving  little  promise  of  the  great  commonwealth 
familiar  to  those  living  in  the  twentieth  century.  Edmond  went  through  all 
the  privations  and  vicissitudes  incident  to  pioneer  days.  There  was  plenty 
of  hard  work  and  not  much  play;  the  state,  however,  was  filled  with  fine 
game,  the  hunting  of  which  had  much  to  do  in  training  the  youth  to  out-door 
sports  from  which  they  deriveil  strength  and  health  to  meet  the  inevitable 
hardships  incident  to  clearing  the  land,  opening  roads,  building  cabins,  burn- 
ing logs  cut  from  the  seemingly  inexhaustible  forests  and  doing  all  the  other 
thinss  essential  to  the  making  oi  a  state  from  the  raw  material. 


PUTNAM    COUNTY,    INDIANA.  3OI 

Edmonil  Huffman  settleil  in  section  iS,  Washington  township,  in  1836. 
On  April  5,  1849,  ^^  married  Louisa  Ann  Rightsell,  who  was  born  August 
9,  1830.  tlie  daughter  of  George  and  Alargaret  Rightsell.  At  the  age  of 
nineteen.  Edmond  Huffman  started  out  to  do  for  himself,  worked  six  months 
for  .William  Alexander,  near  Gosport,  Indiana,  at  five  dollars  a  month,  at 
the  end  of  which  time  he  ga\-e  all  his  wages,  thirty  dollars,  to  his  father,  who 
soon  afterwards  made  him  a  present  of  a  colt  worth  fifteen  dollars.  It  is 
said  at  the  time  of  his  marriage  Edmond  Huftman  could  neither  read  nor 
write,  but  by  the  aid  of  his  good  wife  he  soon  acquired  both  and  finally  be- 
came well  informed  on  the  current  topics  of  tlie  day,  and  from  a  very  humble 
beginning  he  worked  hard  and  managed  well,  success  attending  his  efforts, 
until  at  one  time  he  was  the  owner  of  eighteen  hundred  acres  of  valuable 
land,  and  while  he  was  laying  by  an  ample  competence  for  his  old  age  and 
his  family  he  did  not  lose  sight  of  his  duty  to  his  neighbors,  but  did  his  full 
part  in  the  development  of  the  county.  Being  an  ardent  Democrat,  he  took 
a  prominent  part  in  the  struggles  incident  to  the  old  days  of  Whigs  and 
Democrats.  He  was  strictly  a  self-made  man  and  altogether  was  a  fine  tvpe 
of  the  men  who  made  Indiana.  He  was  a  believer  in  the  predestinarian  Bap- 
tist doctrine.  On  his  farm  in  Washington  township  was  held  the  first  court 
seen  in  Putnam  county.  The  death  of  this  highly  honored  and  public-spirited 
citizen,  successful  farmer,  kind  and  generous  neighbor  and  indulgent  father, 
occurred  on  September  7,  1900,  soon  followed  to  the  mystic  land  by  his  faith- 
ful life  companion,  ]Mrs.  Huffman  passing  away  on  December  14th  of  the 
same  year. 

Mr.  and  !\Irs.  Pluffman  were  the  parents  of  tweh'e  children,  eight  of 
whom  suiwive.  namely:  James  Roberts,  born  Jamiary  J5.  1850;  Maria  E., 
born  October  6,  1851;  Cephas,  born  January  28,  1853,  died  February  20, 
1853;  John  A.,  born  January  10.  1855;  Douglas,  of  this  review,  was  fifth  in 
order  of  birth;  Ivan,  born  July  31.  1S59;  Daniel  Vorhees.  born  March  22, 
1864:  Lucretia  A.,  Ixirn  IMay  13,  i8(')3:  General  Jackson,  born  September  6, 
18^18:  Margaret,  born  March  20.   1870;  Greeley  R..  born  June  2_-^.  1872. 

Douglas  Huft'man  was  born  May  10.  1857,  and  grew  up  to  be  a  worthy 
son  of  a  worthy  sire,  assisting  him  in  the  farm  work  during  his  boyhood 
and  youth,  meantime  obtaining  a  fair  education  in  the  local  schools.  He  was 
diligent  in  his  studies,  went  through  the  common  schools  to  graduation  and 
afterwards  was  engaged  in  teaching  for  two  years  in  Washington  township. 
After  his  experience  in  the  school  room  he  embarked  in  merchandising  at 
Reelsville.  and  for  a  perioil  of  twenty-two  years  conducted  a  general  store 
at  that  place.  He  built  up  an  extensive  trade  and  was  ven-  successful.  In 
1900  he  retired  to  lonk  after  his   farms,   being  the  owner  of  two  excellent 


WEIK  S    HISTORY  OF 


places,  one  of  two  hundred  and  seventy  acres  in  Washington  townsliip,  and 
one  of  two  hundred  and  ninety-three  acres  in  Owen  county.  He  utihzes 
these  tracts  to  carry  on  general  farming  and  stock  raising,  not  branching  out 
into  fancy  farming,  but  contenting  himself  with  raising  the  staple  cereal  crops 
and  feeding  all  the  livestock  the  land  will  fairly  support.  His  land  is  well 
tilled  and  under  modern  improvements.  ^Ir.  Huffman  makes  his  residence  in 
a  fine,  attractive  home  in  one  of  the  best  residence  sections  of  Greencastle. 
where  the  nianv  friends  of  the  family  are  delightfully  entertained.  The  pre- 
siding spirit  of  the  home  is  a  lady  of  refined  tastes  and  amiable  disposition, 
known  in  her  maidenhood  as  Mollie  Baumunk,  whom  he  married  on  April  20, 
18S4:  she  was  born  and  reared  in  Putnam  county,  where  her  people  were  al- 
ways well  respected.  This  union  has  resulted  in  the  birth  of  three  children. 
Of  these.  Murrav  and  Morris  E.  died  in  infancy;  Merle  C.  born  in  1896.  is 
attending  high  school. 

Mr.  Huffman's  fraternal  associations  are  with  the  Masons  and  he  is  a 
member  of  the  Greencastle  Lodge,  No.  473,  of  that  order.  He  is  also  a  mem- 
ber of  Lodo-e  Xo.  1077,  Benevolent  and  Protective  Order  of  Elks,  of  Green- 
castle. 

Mr.  Huffman  occupies  a  conspicuous  place  among  the  representative 
citizens  of  Putnam  county  and  enjoys  the  confidence  and  esteem  of  all  who 
know  him.  His  record  demonstrates  that  where  there  is  a  will  there  is  a  way 
and  that  obstacles  to  success  may  be  overcome  by  courage  and  self-reliance. 
His  career,  though  strenuous,  has  been  fraught  with  good  to  his  fellow  men 
and  his  example  is  cordiallv  commended  to  the  youth  of  the  land  wdiose  life 
work  is  vet  a  matter  of  the  future. 


JOSEPH  WILLARD  CRO-MWELL. 

Among  the  modern  agriculturists  of  Putnam  county  is  Joseph  Willard 
Cromwell,  who  is  the  owner  of  a  splendidly  improved  farm  in  Warren  town- 
ship. He  is  a  native  of  Clav  county,  Indiana,  where  his  birth  occurred  April  6, 
i860,  the  son  of  John  O.  and  Diana  E.  (Barnettj  Cromwell,  the  latter  the 
daughter  of  John  and  Rachael  (Ellis)  Barnett  and  was  born  April  2,  1832. 
Mr.  and  Mrs.  Barnett  were  pioneer  settlers,  coming  to  this  county  in  1827; 
the  father  died  in  .Vugust.  1875,  at  the  age  of  seventy-eight  years,  and  the 
mother  in  the  same  year,  being  seventy-five  years  old.  John  0.  Cromwell  was 
the  son  of  Nicholas  D.  and  Amelia  (Marshall)  Cromwell,  descendants  of  the 


PUTNAM    COUXTY.    INDIANA.  3O3 

noteil  Cromwell  of  England.  They  first  settled  in  Maryland,  thence  going  to 
Kentucky  and  then  to  Indiana.  Nicholas  was  the  first  sheriff,  also  the  first 
treasurer  of  Clay  county  and  was  jndge  of  the  circuit  court  for  a  period  of  se\-- 
enteen  years.  He  was  born  in  1771.  and  died  in  1848.  at  Bowling  Green,  Clay 
county.  Indiana.  John  O.  Cromwell  was  reared  on  a  farm  and  followed  this 
line  of  work  all  his  life,  dealing  extensively  in  livestock;  for  two  years  he 
engaged  in  the  retail  merchandise  business.  Politically  he  was  a  Democrat 
and  held  the  office  of  justice  of  the  peace  twelve  years  and  was  trastee  of  his 
township  for  four  years,  and  he  was  a  notary  public — in  short,  a  very  useful 
man  in  his  cummunity.  where  he  was  honored  by  all  who  knew  him.  During 
the  Civil  war  he  sent  a  substitute,  for  which  he  paid  eight  hundred  and  fift}- 
dollars.  At  the  time  of  his  death  he  was  a  resident  of  Pleasant  Garden, 
^\'ashingto^  township,  dying  April  7,  1902,  His  wife  died  October  16,  190^. 
They  were  the  parents  of  the  following  children :  Charles  X.  married  Allie 
Browning,  now  deceased:  two  children  were  born  to  them,  Tunis  and  Claude; 
his  second  wife  was  Minnie  Anderson,  also  deceased;  he  married  a  third  time, 
]Mrs.  Maud  Pounds,  John  E.  Cromwell  married  Kate  Brock  and  they  are 
the  parents  of  three  children.  ]\Iable.  Pearl  and  Grace.  Grandal  T.  married 
Laura  .\kers  and  resides  in  Terre  Haute;  Curtis  Clay  is  deceased;  Rella.  who 
remained  single,  is  an  evangelist;  Josephine  married  George  McKinlev  and 
they  have  three  children.  Helen  (deceased).  Jesse  and  Margaret;  DeW'itt  P. 
married  Lillie  Shadwick.  reside  in  Indianapolis  and  are  the  parents  of  two 
children.  DeW'itt,  Jr.,  and  Helen;  Florence,  who  married  Charles  Lee.  is  a 
widow ;  Rella  and  Josie  were  teachers  for  some  time  in  the  public  schools  of 
Putnam  county  and  Clay  counties.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Cromwell  have  fifteen 
grandchildren  living  and  two  dead. 

Joseph  W.  Cromwell,  of  this  review,  remained  at  home  with  his  parents 
until  sixteen  years  of  age,  when  he  accepted  a  position  with  the  V'andalia  Rail- 
road Company,  in  the  employ  of  which  he  has  remained  continuouslv  for  a 
period  of  thirty-four  years,  being  employed  as  steam  shovel  engineer  most 
of  the  time  and  he  has  always  been  regarded  as  one  of  the  most  trusted  of  the 
company's  employes.  February  i.  1885,  he  was  married  to  Laura  B.  Hepler. 
born  August  16.  1864,  the  daughter  of  John  D.  and  Elettita  (Leonard) 
Hepler.  her  parents  having  been  among  the  old  settlers  of  Putnam  countv, 
spending  their  lives  on  a  farm  here.  y[r.  Hepler  was  a  native  of  Putnam 
county  and  he  became  the  owner  of  a  large  tract  of  land  near  Putnamville, 
where  he  still  lives,  having  sold  much  of  the  land  he  formerly  owned.  He  has 
reached  an  advanced  age.    Daniel  Hepler.  grandfather  of  Mrs.  Cromwell,  was 


304 


WEIK  S   HISTORY  OF 


a  native  of  Xorth  Carolina,  and  was  an  early  settler  in  Putnam  county.     He 
married  Gadsy  Heath. 

A  few  years  after  their  marriage,  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Joseph  W.  Cromwell 
purchased  a  tract  of  land  adjoining  that  of  Mrs.  Cromwell's  father  and  here 
they  have  continued  to  make  their  home.  In  the  spring  of  1910  they  moved 
into  a  new,  modern  and  beautiful  home  which  they  erected  beside  their  old 
home.  They  are  the  parents  of  seven  children,  five  of  whom  are  living;  they 
are.  Vita  B.,  born  October  20,  1885;  John  W.,  born  January  21,  1890;  Eulah 
D.,  born  No\ember  25,  1S94;  Oliver,  born  October  30,  1900;  Mary  E.,  born 
October  i,  1902;  Fred  B.,  born  ^larch  23,  1887,  died  April  2d  following; 
Isabella,  born  December  22,  1895,  died  young.  The  oldest  child,  Vita  B.,  was 
married  August  12,  1908,  to  Charles  Klotz,  and  they  reside  in  Indianapolis. 


JASPER  N.   MILLER. 

Amono-  the  well  known  and  popular  citizens  of  Putnam  county  is  he 
whose  name  forms  the  caption  of  this  sketch  and  who  is  very  satisfactorily 
fiUino-  the  office  of  county  treasurer,  his  labors  among  his  fellowmen  in  Put- 
nam countv  having  made  him  a  much  liked  public  character,  being  known 
as  a  man  of  keen  perceptive  faculties,  unusual  soundness  of  judginent  and 
upright  in  all  his  dealings  with  his  fellow  countrymen,  until  today  his  name 
stands  high  on  the  scroll  of  honored  residents  of  this  locality.  Being  descend- 
ants of  worthy  ancestors  who  figured  conspicuously  in  the  early  development 
of  this  countv,  hence  being  history  makers,  the  Miller  family  is  gladly  ac- 
corded proper  recognition  in  this  work. 

Jasper  X.  JMiller  was  bom  in  Franklin  township.  Putnam  county,  Decem- 
ber iS,  1S53,  the  son  of  James  T.  and  Mary  (Brown)  Miller.  The  former 
was  born  October  28.  1S30,  in  this  county,  the  son  of  one  of  the  early  pioneers 
here,  havino-  entered  three  hundred  and  eighty  acres  of  land  in  Franklin 
township,  the  faniilv  having  come  here  from  'Sit.  Sterling.  Kentucky,  in  1829, 
and  amid  the  wilderness  began  developing  a  new  home,  and  in  due  course  of 
time  became  well  established. 

The  parents  of  Jasper  X.  ^Tiller  were  married  on  X'ovember  30.  1850. 
'SltiTY  Brown,  who  was  born  February  16,  1831,  was  the  daughter  of  Jonathan 
and  Eliza  (Camp)  Brown,  both  of  whom  came  from  Tennessee  at  an  early 
date.  ha\ing  been  prominent  pioneer  citizens.  This  couple  grew  up  to  honest 
toil  in  a  new  countrv.  where  they  received  only  a  meager  schooling  in  the 


JASPER   N.   MILLER 


PUTNAM    COUNTY,    INDIANA.  3O5 

old-time  schools  of  the  early  days.  Five  children  were  born  to  them,  named 
as  follows:  Jason  Riley,  bom  September  2,  1859;  Jasper  Newton,  of  this  re- 
view; Eliza  Vorhees,  born  September  10,  i860;  Sylvia  Alice,  born  September 
10,  i860,  and  died  February  9,  1888;  Serilda  Jane,  born  December  20.  1856, 
and  died  January  i,  1874. 

James  F.  Miller,  father  of  these  children,  devoted  his  life  exclusively  to 
farming,  at  which  he  was  very  successful,  being  a  man  who  was  never  afraid 
of  hard  work,  owing  to  the  fact  that  it  fell  to  his  lot  to  assist  in  clearing  and 
cultivating  the  old  homestead  in  F'ranklin  township  when  he  was  but  a  mere 
boy.  He  is  a  man  of  the  very  highest  integrity  and  honor,  a  Democrat  but 
not  a  public  man.  He  still  li\'es  in  Monroe  township  with  his  wife  where  he 
is  highly  esteemed  by  all  his  neighbors  and  friends.  He  removed  from  Frank- 
lin township  to  Monroe  township  in  1872. 

Jasper  X.  Miller,  the  immediate  subject  of  this  review,  received  his  early 
schooling  in  the  common  schools  of  his  native  township,  and  later  in  life  he 
greatly  augmented  his  early  training  by  close  application  to  the  study  of 
general  topics  at  home  and  by  contact  with  the  world  in  general.  He  early 
began  farming  and  has  followed  that  vocation  practically  all  his  life,  in  con- 
nection with  which  he  has  sold  wind-mills  and  pumps,  being  considered  an 
authority  on  wind-mills,  representing  the  Zimmerman  Manufacturing  Com- 
pany of  Auburn.  Indiana,  in  a  very  satisfactory  manner.  He  also  followed 
the  well-drilling  business  for  some  time,  but  up  to  1S72  his  attention  was  given 
exclusively  to  assisting  his  father  on  the  home  farm.  For  a  number  of  years 
he  rented  land,  buying  sixty  acres  in  1876.  He  has  prospered  by  reason  of 
his  close  application  to  his  business  affairs  and  the  exercise  of  splendid  judg- 
ment and  principles  that  cannot  help  but  lead  to  gratifying  results  when  they 
are  rightlv  applied  as  they  have  evidently  been  done  in  his  case,  for  he  is  now 
the  owner  of  one  of  the  choice  farms  of  Putnam  county,  consisting  of  two 
hundred  and  thirteen  acres,  on  which  he  carries  on  general  farming  and  stock 
raising,  always  handling  some  very  fine  specimens  of  livestock,  for  which  he 
finds  a  readv  market.  He  has  a  very  comfortable  and  well  located  dwelling 
and  such  outbuildings  and  modern  farming  machineiy  as  his  needs  require. 

Mr.  Miller  was  married  on  April  29,  1872,  to  Sophia  A.  James,  born 
August  I.  1853,  daughter  of  David  and  Mary  Ann  (Howard)  James,  an  old 
and  highly  honored  pioneer  family  of  Putnam  county.  David  James  was 
born  near  Natural  Bridge.  Kentucky,  and  came  to  Putnam  county  when  six 
years  old.  ]\rar>-  Ann  James  came  from  Tennessee.  This  union  has  resulted 
in  the  birth  of  three  children,  named  as  follows:  Viola  Mae.  who  was  born 
on  September  9.  1S75.  married  E.  R.  Denny,  a  farmer  of  Monroe  township. 
(20) 


3o6  weik's  history  of 

this  countv;  Rav  K..  bom  February  6,  1885,  married  Anna  McFadden,  living 
on  the  parental  farm ;  Mary  C,  born  November  3,  1889,  is  assisting  her  father 
in  the  county  treasurer's  office. 

Mr.  Miller  has  always  been  deeply  interested  in  the  affairs  of  Putnam 
countv  and  has  stood  ready  at  all  times  to  forward  any  worthy  movement 
looking  to  the  betterment  of  the  same,  ever  loyal  to  the  principles  of  the 
Democratic  party,  and  as  a  reward  for  his  interest  in  public  affairs,  his  sterl- 
ing honesty  and  his  genuine  worth  he  was  selected  by  his  party  for  the  office 
of  county  treasurer,  being  nominated  at  his  first  effort  for  the  office.  During 
his  campaign  he  never  went  into  a  saloon,  and  his  total  expense  was  not  over 
one  hundred  dollars.  He  was  elected  on  November  3,  1909,  taking  office  in 
January,  1910,  and  he  is  very  satisfactorily  discharging  the  duties  of  the  same, 
his  election  being  a  criterion  of  his  popularity  in  the  county,  his  majority 
being  four  hundred  forty-five.  On  January  7,  1910,  he  was  honored  by 
being  renominated  for  the  office. 

Fraternallv  ]Mr.  Miller  is  a  member  of  the  Free  and  Accepted  Masons, 
Lodge  No.  75,  at  Bainbridge,  Indiana.  He  also  belongs  to  the  Supreme 
Court  of  Honor.  The  Miller  family  holds  membership  in  the  Christian 
church. 

Personallv  Mr.  Miller  is  a  man  whom  ever\-body  likes,  being  courteous, 
a  o-ood  mixer,  honest  and  conscientious  in  his  service  to  his  fellow  men  in 
every  capacity. 


WILLIAM  WOODSON  HODGE. 

One  of  Putnam  county's  substantial  farmers  and  gallant  veterans  is 
William  Woodson  Hodge,  who  was  born  within  her  borders,  February  10, 
1845,  and  whose  life  has  been  spent  principally  in  Warren  township,  where 
his  well-kept  farm  is  to  be  found.  He  is  the  son  of  George  W.  and  Gabrella 
Courtnev  (Williamson)  Hodge,  natives  of  Kentucky,  the  former  born  Octo- 
ber 16,  1 819,  and  the  latter  January  29,  1826.  The  father  was  six  years 
old  when  his  parents.  Drew  and  Sarah  Hodge,  came  to  Putnam  county  in 
1826  and  built  a  log  cabin  on  an  eighty-acre  tract  which  they  entered  from 
the  government,  on  which  Mr.  Hodge  lived  until  his  death  in  1S40,  his  widow 
surviving  until  1868.  They  were  members  of  the  Methodist  Episcopal  church, 
and  they  are  buried  at  the  Walnut  church  grave-yard.  To  them  eight  children 
were  born :  Russell,  Alexander,  ]\Ieshak,  Shelton,  George  W.,  Laura,  Sina 
and  Margaret.     Thev  are  all  deceased.     George  W.  Hodge,  father  of  William 


PUTXAM    COUNTY,    INDIANA.  3O7 

\\'..  of  this  review,  spent  his  boyhood  assisting  with  the  work  on  the  home 
farm  and  recei\-ed  the  advantages  of  such  scliools  of  his  day  as  were  afforded 
by  the  log  school  house,  with  its  open  fire-place  and  with  slabs  for  seats. 

In  1842  George  W.  Hodge  married  Gabrella  Courtney  Williamson  and 
began  his  married  life  on  his  parents'  farm,  which  he  heired.  He  sold  this 
place  and  for  several  years  lived  on  several  different  tracts,  which  he  bought 
and  sold  in  turn,  finally  purchasing  seventy  acres  in  section  i,  Washington 
township,  and  spent  the  remainder  of  his  life  there,  dying  March  21,  1865, 
his  widow  surviving  until  1898.  He  devoted  his  life  to  farming,  and  he  was 
assessor  of  his  township  for  one  term.  He  was  a  member  of  the  Methodist 
Episcopal  church  and  a  Greeley  Abolitionist  in  politics.  He  and  his  wife  were 
the  parents  of  nine  children,  seven  of  whom  are  now  living,  namely:  Mrs. 
Matilda  Bryant,  of  Lawrence  county.  Indiana;  Mrs.  Laura  Corwin  is  living 
in  the  state  of  Idaho;  Mrs.  Susan  Jackson,  of  Missouri;  Mrs.  Julia  Ford,  of 
Kansas;  Charles  W.,  of  Idaho;  Mrs.  Mary  Taylor,  of  Idaho;  Ellen  and  Mar- 
garet Frances  are  deceased;  William  W.,  of  this  review. 

\\'iniam  W.  Hodge  remained  with  his  parents  on  the  home  farm,  receiv- 
ing a  common  school  education,  gained  mostly  in  subscription  schools.  In 
1863,  when  only  seventeen  years  of  age,  he  enlisted  in  Company  F,  One  Hun- 
dred and  Twenty-third  Regiment  Indiana  Volunteer  Infantry,  and  served 
through  many  trying  campaigns  and  hard-fought  battles  until  the  close  of  the 
war,  among  which  was  the  siege  of  Atlanta,  battle  of  Nashville,  battle  of 
Franklin,  battle  of  Wise  Forks,  North  Carolina,  and  he  was  present  at  the 
surrender  of  Johnston.  He  was  honorably  discharged  August  25,  1865. 
returning  to  his  home  and  managing  the  parental  acres  for  two  years  there- 
after, his  father  having  died  while  he  was  in  the  service. 

On  March  26,  1868,  Mr.  Hodge  was  married  to  Lucy  A.  Sellers,  daugh- 
ter of  James  and  Nancy  Sellers,  of  Warren  township,  where  Mr.  Sellers  car- 
ried on  farming,  ;\Ir.  and  Mrs.  Hodge  went  to  live  with  the  former's  mother 
on  the  home  farm.  Later  he  purchased  one  hundred  and  fifty  acres  in  section 
17,  Warren  township,  paying  one  thousand  dollars  in  cash  and  going  in  debt 
for  the  balance.  His  mother  moved  onto  this  farm  and  he  remained  on  the 
home  place,  though  for  several  years  they  farmed  the  two  places  in  partner- 
ship. When,  in  1880,  his  mother  moved  back  to  her  old  home,  he  moved  to 
his  own  farm  and  has  made  it  his  home  ever  since,  having  fully  paid  the  debt 
long  ago.  He  has  been  very  successful  as  a  general  farmer  and  especially  as 
an  horticulturist,  having  a  fine  orchard  of  forty  acres,  planted  in  an  excellent 
variety  of  choice  trees.  He  is  an  authority  on  peach  growing  and  no  small 
part    of    his    income    is    derived    from    his    orchard.      He    also    finds    time 


3o8  weik's  history  of 

to  raise  stock  of  a  very-  good  quality  which  always  finds  a  ready  mar- 
ket.— in  fact  he  usually  commands  fancy  prices  owing  to  the  high  grade  of  his 
stock.  But  it  is  principally  as  a  fruit  grower  that  he  is  widely  known,  not 
only  throughout  Putnam  county,  but  also  over  the  state,  being  considered  an 
authority  in  horticulture.  He  has  taken  an  interest  in  political  affairs  and  for 
two  years  was  trustee  of  his  township. 

Mrs.  Hodge  died  January  i,  1879,  and  Mr.  Hodge  then  married  Emran 
Mercer,  daughter  of  Eli  and  Lucy  Mercer,  of  Washington  township,  her 
father  having  been  one  of  the  old  farmers  of  Putnam  county  and  a  highly 
respected  citizen.  Mr.  Hodge's  first  marriage  resulted  in  the  birth  of  six 
children,  namely :  Carrie,  James.  Dora,  Frankie,  Lucy  and  William ;  the  last 
two  named  being  twins.  Two  children  were  born  of  the  second  union,  Minnie 
and  Mont  ray. 

Carrie  B.  Hodge  was  born  August  i,  1869,  married  Frank  A.  Pearcy, 
a  carpenter,  and  they  are  the  parents  of  one  child,  Harold,  now  five  years  of 
age.  James  W.  Hodge  was  born  September  10,  1871,  has  remained  single,  and 
he  is  a  graduate  of  the  State  Normal,  also  of  DePauw  University,  and  he  is 
now  superintendent  of  the  schools  at  Aberdeen,  Washington,  having  followed 
teaching.  Dora  B.  Hodge,  who  was  born  September  5,  1873,  married  George 
Pearcv,  and  they  are  the  parents  of  one  child,  George  E.,  now  four  years  old. 
Charles  F.  Hodge,  who  was  born  April  13,  1876,  died  September  21,  1877; 
William  W.  Hodge,  Jr.,  born  January  i,  1879,  died  July  6th  following. 
Lucy  A.,  born  January  i,  1879,  died  February  18,  1880;  Minnie  was  born 
August  10,  1881,  married  W.  O.  Lewis,  of  Warren  township,  and  they  have 
two  children.  Aubrey  and  Bernice;  Alontray  was  born  February  24,  1885, 
died  August  6,  1887. 


WILLL\M  YATES  LEWIS. 

To  spend  a  few  hours  with  William  Yates  Lewis,  a  venerable  and  highly 
honored  citizen  of  Warren  township,  listening  to  his  interesting  reminiscences 
of  the  olden  times  in  Putnam  county,  one  could  not  well  be  better  entertained, 
for  his  long,  useful  and,  in  some  respects,  eventful  career  has  been  spent  in 
his  native  locality,  which  he  has  seen  advance  from  the  wild  woods  to  the 
modern  twentieth-centur}-  civilization,  and  he  has  taken  no  small  part  in  this 
work  of  transformation,  having  been  a  hard  worker  all  his  life  and  deeply 
interested  in  the  growth  of  his  community  in  all  lines,  being  ready  whenever 
occasion  presented  itself  to  do  his  full  share  of  the  work  to  be  done  here. 


PCTXAM    COUNTY,    INDIANA.  3O9 

Mr.  Lewis  is  a  nati\"e  of  Monroe  township,  born  Febrnarv'  19,  1S32,  the 
son  of  Israel  Gregg  and  Xancy  Susan  Jane  Lewis,  the  father  a  native  of  Ken- 
tucky and  the  mother  of  Virginia.  They  came  to  Putnam  county,  Indiana, 
as  early  as  1826.  locating  one-half  mile  east  of  Brick  Chapel,  Monroe  town- 
ship, buying  there  one  hundred  and  sixty  acres  of  land  at  five  dollars  per 
acre,  which,  in  those  days,  was  a  high  price ;  however,  the  place  had  some  im- 
provements, including  a  log  house,  which  Mr.  Lewis  continued  to  occupy 
for  a  period  of  twenty-five  years,  making  various  additions  to  the  same. 
He  finally  sold  this  place  and  purchased  two  hundred  and  sixty  acres  in  sec- 
tion 15,  Warren  township,  upon  which  stood  a  hewn-log  house.  He  was  a 
successful  farmer  for  those  days  and  he  lived  here  until  his  death  in  1855, 
his  widow  surviving  to  a  ripe  old  age,  dying  on  February  25,  1890.  Israel  G. 
Lewis  found  time  from  his  farming  to  do  a  great  deal  of  church  work,  having 
been  a  minister  in  the  Methodist  Episcopal  church,  having  charge  of  a  circuit; 
he  also  studied  medicine  and  was  successful  as  a  practitioner  as  well  as  a 
minister,  and  in  these  ways  he  accomplished  a  great  amount  of  good  and 
became  widely  known.  In  his  day  log-rollings  were  frequent  and  it  had  long 
been  the  custom  to  have  plenty  of  whisky  at  such  events,  but  Mr.  Lewis  dis- 
carded the  jug  and  gave  his  neighbors  coffee  on  such  occasions,  which  seemed 
to  be  appreciated  and  had  a  good  effect  upon  the  morals  of  the  community. 
He  was  known  for  his  generosity  and  hospitality  in  entertainment  of  both 
friend  and  stranger.  Politically  he  was  a  Whig.  He  was  patriotic  and  vol- 
unteered during  the  war  of  181 2  and  he  was  in  the  famous  charge  at  the 
battle  of  the  Thames,  when  the  great  war  chief  and  British  general  Tecumseh 
was  killed.  He  and  his  wife  were  the  parents  of  the  following  children : 
Rhoda  A.,  now  ^Irs.  Cowgill ;  James  Nathaniel,  Oscar  Thomas  Lewis,  Solo- 
mon Colmbs.  Lucy  Emarin,  now  Mrs.  Bridges;  William  Yates,  of  this  review; 
George  Ewing.  Charles  Henry,  Gabriel  Clay,  Susan  Jane,  Louisa  Elizabeth, 
now  Mrs.  Evans;  Gabriel  died  in  infancy;  Israel  died  when  five  years  of  age; 
Nancy  died  in  infancy.  Only  three  of  these  children  are  now  living,  two  sis- 
ters beside  the  subject  of  this  review.  Susan  Jane,  who  has  remained  single 
and  makes  her  home  with  A.  L.  Evans  on  the  old  homestead,  and  Louisa  E., 
the  wife  of  Arthur  E.  Evans,  of  Warren  township. 

William  Yates  Lewis  spent  his  early  life  on  the  home  farm,  attending 
school  in  the  log  houses  of  his  day,  with  their  rude  furnishings.  Such  schools 
were  conducted  on  the  subscription  plan,  and  only  the  rudiments  of  an  edu- 
cation could  be  gained  unless  the  pupil  took  the  pains  to  further  his  own  re- 
searches. 

Mr.  Lewis  was  married  on  December  30,  1865,  to  Man.-  Emily  Clear- 
water, the  daughter  of  John  and  Matilda  Clearwater,  of  Warren  township, 


3IO  WEIK  S   HISTORY  OF 

Mr.  Cleanvater  being  one  of  the  early  settlers  of  this  county  and  one  of  the 
builders  of  the  National  road.  His  parents  were  natives  of  Virginia. 

'Sir.  Lewis  and  his  bride  went  to  housekeeping  on  one  hundred  and  fifteen 
acres  in  section  22,  Warren  township,  and  he  has  continued  to  make  his  home 
here  to  the  present  time,  having  made  a  very  comfortable  living,  improved  a 
fine  farm  and  laid  by  an  ample  competency  for  his  old  age.  He  first  lived  in  a 
double  log  house,  and  in  1888  built  a  more  pretentious  dwelling  just  in  front 
of  the  old  house  which  he  tore  down,  leaving  the  old  rock  chimney,  twelve 
feet  in  height,  built  of  dressed  Putnam  county  stone,  and  which  is  still  in 
excellent  condition,  and  is  now  covered  with  vines.  It  is  prized  by  all  the 
family  as  a  relic  of  the  old  home.  General  farming  and  stock  raising  has 
occupied  Mr.  Lewis'  attention.  He  is  a  Republican  in  politics  and  for  two 
years  was  trustee  of  his  township;  formerly  he  was  a  Whig.  He  is  a  member 
of  the  ^lethodist  church  at  Bethel. 

Six  children  constitute  Mr.  Lewis'  family;  they  are:  Ida  Belle,  born 
November  12,  1866,  married  George  H.  Hurin,  of  Crown  Point,  Indiana, 
and  four  children  have  been  born  to  them,  ;May,  Joyce  Lewis,  Mary  Jean, 
Nellie  Rose,  Ezra  Clay  Lewis,  born  December  3.  1867,  married  Love  D. 
Wills,  and  he  has  followed  the  painter's  trade  in  this  county ;  they  are  the  par- 
ents of  six  children.  Vernie  Clare,  Bertha  Gladys,  Forest  Wills,  Ernest  Paul, 
Gertrude  M.  and  Leslie  L.  Lou  Nellie  Lewis,  born  September  6,  1870,  mar- 
ried ;M.  E.  Cooper  and  they  are  the  parents  of  four  children.  Alarion  L..  Mary 
F.,  Ruth  and  Catherine.  Charles  Ernest  Lewis,  born  ]\Iay  2.  1873,  married 
Lottie  Roberts  and  they  are  the  parents  of  four  children,  Dorothy,  Helen  L., 
John  W.  and  Edward  C. :  they  live  on  a  farm  in  this  county.  Catherine  Ger- 
trude Lewis,  born  August  14,  1875,  married  first,  Owen  T,  Wright,  then 
George  O.  Whittaker :  she  lives  on  a  farm  in  Putnam  county  and  is  the  mother 
of  two  children,  Wayne  Lewis  and  Esther  Catherine,  ^^■illiam  Otis  Lewis, 
born  November  11,  1881.  married  Minnie  Hodge:  they  live  on  a  farm  in 
this  countv,  and  are  the  parents  of  two  children,  Aubrey  G.  and  Vernice  L, 


EBENEZER  WATSON  S^IYTHE. 

Among  the  enterprising  citizens  and  prominent  and  successful  business 
men  of  Fillmore,  Putnam  county,  Indiana,  is  the  gentleman  whose  name  ap- 
pears at  the  head  of  this  sketch.  A  lifelong  resident  of  this  county,  he  has 
so  lived  as  to  merit  the  unbounded  respect  and  confidence  of  his  neighbors 


PUTXAM    COrXTV.    IXDIAXA.  3II 

and  now.  as  tlie  golden  sunset  of  Iiis  lite  draws  near,  he  is  enjoyinj;  that  rest 
which  he  has  so  richly  earned. 

Ebenezer  \V.  Smythe  was  born  February  4.  183J,  in  this  county,  and  is 
a  son  of  Ebenezer  and  Elizabeth  (Sill)  Smythe.  both  of  whom  were  natives 
of  Shelby  county,  Kentucky,  the  father  having  descended  from  sturdy  Scotch- 
Irish  ancestrv.  He  came  to  Putnam  countv  in  1824  and  located  on  eightv  acres 
of  land  which  he  had  purchaseil  near  Greencastle.  He  lived  on  this  land  until 
his  death,  which  occurred  in  1861,  when  he  was  sixty-three  years  old.  His 
wife  had  preceded  him  to  the  unseen  land,  dying  in  1S56,  at  the  age  of  fifty- 
two  years.  Their  remains  were  interred  in  the  family  burying  ground  on  their 
homestead  farm.  Ebenezer  Smythe  followed  the  occupation  of  farming  dur- 
ing his  active  years  and  was  numbered  among  the  active  and  influential  men 
of  his  community.  In  religious  belief  he  was  a  Presbyterian,  while  his  wife 
was  a  member  of  the  Baptist  church.  They  became  the  parents  of  nine  chil- 
dren, of  whom  four  are  now  living,  namely:  George  V.,  a  farmer  in  Green- 
castle township,  this  county;  Hannah  R.,  the  widow  of  John  Clark  Ridpath. 
the  eminent  historian,  who  for  many  years  was  one  of  the  best  known  citizens 
of  Greencastle ;  Harriet,  of  Illinois,  the  widow  of  the  late  Benjamin  Cof^een : 
Ebenezer  W..  the  subject  of  this  sketch. 

Ebenezer  ^^'.  Smythe  spent  his  boyhood  tlays  on  the  paternal  homestead 
and  received  his  education  in  the  common  schools.  He  was  reared  to  the  life 
of  a  farmer  and  remained  as  his  father's  assistant  until  his  marriage,  in  185S. 
at  which  time  he  located  at  Fillmore  and  engaged  in  the  contracting  business. 
Fie  was  a  careful  and  expert  workman  and  a  good  business  man  and  many 
of  the  best  buildings,  public  and  private,  in  and  about  Greencastle  were  erected 
by  him.  In  1865  ]Mr.  Smythe  removed  to  Greencastle,  continuing  his  former 
line  of  work  and  at  the  same  time  engaging  in  the  undertaking  business,  which 
line  he  followed  for  twelve  years.  He  then  moved  to  Chicago  and  engaged 
in  the  manufacture  of  cotton  presses,  in  which  he  met  with  gratifying  success. 
so  that  f(5ur  }-ears  later  he  retired  from  that  business  and  returned  to  his 
former  location  at  Fillmore,  where  he  erected  a  neat  and  attractive  residence, 
moflern  in  every  respect.  an<I  in  this  comfortable  home  he  is  now  living  and 
enjoying  life.  He  is  not  passing  the  time  idly,  however,  but  has  recently  super- 
intended the  erection  of  the  new  school  house  just  completed  at  Fillmore,  his 
sound  judgment  and  integrity  being  generally  recognized.  He  has  at  all  times 
taken  a  keen  and  intelligent  interest  in  current  events  and  gives  an  earnest 
support  to  all  movements  tending  to  the  advancement  of  the  best  interests  of 
the  community. 


31^ 


WEIK  S    HISTORY  OF 


On  October  31,  1858,  Mr.  Smythe  was  united  in  marriage  to  Sarah  Oliver, 
a  daughter  of  Morris  and  Martha  OHver,  of  Marion  township,  this  county. 
Mrs.  Smythe  died  on  February  14,  1885,  and  on  October  31,  1888,  Mr.  Smythe 
married  Louisa  C.  Knight,  the  daughter  of  Lloyd  and  Katherine  Knight,  of 
Marion  township,  the  former  having  served  as  coroner  of  Putnam  county  for 
four  years. 

Mr.  Smvthe  is  the  father  of  seven  children,  all  by  his  first  marriage, 
namelv :  Clara  Belle,  who  is  unmarried  and  is  employed  as  a  saleslady  in  Allen 
Brothers  drv  goods  store  in  Greencastle ;  Jennie,  the  wife  of  Henry  Pentenoy, 
of  Chicago:  Arthur  L.,  who  married  Lola  Snyder;  Oliver  H.,  of  Chicago, 
marrierl  Kate  Callahan,  and  they  have  one  child.  Clara :  Wesley  W.  married 
Mabel  Kissinger  and  they  have  three  children.  Eban,  Grace  and  Arthur; 
Frank  R.  married  Bertha  McFrase  and  they  have  four  children,  Jean  Marie. 
Bertha.  Frank  R.  J.  and  Freda  E. ;  Harry  B.  married  Susie  B.  Kissinger  and 
they  ha\-e  three  children.  Royal,  Allen  and  Sarah  C. 

Fraternally  ^Vfr.  Smytlie  is  a  member  of  the  Free  and  Accepted  Masons, 
the  Knights  of  Pythias,  and  the  Foresters,  as  well  as  the  Carpenters'  Union. 
Religiously  he  is  a  member  of  the  Christian  church  and  his  wife  of  the  Meth- 
odist Episcopal  church.  . 


AMOS  EVAXS  AYLER.  :\L  D.    ^         ,'■■• 

The  family  of  this  name  is  of  English  stock  on  the  paternal  side  and 
German  on.  the  maternal.  It  is  of  ancient  origin  and  has  been  identified  with 
the  eastern  part  of  the  country  from  early  colonial  days.  The  emigrating 
ancestors  settled  on  Kent  Island.  Marydand.  on  land  granted  to  them  by  the 
King,  and  they  lived  in  that  locality  for  generations,  meantime  sending  out 
offshoots  to  various  parts  of  the  countr}-.  Among  the  descendants  of  this 
emigrant  ancestor  is  William  H.  Ayler.  a  native  of  the  eastern  shore  of  Mary- 
land and  a  master  mechanic  by  prefession.  being  now  in  the  employ  of  the 
L'nited  States  government  at  the  national  capital.  He  married  Jane  Re- 
becca Gladfelter,  whose  family  also  was  one  of  old  and  well-established  con- 
nections, dating  their  origin  in  Switzerland.  That  they  were  notable  people 
in  their  native  county  is  attested  by  the  fact  that  a  canton  there  now  bears 
their  name.  Casper  Gladfelter  was  the  first  of  the  name  to  come  to  America 
and  he  settled  on  a  farm  near  York.  Pennsylvania.  In  1907  a  family  reunion 
was  held  on  the  old  farm  that  had  been  cleared  by  this  first  emigrant  and  there 
were  oxer  two  thousand  descendants  present,  representing  forty-two  states. 


PUTNAM    COL'NTY.    INDIANA.  3I3 

Mrs.  Jane  Rebecca  Ayler.  who  was  a  granddaughter  of  Casper  Gladfelter. 
died  in  1905,  at  Baltimore,  Maryland,  at  the  age  of  sixty-four  years.  She  was 
one  of  eleven  children  and  the  first  of  the  family  to  die.  By  her  union  with 
William  H.  Avler  she  became  the  mother  of  nine  children,  of  whom  eight  are 
living,  namelv:  John  S..  of  Baltimore;  Henry  E.,  an  employee  of  the  post- 
otifice  department  at  Washington;  Ella  R.,  wife  of  Jacob  Hunt,  of  Baltimore: 
Thomas  T..  in  the  postal  department  at  Baltimore.  Maryland;  Reuben  A.,  a 
twin  brother  of  Ella  R..  died  in  infancy;  Amos  Evans,  of  Greencastle;  Lila 
V.  and  Rosa  E.,  residents  of  Washington  ;  William  L.,  who  is  a  manufacturing 
chemist  at  Dallas,  Texas.  All  these  children  were  bom  at  Baltimore,  except 
the  youngest,  who  is  a  native  of  Wilmington.  Delaware.  A  notable  char- 
acteristic of  the  Ayler  family  is  the  unusual  number  of  twins.  William  H. 
was  a  twin,  and  the  father  of  twins,  and  one  of  his  sons  met  with  the  same 
double  blessing. 

Amos  Evans  Ayler,  the  sixth  in  order  of  birth  of  this  interesting  family, 
was  born  at  Baltimore,  Mar>land,  December  5.  1870.  He  remained  in  the 
city  of  his  nativity  until  the  completion  of  his  twenty-seventh  year,  mean- 
while attending  the  public  schools  and  being  graduated  from  the  high  school. 
In  1S90  he  entered  the  Cleveland  Medical  College  and  after  spending  one 
year  in  that  institution  he  became  a  student  in  the  Southern  Homeopathic 
College  at  Baltimore  and  after  three  years  of  diligent  application  was  grad- 
uated with  the  class  of  1897.  He  served  for  awhile  as  senior  interne  in  the 
Baltimore  Homeopathic  Hospital,  after  which  he  became  physician  in  charge 
of  the  National  Homeopathic  Hospital  at  Washington.  D.  C.  He  retained 
this  responsible  position  for  twenty-six  months  and  then  decided  to  find  an- 
other field  for  his  energies  in  the  central  West.  August  8.  1899,  he  located 
at  Greencastle,  Indirna.  and  ever  since  has  been  closely  identified  with 
the  business,  social  and  professional  life  of  that  city.  He  has  practiced  his 
profession  continuously  and  assiduously,  meeting  with  the  success  that  is 
sure  to  follow  talent  well  applied  and  industry  of  the  unwearying  kind. 
Indeed,  his  success  has  been  unusual,  with  the  result  that  he  is  recognized 
as  one  of  the  most  progressive  physicians  in  Indiana,  with  advanced  and 
definite  ideas  regarding  the  treatment  of  diseases  by  the  most  modern 
methods.  His  ability  is  recognized  beyond  the  confines  of  his  adopted  county 
and  he  is  frecjuently  called  in  obstinate  cases  where  the  best  talent  is  desired. 
Doctor  Avler  is  the  owner  of  a  splendid  property,  extending  one  hundred 
and  four  feet  on  Washington  street  and  two  hundred  and  twenty  feet 
on  College  avenue,  comprising  a  half  square,  and  on  this  property  he  has 


314  WEIK  S    HISTORY  OF 

erected  a  modern  and  conveniently-arranged  office  building  and  a  comfortable 
and  attractive  residence. 

Fraternally  Doctor  Ayler  is  especially  conspicuous  as  a  Freemason, 
having  passed  through  the  various  degrees  including  those  of  Knight  Templar 
in  the  York  rite  and  the  thirty-second  of  the  Scottish  rite.  He  has  been 
honored  by  official  distinction  in  several  of  the  bodies,  being  a  past  high 
priest  in  the  chapter  of  Royal  Arch  Masons  at  Greencastle  and  the  present 
eminent  commander  of  the  conimandery  of  Knights  Templar.  He  is  also 
a  member  of  the  Ancient  Arabic  Order  of  Xobles  of  the  Mystic  Shrine, 
belonging  to  Murat  Temple  at  Indianapolis.  The  Doctor  is  also  a  member 
of  the  Knights  of  Pythias,  the  Fraternal  Order  of  Eagles,  the  Benevolent 
and  Protective  Order  of  Elks  and  the  Junior- Order  of  xA.merican  Mechanics. 
Professionallv  he  is  a  member  of  the  American  Institute  of  Homeopathy,  is 
independent  in  politics  and  altogether  is  one  of  the  most  notable  and  popular 
men  in  Greencastle. 

On  June  21,  1899,  Doctor  .\yler  was  married,  at  Washington,  D.  C.  to 
Wilhelmina  Reocher,  a  native  of  Pomeroy.  Ohio,  whose  parents  were  John 
Franklin  and  Margaret  F.  Reocher,  both  of  German  stock.  To  Doctor  and 
Mrs.  Avler  have  been  born  twin  daughters.  Amy  Evelyn  and  Mary  Elva, 
born  Alay  17,  1903. 


JOHN  M.  BOWMAN. 

Among  the  well  remembered  and  highly  respected  men  of  Putnam  county, 
who.  during  a  former  generatii^n.  did  much  for  the  general  good  of  the  resi- 
dents here  and  who  have  "cast  off  the  robes  and  instruments  of  senss"  and 
now  sleep  the  sleep  that  knows  no  waking,  is  John  M.  Bowman,  who  left  his 
familv  a  valuable  estate  near  Fillmore  and  also  left  Ijehind  him  what  is  more 
valuable,  an  honored  name,  for  he  was  a  man  in  whom  his  neighbors  placed  the 
utmost  confidence,  knowing  him  to  be  honest  and  kind  and  of  a  likable  dispo- 
sition. 

Mr.  Bowman  was  born  December  25.  1S35.  the  son  of  Leonard  and 
^[arv  (Hickman)  Bowman,  who  came  to  this  county  from  Kentuck}-  in 
1833,  locating  on  a  farm.  He  was  a  farmer  and  carpenter  and  he  and  his 
wife  were  members  of  the  Methodist  church;  his  death  occurred  April  i.  1870, 
Afrs.  Bowman  reaching  an  advanced  age,  dying  Alarch  13.  1900.  Bc^th  are 
buried  at  ]\[t.  Carmel,  this  county.  They  were  the  parents  of  eleven  cln'ldren. 
namely :     John  M..  the  immediate  subject  of  this  sketch :  Matilda  Jane.  Martha 


PUTNAM    COUNTY.    INDIANA.  315 

Katherine,  William,  Elizabeth  Margaret,  George,  Charles.  Alice,  Lyddia, 
Gilbert  B.  and  Martha;  all  are  deceased  except  the  last  two  named.  They 
were  all  born  on  the  present  Bowman  homestead  here.  Martha  is  the  wife 
of  William  Denny  and  Gilbert  Brown  is  living  at  Lebanon,  Indiana. 

John  'M.  Bowman  received  a  common  school  education  and  spent  his  boy- 
hood days  on  the  home  fann.  He  married  Sarah  J.  Smith,  February  24,  1S64, 
She  is  the  daughter  of  Robert  L.  and  Elmina  Smith,  an  old  and  highly  re- 
spected family  of  this  county,  Mr.  Smith  having  been  a  successful  and  honored 
fanner,  owning  a  farm  adjoining  that  of  Leonard  Bowman. 

Mr.  and  Mrs.  Bowman  went  to  housekeeping  in  a  log  hut  on  a  farm 
joining  the  land  owned  by  his  father,  consisting  of  two  hundred  and  thirty- 
nine  acres,  which  he  bought  in  1873. 

Mr.  Bowman  was  one  of  the  patriotic  sons  of  the  North  who  enlisted  in 
defense  of  his  countrs-,  becoming  a  member  of  Company  H,  Eleventh  Regi- 
ment Indiana  Volunteer  Infantry,  and  served  five  months  or  until  the  close 
of  the  war.  Upon  his  return  from  the  front  he  moved  from  his  original  home 
and  settled  on  the  old  home  place,  where  he  resided  until  his  death,  February 
3.  1907.  He  received  a  pension  of  fifty  dollars  a  month.  He  was  not  only  a 
successful  farmer,  but  also  raised  stock  of  a  good  quality.  He  was  a  Re- 
publican in  politics  and  a  progressive  citizen,  believing  in  good  roads  and  all 
kinds  of  public  improvements.  He  belonged  to  the  ]vIethodist  church  at  Fill- 
more, of  which  congregation  his  wife  is  also  a  member.  Mr.  and  IMrs.  Bow- 
man were  the  parents  of  fourteen  chiklren,  named  as  follows :  Laura  Isabelle 
is  the  wife  of  John  C.  Broadstreet.  a  farmer  of  Mill  Creek  township,  and  they 
are  the  parents  of  six  children,  Austin  (deceased).  Martin,  Linnie,  Mingle, 
Wayne  and  Verlin.  Linnie  Elma  married  a  Mr.  Broadstreet  and  is  now  de- 
ceased :  Mary  Eddy  is  deceased ;  Luella  is  the  wife  of  Charles  Bins,  of  Marion 
township:  they  live  on  a  farm  and  are  the  parents  of  four  children,  Jesse. 
Maynard,  Alberta  and  Walter.  Charles  Edgar  married  Lennie  Forest  Perry 
(deceased),  and  they  had  one  child,  Gladys;  they  live  on  a  farm  in  ^Marion 
township.  The  next  child  died  in  infancy;  Lee  Hulda  is  the  wife  of  Walter 
Wright,  a  farmer  in  [Marion  township,  and  they  are  the  parents  of  two  chil- 
dren, Olen  and  Dorothy;  Ollie  Elmina  is  deceased,  and  left  one  child.  Lois 
Cowell ;  Claude  Orlando  is  deceased ;  Martha  Catherine  is  deceased ;  George 
Clyde  is  living  at  home,  with  one  child.  Clyde;  Baddy  E.  (deceased)  ;  Can- 
dace  Alice  is  the  wife  of  Dr.  Bert  O'Brien;  they  have  two  children.  Bernice 
and  William  Waldo ;  they  live  at  Winchester.  Hendricks  county :  I^ta  Eliza- 
beth, deceased.  > 

Besides  her  own  large  family  >[rs.  Bowman  raised  two  children.  Clarence 
Van  Cleve  and  Ma\-  Averv. 


3i6  weik's  history  of 


LYCURGUS  STONER. 

Tlie  family  of  which  the  subject  of  this  review  is  an  honorable  rep- 
resentative has  been  identified  with  Putnam  county  since  the  pioneer  period 
and  today  there  are  few  names  in  this  part  of  Indiana  as  widely  known  or  as 
highly  esteemed.  Lycurgus  Stoner.  a  veteran  of  the  late  Civil  war  and  a 
prominent  citizen  of  Washington  township,  is  a  grandson  of  Peter  Stoner, 
of  Mar\-land,  whose  antecedents  were  among  the  early  settlers  of  that  col- 
ony. Peter  Stoner  was  born  September  14,  1763,  and  at  the  age  of  sixteen 
ran  away  from  home  on  account  of  his  stepfather  and  entered  the  American 
army,  enlisting  in  1780  for  three  months'  service.  At  the  expiration  of  that 
time  he  re-entered  for  si.x  months,  still  later  for  ten  months,  and  during  his 
military  experience  participated  in  a  number  of  battles  and  skirmishes,  in- 
cluding the  engagements  at  Monks  Corner  and  Eutaw  Springs,  North  Caro- 
lina, in.  the  latter  of  which  he  was  twice  wounded.  Some  time  after  the 
close  of  the  war  for  independence  he  settled  in  Orange  county,  North  Caro- 
lina, where  he  lived  until  his  removal,  about  the  year  1832,  to  Putnam 
county,  Indiana.  In  September,  1832,  he  applied  to  the  government  for  a 
pension,  which  in  due  time  was  granted,  this  fact  together  with  his  war 
record  being  attested  to  in  March,  1890.  by  Valentine  Warner,  commissioner 
of  pensions  at  Washington,  D.  C. 

Peter  Stoner  was  married  August  13,  1793.  to  Eva  Cotnerand  became 
the  father  of  several  children,  among  whom  were  Peter,  Jr.,  who  moved  to 
Putnam  county  in  1823.  Joseph,  who  also  settled  in  this  county,  locating  on 
Little  Walnut  creek  in  JMadison  township,  where  he  cleared  a  farm  and 
spent  the  remainder  of  his  life.  He  was  a  member  of  the  society  of  Friends, 
was  twice  married  and  lived  to  be  quite  an  old  man.  Peter  Stoner  was  a  man 
of  fine  business  ability  and  at  his  death,  which  occurred  on  April  7,  185 1,  left 
a  valuable  estate. 

Peter  Stoner,  Jr.,  son  of  the  above,  preceded  his  father  to  Putnam 
county  by  about  nine  years,  settling  two  miles  west  of  Greencastle,  between 
Little  and  Big  Walnut  creeks,  in  1823.  He  drove  from  his  North  Carolina 
home  in  a  two-horse  wagon,  which  contained  his  few  belongings  in  the  way 
of  household  goods  and  agricultural  implements,  and  upon  his  arrival  the 
sum  total  of  his  available  cash  amounted  to  just  fifty  cents.  In  due  time  he 
erected  a  log  cabin,  in  which  his  children  were  afterwards  bom.  and  by  dint 
of  hard  and  long-continued  labor,  cleared  and  improved  a  farni  on  which 
he  spent  the  remainder  of  his  life.     The  present  house,  which  replaced  the 


PL"T^■A^f    COUN'TY.    INDIANA.  3I7 

original  cabin,  was  built  in  1853  and  has  been  used  continually  since  that 
year,  being  one  of  the  oldest  farm  dwellings  in  the  community  and  in  a  good 
state  of  preservation.  Mr.  Stoner  added  to  his  holdings  at  intervals  until 
he  became  the  owner  of  about  four  hundred  acres  of  land  which  afterwards 
increased  in  value  and  placed  him  in  independent  circumstances.  He  di- 
rected his  energies  to  the  clearing  and  developing  a  part  of  this  land  and  as 
a  farmer  he  easily  ranked  with  the  best  in  the  county  and  acquired  a  handsome 
competency,  leaving  at  his  death  an  estate  con.ser\-atively  estimated  at  over 
a  hundred  thousand  dollars.  Although  a  member  of  no  church,  his  life  was 
singularly  noble  and  upright  and  against  his  character  no  breath  of  sus- 
picion was  ever  uttered.  His  death,  on  June  4,  1876,  was  profoundly  la- 
mented by  the  large  circle  of  friends  and  neighbors.  Mrs.  Stoner.  who 
preceded  her  husband  to  the  grave  about  two  or  three  years,  was  a  woman 
of  excellent  repute  and  stood  high  in  the  confidence  and  esteem  of  all  who 
knew  her.  The  family  of  this  worthy  couple  consisted  of  the  following 
children:  Joseph  W..  Lycurgus.  William  P.,  Peter  S.,  John  W..  Sarah  J., 
widow  of  John  Davis  of  California;  Lucy,  wife  of  Benjamin  Daggey,  of 
LaPorte  county.  Indiana;  Eve.  who  married  James  H.  Torr.  and  lives  on 
the  old  homestead  in  Madison  township,  and  Indiana,  wife  of  John  L.  Hillis. 
of  Greencastle. 

Lycurgus  Stoner,  the  second  of  the  above  family,  was  born  March  17, 
1836.  in  Putnam  county.  Indiana,  and  spent  his  early  life  on  the  family 
homestead,  attending  in  the  meantime  such  schools  as  were  then  common. 
He  remained  with  his  parents  assisting  in  the  cultivation  of  the  farm  until 
ominous  clouds  of  impending  civil  war  obscured  the  national  horizon, 
when,  with  thousands  of  other  loyal  young  men  throughout  the  Xorth.  he 
responded  to  the  first  call  for  troops,  enlisting  on  April  21.  1861.  in  the 
Tenth  Regiment.  Indiana  Volunteer  Infantn,-.  with  which  he  served  three 
months  in  Virginia,  taking  part  during  that  time  in  several  skirmishes  and 
minor  engagements,  including  the  action  at  Rich  Mountain,  which  was 
among  the  first  battles  of  the  war.  At  the  expiration  of  his  period  of  service 
he  re-enlisted  and  shortly  thereafter  was  attached  to  General  Fremont's 
bodv  guard  at  St.  Louis,  where  he  remained  on  active  duty  until  his  time 
expired.  In  Januarv,  1862.  he  joined  Company  E.  Twenty-first  Regiment. 
Indiana  Volunteer  Infantn,-.  at  Baltimore.  Marydand.  and  continued  with  the 
regiment  until  1864.  on  January  loth  of  which  year  he  veteranized  with 
Companv  E.  Twenty-first  Regiment.  Indiana  Volunteers,  at  Baton  Rouge, 
Louisiana,  which  was  in  General  Butler's  command  and  operated  along  the 
lower  Mississippi  and  elsewhere,  among  the  more  noted  of  that  General's 


3l8  WEIK  S   HISTORY  OF 

achievements  being  the  capture  of  New  Orleans,  in  which  the  subject  took 
part. 

Later  ]Mr.  Stoner  was  with  General  Banks  on  the  ill-starred  Red  River 
expedition,  where  he  saw  much  active  ser\'ice  and  passed  through  many 
thrilling  experiences ;  he  also  participated  in  the  battle  at  Baton  Rouge,  the 
capture  of  Port  Hudson  and  a  number  of  other  engagements,  his  military 
service  being  replete  with  duty  bravely  and  uncomplainingly  performed. 
While  at  the  front  he  was  fortunate  in  escaping  injury,  the  only  time  he  was 
absent  from  his  command  by  reason  of  disability  being  a  short  period  in  a 
hospital  at  New  Orleans,  where  he  was  treated  for  an  attack  of  typhoid 
fever. 

Discharged  with  an  honorable  record  at  the  expiration  of  his  period  of 
enlistment,  Mr.  Stoner  returned  to  Putnam  county  and  shortly  thereafter 
purchased  a  fine  tract  of  bottom  land  on  the  Big  Walnut  creek,  which  he 
at  once  proceeded  to  improve.  Mr.  Stoner  in  due  time  had  his  farm  under  a 
high  state  of  tillage  and  in  connection  with  agriculture  also  devoted  consider- 
able attention  to  the  breeding  and  raising  of  fine  livestock,  in  which  his 
success  was  continuous  and  gratifying.  For  twenty-eight  years  he  was 
associated  with  his  brother  Peter  in  the  livestock  business  and  since  1884  has 
o\:cupied  the  beautiful  and  commodious  home  in  Washington  township, 
where  he  is  now  living  a  life  of  honorable  retirement. 

Mr.  Stoner,  on  February  14,  1867,  was  happily  married  to  Elvira  Boone, 
a  daughter  of  Daniel  and  Malinda  (Miller)  Boone,  the  father  a  native  of 
Harrison  county,  Indiana,  and  a  son  of  Moses  and  Hannah  Boone  and  a  great 
nephew  of  Daniel  Boone,  the  noted  hunter,  frontiersman  and  Indian  fighter, 
who  bore  such  a  distinguished  part  in  the  early  annals  of  Kentucky  and  else- 
where throughout  the  central  West.  Mrs.  Stoner's  father  came  to  Putnam 
countv  with  his  parents  about  182 1  and  settled  on  Big  Walnut  creek  in 
Washington  township,  where  Moses  Boone  died  in  1853  at  the  ripe  old  age 
of  eighty-four  years  and  three  months.  Daniel  spent  his  young  manhood 
clearing  and  developing  the  farm  on  which  he  and  his  faithful  wife  spent 
the  remainder  of  their  days,  he  departing  this  life  on  October  20,  18S9,  aged 
seventy-three,  and  she  on  the  12th  day  of  March,  1902.  when  eighty-two 
years  old.  All  of  the  eleven  children  born  to  this  estimable  couple  grew  to 
maturity,  and  ten  of  the  number  are  still  living,  being  among  the  old  and 
well  known  residents  of  Putnam  county  and  highly  esteemed  in  their  re- 
spective communities.  Squire  Boone,  a  brother  of  the  famous  frontiers- 
man, at  one  time  owned  the  farm  on  which  Mr.  Stoner  now  lives ;  he  sold 
the  land  in  1849  and  went  to  Iowa,  settling  on  the  present  site  of  Boonsboro 


PUTNAM    COUNTY,    INDIANA.  3I9 

in  Boone  county,  where  his  son  and  other  descendants  still  reside,  the  town 
and  county  being  so  named  in  honor  of  the  family. 

Mrs.  Lycurgus  Stoner.  whose  birth  occurred  February  9,  1840,  has 
borne  her  husband  eight  children,  live  of  whom  survive,  viz :  Fred,  who 
lives  on  the  homestead  in  Washington  township;  Gertrude,  under  the  par- 
ental roof:  Maude,  who  married  Edward  Houck,  of  Brazil,  Indiana; 
Blanche,  wife  of  Oscar  O'Hair,  of  Monroe  township,  and  Lycurgus.  who 
lives  on  the  home  farm  in  the  township  of  Madison.  ]\Ir.  Stoner  is  a  public 
spirited  citizen  who  stands  for  all  enterprises  having  for  their  end  the 
material  prosperity  of  the  community  and  the  moral  advancement  of  his 
fellow  men  and  since  attaining  his  majority  has  yielded  unwavering  al- 
legiance to  the  Republican  party.  For  several  years  he  was  a  director  of  the 
First  National  Bank  of  Greencastle,  but  for  some  time  he  has  not  been 
identified  with  any  public  institution,  being  the  possessor  of  a  handsome  for- 
tune and  amply  able  to  spend  the  remainder  of  his  life  in  the  enjovment 
and  rest  which  his  long  years  of  strenuous  effort  so  richly  entitle  him. 

WILLIAM  G.  BRAXHAM. 

Among  Putnam  county's  eminent  citizens  who  have  passed  out  of  the 
scene  of  life's  activities  into  the  larger  life  beyond,  were  those  who  achieved 
distinction  in  callings  requiring  intellectual  abilities  of  a  high  order.  Among 
the  latter  was  William  G.  Branham,  who  for  many  years  occupied  a  conspicu- 
ous place  in  the  educational  circles  of  the  county,  and  who  was  the  first  super- 
intendent of  schools  of  this  county.  Beginning  his  pedagogical  work  at  an 
early  age,  he  fully  appreciated  the  responsibility  of  his  mission  and  was  a 
faithful  and  conscientious  teacher,  as  well  as  a  true  friend  and  judicious 
advisor  to  those  who  were  students  under  him.  Today  his  memory  is  held 
sacred  by  many  who  were  students  under  him  and  who,  under  his  direction, 
learned  the  lessons  which  have  contributed  to  their  subsequent  successes. 

William  G.  Branham  \vas  born  in  Putnam  county,  Indiana,  in  1836, 
and  was  a  son  of  Berry  and  Morris  (Sinclair)  Branham.  He  was  reared  on 
the  home  farm  and  secured  his  elementaiy  education  in  the  common  schools. 
Determining  to  fit  himself  for  the  profession  of  teaching,  Mr.  Branham  be- 
came a  student  in  old  Asbury  (now  DePauw)  University,  where  he  re- 
mained nearly  four  years.  At  the  age  of  nineteen  years  he  began  teaching 
school  at  Manhattan,  but  afterwards  his  labors  were  mainly  confined  to  the 
schools  at  Cloverdale,  where  he  was  employed  for  many  years.  In  1866  he 
became  superintendent  of  schools   for   Putnam   county,   but   resigned    from 


320 


WEIK  S   HISTORY  OF 


the  office  because  of  some  requirements  regarding  his  report  of  time  em- 
ployed, which  his  conscience  would  not  permit  him  to  fulfill.  Later  in  life  he 
took  up  agricultural  pursuits,  which  he  carried  on  until  his  death,  which 
occurred  at  the  family  residence  in  Warren  township  in  October,  1896.  He 
was  truly  one  of  God's  noblemen,  standing  "four  square  to  every  wind  that 
blows."  and  in  his  death  the  entire  community  felt  it  had  suffered  a  distinct 
loss. 

On  November  17,  1861.  Mr.  Branham  was  married  to  Sarah  Hughes,  a 
daughter  of  Harrison  and  Mary  (Prather)  Hughes,  she  having  been  born  on 
a  farm  two  miles  north  of  Cloverdale.  Her  parents  were  natives  of  Ken- 
tuckv  and  her  father  died  while  she  was  but  a  child. 


JOHN  A.  BENCE. 


Philip  Bence  was  one  of  the  adventurous  band  who  braved  the  terrors 
of  the  western  wilderness  during  the  latter  part  of  the  eighteenth  century, 
when  it  took  courage  and  endurance  to  make  the  trip  over  the  mountains 
and  down  the  streams.  A  native  of  Pennsylvania,  he  left  his  home  in  early 
manhood  and  floated  down  the  Ohio  to  the  Falls,  where  he  made  up  his 
mind  to  settle.  He  took  up  a  location  on  the  ridges  in  the  rear  of  Louisville, 
but  later  bought  bottom  lands  which  were  mostly  under  water  and  at  that 
time  possessed  little  value.  His  son  and  namesake.  Philip  Bence,  was  born 
in  iSoi  in  Jefferson  county,  Kentucky,  and  married  x\nna  Yenowine  Bruce, 
a  native  of  the  same  county.  In  1853  he  came  to  Indiana  and  settled  on  a 
farm  in  Putnam  county  \\-here  his  son  now  lives.  It  consists  of  three  hun- 
dred and  fiftv  acres  and  is  situated  in  Wa.shington  township  near  the  pres- 
ent interurban  station  of  Hutcheson.  It  was  partly  improved  and  about 
one-half  consisted  of  bottom  land  on  the  west  fork  of  Eel  river.  The 
purchase  price  at  the  time  was  thirty  dollars  per  acre  and  Philip  Bence  and 
his  wife  spent  their  lives  on  that  farm.  He  sold  his  old  home  eight  miles 
from  Louisville  for  seventy-five  dollars.  The  last  years  of  his  life  were  spent 
in  retirement  and  his  lilameless  life  ended  in  October.  1882,  when  he  was 
eio-htv-one  vears  old.  His  wife  passed  away  in  her  seventieth  year.  They 
were  lifelong  members  of  the  Christian  church.  They  reared  ten  children,  to 
maturitv.  whose  names  are  as  follows:  Fountain,  a  fanner  in  Clay  county, 
died  when   sixtv-five  vears  old;  Onesimus  lived  and  died  in   Clay  county; 


PUTNAM    COUNTY,    INDIANA.  321 

Elizabeth,  wlio  married  Warren  Greenweli,  died  in  Clay  county,  where  she 
had  lived  a  number  of  xears :  Jeptha,  who  owned  a  woollen  mill  at  Green- 
castle,  died  at  the  age  of  sixty;  Lydia,  now  deceased,  was  the  wife  of  John 
Lidick,  who  resided  near  Groveland.  in  Putnam  county ;  Louisa  married 
Philip  Hutchenson,  of  Washington  township.  Putnam  county;  Genevra  died 
in  early  womanhood,  shortly  after  her  marriage  to  Gregg  Smith;  Matilda, 
who  also  died  when  still  young,  was  the  wife  of  Le\-i  Hepler,  of  Putnam 
county ;  George  W.  is  a  physician  at  Greencastle, 

John  A.  Bence,  the  oldest  child,  was  born  near  Louisville,  Kentucky, 
October  29,  1836.  He  was  seventeen  years  old  when  his  father  came  to 
Putnam  county  and,  being  strong  and  vigorous,  he  was  able  to  do  valuable 
work  in  clearing  the  newly  purchased  farm.  He  became  an  excellent  farmer 
for  those  days,  being  industrious,  level  headed,  of  fine  judgment  and  a  good 
trader.  He  bought  one-third  of  his  father's  old  place  and  on  this  he  has 
ever  since  made  his  home.  In  1891,  he  erected  the  commodious  house  now 
seen  on  the  place  and  made  many  other  improvements,  which  put  his  hold- 
ings among  the  high  priced  and  desirable  farms  of  Putnam  county.  He  has 
never  been  a  fancy  farmer  and  eschewed  all  the  fads  and  fancies  of  the 
theoretical  agriculturist.  He  preferred  to  put  his  faith  to  the  old  standbys, 
corn,  hogs  and  cattle,  of  which  he  fed  a  large  number  each  year,  turning  all 
his  grain  into  stock,  instead  of  selling  it,  which  is  the  mark  of  a  successful 
farmer.  By  concentrating  all  his  time  and  ability  on  the  farm  he  matle  a 
success  of  his  business  and  ranks  among  the  foremost  of  Putnam  countv's 
farmers. 

In  1853  ^^^-  Bence  married  Anna  Kidd,  who  was  reared  in  Louisville, 
but  \\'h(T  was  visiting  relatives  in  Putnam  county  when  she  met  her  future 
husband.  She  died  in  August,  1909,  after  forty-six  years  of  affectionate  and 
faithful  married  life.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Bence  have  an  only  daughter.  Emma, 
now  the  wife  of  William  Hi)uck,  a  farmer  and  trader  who  makes  his  resi- 
rlence  at  Greencastle,  He  is  a  son  of  David  and  Rachel  Houck,  who  lived 
near  neighbors  of  the  Bence  family.  Carl  Ferand  manages  the  farm  and 
with  his  family  lives  in  tlie  house.  Mr.  Bence  greatly  enjoys  his  stock  and 
garflen.  He  has  a  fine  spring  abo\-e  his  house,  the  water  of  which  is  first 
piped  to  the  yard  and  then  to  the  tanks  at  the  barn,  the  plant  being  used  to 
irrigate  his  garden  in  case  of  need.  He  has  been  an  all-around  reader,  keep- 
ing abreast  of  the  times  and  has  been  a  subscriber  of  the  Chicago  Record- 
Herald  for  twentv  years.  In  1887  he  went  to  California  and  saw  much  of 
the  coast  country,  but  found  nothing  to  excel  Indiana. 
(21) 


322  WEIK  S   HISTORV  OF 


CLEM  EXT  C.  HURST. 

Practical  industry,  wisely  and  vigorously  applied,  never  fails  of  success. 
It  carries  a  man  onward  and  upward,  brings  out  his  individual  character 
and  acts  as  a  powerful  stimulus  to  the  efforts  of  others.  The  greatest  re- 
sults in  life  are  often  attained  by  simple  means  and  the  exercise  of  the  ordi- 
narv  qualities  of  comnK^n  sense  and  perseverance.  The  every-day  life  with 
its  cares,  necessities  and  duties,  affords  ample  opportunities  for  acquiring 
experience  of  the  best  kind  and  its  most  beaten  paths  provide  a  true  worker 
with  abundant  scope  for  effort  and  improvement.  This  fact  having  been 
recognized  earlv  in  life  by  Clement  C.  Hurst,  the  well  known  business  man 
of  Greencastle.  he  has  seized  the  small  opportunities  he  has  encountered  on 
the  rugged  hill  that  leads  to  life's  lofty  summit  where  lies  the  ultimate  goal 
of  success,  never  attained  by  the  weak,  ambitionless  and  inactive. 

Mr.  Hurst  was  born  in  Jefferson  township,  Putnam  county,  his  father, 
Amos  Hurst,  having  been  a  native  of  the  same  township.  This  family  has 
been  prominent  in  Putnam  county  since  the  days  of  the  first  settlers  and 
from  that  period  to  the  present  no  family  here  has  borne  a  better  reputation. 
Amos  Hurst  became  known  as  one  of  the  leading  educators  of  this  locality, 
having  taught  school  until  he  was  thirty  years  old,  then  followed  farming 
until  his  death,  March  I2.  1873,  having  spent  his  entire  life  in  Putnam  county. 
He  took  some  interest  in  political  affairs  and  he  served  at  one  time  as  asses- 
sor of  Jeft'erson  township.  He  married  Frances  E.  Keller,  who  was  born  in 
Rockinf^ham  county,  Virginia,  from  which  state  she  came  to  Putnam  county, 
Indiana,  with  her  parents  when  a  child.  Her  death  occurred  on  August  29, 
1900.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Amos  Hurst  were  highly  respected  by  all  their  neigh- 
bors for  their  upright  and  useful  lives.  They  were  the  parents  of  five  chil- 
dren, namelv :  Clement  C,  of  this  review;  Clara  A.  is  the  wife  of  Oscar  O. 
Lane,  of  Wichita.  Kansas;  Rowena  E.  is  the  wife  of  Charles  E.  Smith,  of 
Greencastle:  Josephine  is  the  wife  of  Harvey  S.  Gardner,  of  Ladoga.  Mont- 
gomerv'  countv.  Indiana :  Alpheus  E.  is  living  on  the  old  home  farm  in 
Jefferson  township. 

The  Hurst  family  is  of  English  stock,  the  first  representatives  of  this 
name  having  emigrated  to  America  six  or  seven  generations  ago.  He  came 
from  England  and  located  in  Virginia.  Clement  C.  Hurst's  great-great- 
o-randfather.  John  Hurst,  lived  in  Tennessee.  The  former's  great-grand- 
father. Jesse  Hurst,  came  to  Putnam  county,  Indiana,  alxDut  1822.  The 
o-randfather,  George  Hurst,  a  native  of  Tennessee,  came  to  Putnam  county, 


PUTXAM    COUNTY,    IN'DIAXA.  323 

in  1822.  settling  in  Warren  township,  later  removing  to  Jefferson  township. 
George  Hurst  married  Elizabeth  Hibbs.  a  native  of  Jonesboro,  Tennessee, 
having  been  married  March  17.  1825.  She  came  to  Putnam  county.  Indiana, 
and  here  married  George  Hurst.  Eleven  children  were  born  to  them.  Amos, 
father  of  Clement  C..  being  the  oldest.  George  Hurst  died  in  April.  1865, 
at  the  age  of  sixty-si.x  years,  having  been  born  in  1799.  His  wife  was  born 
in  1800  and  died  in  1890.  being  therefore  ninety  years  of  age.  George  Hurst 
was  one  of  the  early  pioneers  of  Putnam  county,  he  and  his  brother,  David 
Hurst,  having  come  here  from  Tennessee  on  horseback,  and  after  looking  over 
the  land  returned  home  and  brought  their  families  here. 

Clement  C.  Hurst  lived  on  the  parental  farm,  which  he  worked  in  the 
summer  months,  attending  the  district  schools  in  the  winter  until  the  age  of 
twenty-two  years,  when  he  moved  to  Greencastle.  He  had  previously  at- 
tended school  here,  and  took  a  course  in  DePauw  University  and  became 
well  educated.  He  was  twenty-eight  years  old  when  he  located  permanently 
in  1822.  settling  in  Warren  township,  later  removing  to  Jefferson  township, 
which  he  followed  for  two  years,  after  which  he  came  to  Greencastle  and 
ser\e(l  three  years  as  deputy  county  recorder,  then  served  three  years  as  dep- 
uty auditor  under  George  M.  Block.  He  made  an  excellent  record  in  these  ca- 
pacities, giving  the  utmost  satisfaction.  He  then  engaged  in  the  fire  insur- 
ance business,  which  he  still  continues,  having  built  up  quite  an  extensive 
patronage.  In  1902  he  was  electerl  county  auditor,  serving  four  vears.  Dur- 
ing his  term  in  this  ofifice  the  new  court  house  was  built.  He  resumed  his 
fire  insurance  business  after  his  term  of  office  expired.  He  still  owns  a  farm 
and  is  engaged  in  stock  raising. 

Mr.  Hurst  was  first  married  to  Louella  Walker  in  1887.  She  was  a 
native  of  Indianapolis.  Indiana.  No  children  were  born  to  this  union.  Mrs. 
Hurst  was  called  to  her  rest  on  October  11,  1896.  On  September  23.  1905. 
Mr.  Plurst  married  Pauline  Blake,  of  Greencastle.  daughter  of  George  E.  and 
Lizzie  Blake,  a  well  known  family  here.     This  union  is  also  without  issue. 

Daniel  Hurst,  second  cousin  of  Clement  C.  was  elected  county  recorder 
of  Putnam  county,  in  1886.  holding  the  same  for  eight  years.  He  now 
lives  in  Shattuck.  Oklahoma. 

Mr.  Hurst  belongs  to  the  College  A\-enue  Methodist  Episcopal  church, 
and  also  belongs  to  the  Masons.  Politically  he  is  a  Democrat  and  has  lonp- 
taken  an  active  interest  in  political  affairs,  as  already  intimated.  His  coun- 
sel has  frequently  been  sought  in  local  matters,  and  he  was  a  delegate  to  the 
last  national  Democratic  convention  in  1908.     He  stands  high  in  the  conn- 


224  weik's  history  of 

cils  of  his  party  in  the  fifth  district.  For  his  puhhc  spirit,  his  deep  concern 
in  all  that  pertains  to  the  welfare  of  his  community  and  for  his  known 
scrupulous  integrity,  he  is  held  in  high  favor  by  all  classes. 


DAVID  J.  SKELTON. 

Among  the  leading  farmers  and  public  spirited  citizens  of  Washington 
township  is  David  J.  Skelton,  who  was  born  April  i6.  1S73,  on  land  in  Put- 
nam county,  entered  by  his  grandfather.  William  Skelton.  shortly  after  this 
part  of  the  state  was  opened  for  settlement.  William  Skelton  came  to  this 
county  in  an  early  day  and  here  married  Mary  Ann  Jenkins,  whose  parents 
were  also  among  the  pioneers.  He  entered  a  quarter  section  of  land  in 
Washington  township,  and  in  due  time  cleared  and  improved  a  farm  on  which 
his  death  afterwards  occurred  at  the  age  of  fifty-four  or  fifty-six  years,  and 
which  is  still  in  the  family  name ;  his  widow  survived  him  a  number  of  years, 
dying  at  the  ripe  old  age  of  eighty-seven.  Two  sons  of  this  worthy  couple 
grew  to  maturity  and  are  still  living.  Jeremiah,  of  Bowling  Green,  Clay 
county,  and  William,  father  of  the  subject  of  this  sketch,  one  son  dying  in 
infancy;  there  were  also  two  daughters,  Almira,  who  married  Philip  Ward, 
and  lived  for  a  number  of  years  on  the  homestead,  dying  some  time  ago 
at  Terre  Haute,  and  ^Nlrs.  Harriet  Brotherton,  who  spent  her  entire  life  on 
the  home  place. 

William  Skelton,  Jr.,  was  born  on  the  home  farm  in  Washington  town- 
ship and  at  the  age  of  twenty-two  years  married  Nancy  Tressner,  whose 
father,  Hiram  Tressner,  an  early  settler  of  the  county,  died  at  about  the 
time  the  wedding  of  his  daughter  was  solemnized.  His  widow  subsequently 
removed  to  Coles  countv.  Illinois,  and  thence  to  ^Missouri,  where  her  death 
afterwards  occurred.  After  his  marriage  William  Skelton  took  possession 
of  the  homestead  which  he  operated  for  several  years,  later  deeding  a  part 
of  the  place  to  the  sons,  by  whom  it  is  still  owned.  In  connection  with  farm- 
ing, he  did  a  thriving  business  for  a  number  of  years  threshing  grain,  in 
which  capacitv  he  became  widely  known  throughout  the  greater  part  of  Put- 
nam county.  He  early  united  with  the  Primitive  Baptist  church,  in  which  he 
was  made  an  elder  while  still  a  young  man  and  later  entered  the  ministry, 
to  which  holy  calling  he  has  devoted  much  of  his  time  during  the  part  of 
twentv-five  years.  For  a  period  of  fifteen  years  he  served  the  congregation 
at  Otter  Creek  and  at  a  part  of  that  time  ministered  to  the  Providence  and 
Eel  River  churches,  holding  membership  with  the  last  named.     He  has  also 


rUTXAM    COUNTY,    INDIANA.  325 

visited  a  number  of  other  churches  from  time  to  time  and  is  recognized  as 
one  of  the  strong  and  influential  preachers  of  his  denomination  in  the  state  of 
Indiana.  Mrs.  Skelton  bore  her  husband  thirteen  children  and  departed  this 
life  on  the  5th  of  May.  1906.  Of  the  children  seven  are  living  at  the  present 
time,  namely:  George  W'.,  who  owns  a  part  of  the  home  farm;  David  J.,  of 
this  review:  Clarence  E.,  one  of  Putnam  county's  most  successful  teachers; 
Candace  J.,  who  married  John  Mace  and  lives  in  Washington  township; 
Lemuel  O.,  also  a  resident  of  Washington  township  and  a  farmer  by  occupa- 
tion ;  Paul  lives  near  Brazil  in  Clay  county,  this  state,  and  Isaac,  who  farms 
part  of  the  family  homestead. 

David  J.  Skelton  was  reared  to  agricultural  pursuits  and  remaineel  with 
his  father  until  his  twenty-second  year,  attending  at  intervals  in  the  mean- 
time the  district  schools  and  growing  up  to  the  full  stature  of  well  developed 
manhood  and  amply  fitted  to  grapple  with  life  and  duty.  On  ^March  4,  1895, 
he  was  married  to  Martha  Charlotte  McEIroy,  daughter  of  Welcome  R.  and 
^lary  (Barnett)  McElroy,  the  union  being  terminated  by  the  untimely  death 
of  the  young  wife  within  less  than  a  year,  she  leaving  a  son,  Glenn  C.  a  bright 
and  promising  youth  of  fourteen  years  of  age  at  this  writing  (1910).  Later, 
September  4.  1898,  Mr.  Skelton  married  his  present  wife,  whose  maiden 
name  was  Lena  Alice  White,  daughter  of  Ezekiel  and  Mary  (Xugent )  White, 
and  whose  birth  occurred  in  Parke  county,  on  October  8,  1872.  Mrs.  Skel- 
ton's  father  was  a  native  of  Pennsylvania,  but  -when  a  young  man  came  to 
Ohio,  thence  to  Parke  county,  Indiana,  wdiere  he  married  and  reared  a 
family  of  thirteen  children  and  spent  the  remainder  of  his  days,  his  wife 
surviving  him  and  still  living  on  the  farm  where  he  made  his  home  for  so 
many  years. 

Mr.  Skelton,  with  his  brothers  George  and  Clarence,  owned  the  home- 
stead for  several  years,  their  father  deeding  it  to  them,  but  the  subject  after- 
wards sold  out  to  George,  and  purchased  his  present  farm,  which  was  formerly 
owned  by  Harrison  Elliott  and  to  which  he  has  since  added  three  hundred 
to  the  original  one  hundred  and  twenty  acres,  making  a  fine  farm  of  four 
hundred  and  twenty  acres  of  valuable  land,  well  improved  and  under  a  high 
state  of  cultivation.  The  place,  which  is  one  of  the  best  in  the  county,  is 
adapted  to  agriculture  and  stock  raising,  to  the  latter  of  which  Mr.  Skelton 
devotes  especial  attention,  being  a  successful  breeder  and  raiser  of  high- 
grade  horses,  mules,  cattle  and  hogs.  In  addition  to  his  beautiful  home  place, 
he  owns  the  W.  R.  McElroy  farm  of  forty-three  acres,  which  formerly  be- 
longed to  the  father  of  his  first  wife  and  which  with  its  fine  buildings  and 
other  improvements  adds  very  materially  to  his  fortune. 


^26  weik's  history  of 

As  a  farmer,  Mr.  Skelton  easily  ranks  among  the  most  enterprising  and 
successful  in  Putnam  county,  being  progressive  in  his  methods  and  keeping 
fully  abreast  of  the  times  on  all  matters  relating  to  modern  agriculture.  He 
raises  abundant  crops  of  grain,  vegetables,  fruits,  etc..  and  by  a  judicious  sys- 
tem of  rotation  seldom  if  ever  fails  to  realize  liberal  returns  from  his  time 
and  labor.  His  continued  success  indicates  the  possession  of  much  more  than 
ordinary  ability  and  he  is  today  not  only  one  of  the  leading  agriculturists 
and  stockmen  of  his  county,  but  also  stands  high  as  a  business  man  and 
financier. 

The  Skelton  home  is  a  model  of  its  kind  and  in  many  respects  one  of  the 
most  beautiful  and  desirable  residences  in  Putnam  county.  Everything  on 
the  premises  bears  testimony  to  the  care  and  attention  of  the  proprietor  and 
the  deep  interest  he  takes  in  the  prosecution  of  his  labors. 

In  political  views  'Sir.  Skelton  is  a  Democrat  and  as  such  wields  a  strong 
influence  for  his  party  locally  and  throughout  the  county,  being  a  judicious 
adviser  in  its  councils  and  an  influential  worker  in  the  ranks.  At  one  time 
he  was  a  candidate  for  the  office  of  county  commissioner.  He  is  not  an 
office  seeker,  however,  preferring  to  work  for  his  friends  rather  than  aspire 
to  public  honors  for  himself.  Fraternally  he  belongs  to  the  Knights  of 
Pythias  lodge;  although  not  identified  with  any  religious  organization,  he 
is  a  regular  attendant  and  liberal  contributor  to  the  Baptist  church,  with 
which  his  wife  holds  membership. 


JOSEPH  MOLER. 

One  of  the  well  known  residents  of  Clinton  township  is  Joseph  Moler. 
who  was  born  in  Nicholas  county,  Kentucky,  June  _'.  1834.  In  1853  he  came 
to  Indiana  and  has  since  made  this  state  his  place  of  abode.  He  is  the  son 
of  John  and  Sarah  (Colliver)  :Moler.  the  former  born  in  Bourbon  county. 
Kentucky,  in  the  same  vicinity  as  his  son,  Joseph.  His  parent;!  were  Penn- 
sylvania Dutch  who  came  to  Kentucky  about  1790,  his  father,  Joseph  Moler, 
having  been  a  soldier  in  the  Revolutionary  war.  In  1853  John  Moler  and 
family  came  to  Putnam  county.  Indiana,  locating  in  Clinton  township  on  the 
land  where  Joseph  Moler  now  resides.  It  was  then  only  partly  cleared  and 
had  a  few  rude  buildings  (5n  it.  and  here  the  elder  Moler  lived,  and  died  on 
XovemI)er  3.  1866,  at  the  age  of  si.xty-one  years,  having  been  born  November 
30,  1805.  His  wife  died  in  1856.  at  the  age  of  forty-seven  years.  She  was 
born  in  Montgomery  county,  Indiana,  in   i8og.     Only  one  of  their  children 


PUTNAM    COUNTY,    INDIANA.  T,2J 

was  born  in  Indiana ;  those  to  reach  maturity  were,  Mary,  \vlii>  married  Rus- 
sell Allen,  of  Greencastle.  and  died  in  that  city  in  1873  or  1874:  Joseph,  of 
this  review;  Richard  H.,  a  farmer  in  Parke  county,  Indiana:  JefT.  T..  who 
lives  in  Louisiana.  ?iIissouri ;  Susan  E.,  who  married  R.  D.  Hamilton  and 
died  when  in  middle  life:  Levi,  who  went  to  Missouri,  where  he  died;  Jemima, 
the  wife  of  Mr.  Flannah  antl  lixing  in  Missouri:  Presley  C,  a  bachelor  and 
still  living  on  the  old  homestead;  Emma  J.,  who  married  Caleb  Bratton,  of 
Poone  county,  Indiana. 

Joseph  ]\Ioler  was  nineteen  years  old  when  he  came  to  Indiana.  He  re- 
mained at  home  until  he  was  twenty-five  years  old.  assisting  in  clearing  the 
place.  On  November  i,  1859,  he  married  Lucy  P.  Xewgent.  he  being  twentv- 
five  and  she  eighteen ;  they  had  lived  on  adjoining  famis  for  some  time.  A 
sketch  of  her  father,  Edward  Xewgent,  appears  elsewhere  in  this  volume. 
After  their  marriage  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Moler  spent  two  years  in  Pulaski  countv, 
Indiana,  then  mo\ed  back  to  Putnam  county  on  the  farm  of  ]Mr.  Moler's 
father,  taking  charge  of  part  of  it.  In  1868  he  rented  and  took  charge  of  the 
entire  farm  of  two  hundred  and  forty  acres.  Later  he  bought  the  interests 
of  others  in  the  home  place,  owning  eight}'  acres.  He  has  made  e.xtensi\-e 
impro\'ements  on  his  place,  building  a  fine  home  in  1891,  and  he  has  good 
barns  and  devotes  considerable  time  to  stock  raising,  making  grains  also  a 
specialty,  feeding  what  grain  the  place  produces.  He  has  laid  two  hundred 
and  fiftv  rods  of  tile.  He  is  ^-ery  successful  as  a  general  farmer.  Mr.  ^[oler 
is  an  independent  thinker  and  keeps  well  posted  on  political  and  current  events 
He  is  no  partisan  and  always  votes  for  the  men  whom  he  deems  to  be  the  best 
qualified  for  the  offices  sought. 

Three  chiUlren  ha\e  been  born  to  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Moler,  one  of  whom 
died  when  ten  years  of  age.  Le\'i  Shelby  Moler  is  a  farmer  in  Clinton  town- 
ship: he  was  candidate  for  nomination  as  county  clerk  in  1910.  Stella  May 
married  J.  X.  Brown,  a  farmer  of  Woonsocket,  South  Dakota. 

On  Xo\ember  i.  1909.  was  celebrated  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Moler's  fiftieth 
wedding  anniversary,  which  was  f|uite  an  event  in  the  Moler  family  and 
greatly  enjoyed  by  all  who  were  fortunate  enough  to  be  present.  The  only 
anniversar\-  guest  who  was  also  present  at  their  marriage  was  John  Xewgent, 
I'ousin  of  Mrs.  Moler,  he  having  enjoyed  the  celebration  after  a  half  centurv 
lapse  from  the  nuptial  day  almost  as  much  as  the  elderly  couple  themselves. 
Rew  Joseph  Skeeters,  now  deceased,  perfomied  the  marriage  ceremony. 

Fraternally  ^Ir.  Moler  is  a  Mason  and  he  takes  a  great  interest  in  Ma- 
sonry, endea\'oring  to  live  up  to  its  wholesome  teachings  in  his  e\"erv  dav 
life. 


328  weik's  history  of 


JOHN  W.  ROBE. 

The  best  title  one  can  establish  to  the  high  and  generous  esteem  of  a 
community  is  a  protracted  and  honorable  residence  in  its  midst.  Mankind 
is  generally  fair  and  just  in  its  judginents.  An  unusual  event  may  sway  it 
for  a  time,  but  when  normal  conditions  are  again  restored  a  just  judgment 
is  certain  to  follow,  true  views  eventually  prevailing  and  then  the  accurate 
public  judgment  is  inevitable.  It  is  for  this  reason  that  a  man  is  judged 
rather  bv  what  his  neighbors  think  of  him  than  anything  he  may  have  said 
or  done.  When  a  court  desires  to  find  out  whether  or  not  a  witness  is 
truthful,  it  asks  what  the  person's  reputation  is  for  truth  in  the  neighbor- 
hood in  which  he  lives.  The  law  correctly  estimates  that  the  judgment  of  the 
public  is  almost  invariably  infallible.  Judged  by  this  measure.  John  W. 
Robe,  now  a  resident  of  the  city  of  Greencastle  and  long  one  of  the  prominent 
and  substantial  citizens  of  Putnam  county,  must  necessarily  be  a  man  of 
strictest  integrity  and  uncjuestioned  ability  along  his  chosen  lines  of  endeavor. 
His  protracted  residence  here  of  nearly  a  half  century  has  been  an  eminently 
honorable  one,  as  is  well  established  by  the  high  regard  in  which  he  is  held 
by  all  who  have  had  occasion  to  know  him. 

Mr.  Robe  is  a  native  of  Morgan  county,  Indiana,  having  been  born  on 
August  21,  1843,  the  son  of  William  and  Nancy  (St.  John)  Robe.  The 
father  formerly  lived  near  Harrisburg,  Pennsylvania,  and  came  to  Indiana 
in  an  early  day,  locating  in  Marion  county,  later  moving  to  Morgan  county. 
The  mother,  Nancy  St.  John,  was  born  near  Cincinnati.  Ohio,  being  the 
representative  of  a  prominent  family,  a  cousin  of  Governor  St.  John,  of 
Kansas.  William  Robe,  a  man  of  sterling  qualities  and  excellent  character, 
met  death  in  a  tragic  manner,  having  been  killed  by  members  of  the  "Golden 
Circle."  a  well-known  war-time  organization,  on  May  2r,  1863.  He  was 
prominent  in  Republican  politics  and  took  an  active  interest  in  public  affairs. 

It  was  in  1S62  that  John  W.  Robe  came  to  Putnam  county.  He  received 
an  excellent  primarv  education  in  the  common  schools  and  he  took  a  course 
in  Asbury  (now  DePauw)  University,  at  Greencastle.  where  he  made  a 
splendid  record  for  scholarship  and  from  which  institution  he  was  graduated 
in  the  spring  of  1868.  Towards  the  latter  part  of  the  war  of  the  Rebellion 
he  gave  vent  to  his  patriotism  and  enlisted  in  the  One  Hundred  and  Thirty- 
third  Regiment.  Indiana  Volunteer  Infantr}-.  but  was  not  permitted  to  share 
in  manv  of  the  hard  campaigns  and  fierce  engagements  that  fell  to  the  lot 
of  some  of  his  friends.  He  was  honorably  discharged  and  returned  to  Put- 
nam county  in  1864. 


77f 


PUTNAM    COUNTY.    INDIANA.  329 

Deciding  that  his  true  inclinations  were  along  legal  lines.  Mr.  Robe  took 
up  the  study  of  law  and  was  duly  admitted  to  the  bar  in  1869.  but  not  taking 
so  kindlv  to  this  vocation  as  he  had  anticipated,  he  abandoned  the  practice 
in  1870  and  turned  his  attention  to  the  freer  and  more  wholesome  life  of  the 
agriculturist  which  he  has  made  his  principal  life  work  and  in  which  he  has 
been  verv  successful,  now  owning  one  of  the  choice  and  most  valuable  of 
Putnam  county  farms,  comprising  six  hundred  acres,  which  he  still  operates 
and  which  he  has  brought  to  a  high  state  of  cultivation  and  improvement  and 
which,  under  his  skillful  management,  has  for  years  yielded  abundant  har- 
vests. He  is  also  considered  an  authority  on  livestock  and  has  kept  his 
place  well  stocked  with  various  kinds  of  excellent  quality.  He  has  long  been 
prominently  identified  with  the  sheep  industrs-  of  Putnam  county,  and  is  now 
president  of  the  Putnam  County  Wool  Growers'  Association,  having  held 
this  position  for  years.  For  twenty  years  he  was  secretary  of  the  Indiana 
Wool  Growers'  Association,  and  at  one  time  he  was  president  of  the  Short- 
horn Breeders'  Association.  As  head  of  the  Putnam  County  Wool  Growers' 
Association  ^Nlr.  Robe  has  endeared  himself  to  the  farmers  of  the  county  for 
his  splendid  work  in  their  behalf,  his  labors  in  this  direction  having  greatly 
benefited  his  farmer  neighbors  incalculably,  and  he  is  recognized  as  their  spe- 
cial friend  and  champion.  He  was  urged  as  a  candidate  for  the  state  board 
of  agriculture,  but  refused  to  make  an  active  fight  for  the  place.  He  has 
always  been  recognized  throughout  the  state  as  a  leading  authority  on  agri- 
culture. Mr.  Robe  was  one  of  the  organizers  of  the  Central  National  Bank 
of  Greencastle  and  a  member  of  its  first  board  of  directors.  He  was  one  of  a 
company  of  ten  who  erected  the  Central  Bank  block.  Later  he  was  a  member 
of  the  board  of  directors  of  the  First  Xational  Bank  of  Greencastle. 

Mr.  Robe  has  recently  moved  to  Greencastle.  where  he  has  erected  a 
beautiful,  modern  and  attractive  home  in  one  of  the  choicest  residence  dis- 
tricts of  the  city. 

Mr.  Robe's  domestic  life  began  on  October  5.  1870.  when  he  married 
Sarah  M.  Stevenson,  a  lady  of  culture  and  refinement,  the  daughter  of 
Dr.  A.  C.  Stevenson,  a  prominent  physician  of  this  county  during  a  past 
generation,  a  full  sketch  of  whom  appears  on  another  page  of  this  work. 
Mrs.  Robe  has  been  a  true  partner  and  helpmeet  in  life,  always  performing 
her  part  and  assuming  her  full  share  of  responsibility.  A  woman  of  rare 
good  judgment,  she  has  always  been  a  wise  counselor,  and  to  her  Mr.  Robe 
largely  attributes  his  success  in  life.  Like  her  father.  IMrs.  Robe  has  always 
been  considerate  of  the  rights  of  others,  ever  ready  to  do  her  part,  and  per- 
forming deeds  of  kindness  where  her  hands  find  them  to  do. 


330 


WEIK  S    IIISTORV  OF 


Politically  Mr.  Robe  is  a  loyal  Republican,  but  he  has  never  been  an 
office  seeker.  He  is  a  member  of  the  Grand  Army  of  the  Republic,  Post  Xo. 
II,  Greencastle.  He  has  always  been  interested  in  movements  calculated 
to  be  of  general  good  to  the  people  of  Putnam  count}-  and  ready  to  lend  any 
assistance  in  such  movements  as  he  could,  and,  being  a  man  whose  record  is 
clean,  he  has  both  the  confidence  and  respect  of  all  classes. 


JOHN  F.  SHOXKWILER. 

This  well  known  citizen  of  Clinton  township  has  long  been  regar<led  as 
one  of  the  model  farmers  of  Putnam  county,  being  a  link  between  the  days 
of  the  historic  primitive  past  and  the  opulent  present,  for  his  long  anil  use- 
ful life  has  been  passed  right  here  at  home  and  he  has  been  a  very  important 
factor  in  local  affairs,  doing  his  full  share  in  the  development  of  the  com- 
munity. John  F.  Shonkwiler  was  born  in  Clinton  township,  October  ii, 
1838,  the  son  of  Daniel  and  Ruth  (Spurgeon)  Shonkwiler.  The  father  of  the 
former  was  born  on  the  Atlantic  ocean  while  his  parents  were  enroute  from 
Germany  to  America.  He  grew  up  in  America  and  married  Elizabeth 
Grant,  who  died  in  Ohio.  Daniel  Shonkwiler.  Jr.,  was  born  in  Ohio,  in  1821 
and  when  a  young  man  came  to  Indiana  with  his  father  and  settled  in  Parke 
county,  where  they  remained  for  two  years,  then  bought  one-half  mile  south 
of  the  farm  now  owned  by  John  F.,  of  this  review ;  there  they  literally  hewed 
out  a  farm  from  the  woods  and  there  the  son  lived  until  his  death,  about 
1854.  dying  when  past  eighty.  He  married  Xancy  Reed  in  Parke  county,  who 
survived  him  and  made  her  home  with  her  two  sons,  in  Iowa,  and  died  in  that 
state.  Daniel  left  three  children  in  Ohio.  The  Shonkwiler  family  consisted 
of  the  following  children :  Simeon.  David,  Daniel,  Adonas.  X'athaniel.  X'ancy, 
Margaret,  Julia.  All  the  girls  married  and  moved  to  the  West,  and  all  the 
sons  except  one  went  to  Iowa  or  Illinois.  Daniel  remained  in  Indiana.  He 
became  owner  of  one-half  of  his  father's  place,  but  settled  on  an  adjoining 
farm.  ■  When  twentv-two  years  old  he  married,  his  wife.  Ruth  Spurgeon.  be- 
ing twentv-one.  and  thev  spent  the  rest  of  their  lives  on  the  farm  now  owned 
by  Clay  Magill.  Daniel  was  a  good  farmer  and  owned  in  all  two  hundred 
and  twenty-nine  acres  of  land,  clearing  up  most  of  it.  He  left  the  farm  about 
1854  and  for  a  period  of  twelve  years  devoted  his  time  to  the  ministry,  be- 
ing a  circuit  rider  in  the  Methodist  church  in  which  work  he  did  a  great  deal 
of  good   and   became   widely   known.      For   several   years   lie   had    preached 


PUTNAM    COUNTY.    INDIANA.  33 1 

locnlly :  Iiis  duties  took  liini  into  Illin(jis  and  over  nortliwestern  and  western 
Indiana.  During  that  period  he  organized  many  new  churches.  He  was 
pastor  of  the  home  or  northern  circuit  for  one  year,  but  much  of  his  work  was 
in  Illinois.  His  health  failing,  he  returned  to  the  old  farm,  but  continued  to 
preach  occasionally  and  after  some  years  did  supply  work  at  or  near  Brap^il 
and  while  serving  that  church  experienced  one  of  his  most  prosperous  years. 
He  held  revivals,  taking  into  the  church  over  one  hundred  members;  one  of 
his  delights  was  to  conduct  a  camp  meeting.  This  good  and  useful  man 
died  on  the  old  homestead  in  August.  1887,  ^^  the  age  of  si.xty-six  years,  his 
wife  having  preceded  him  to  the  other  world  several  years,  and  he  had 
married  again,  his  last  wife  being  Miranda  Thompson,  widow,  who  survived 
him.  Xo  chiMren  were  born  of  the  last  union.  The  first  union  resulted  in 
the  birth  of  five  sons  and  two  daughters,  namely:  John  F..  of  this  review; 
William  went  to  Benton  county,  Indiana,  when  a  young  man;  Jacob  also  lived 
in  Benton  county  and  died  there  ten  years  ago;  Ferris  spent  his  life  in  Clinton 
township,  near  Morton ;  Daniel  moved  to  Parke  county  about  ten  years  ago, 
locating  near  Rockville ;  Mary  married  Tilman  Moore  and  died  in  Parke 
county ;  Malinda  died  at  the  age  of  four  years. 

\\'hen  about  fifteen  years  of  age  John  F.  Shonkwiler  took  charge  of  the 
old  homestead  and  continued  to  conduct  the  same  until  his  marriage,  October 
13.  1859.  to  Ruth  Carmichael.  daughter  of  John  and  Matilda  (Spurgeon) 
Carmichael.  When  one  }ear  old  her  mother  had  come  to  this  country  with 
Moses  Spurgeon.  settling  on  an  adjoining  farm.  John  Carmichael  was  born 
on  Lost  River.  Indiana,  and  when  a  young  man  came  to  Putnam  county  and 
married  here  and  spent  his  life  on  the  farm,  which  joins  the  old  Shonkwiler 
place;  there  they  both  died,  the  father  when  about  seventy-five  years  of  age. 
The  Carmichael  farm  is  now  owned  by  the  son  of  John  F.  Shonkwiler — 
\\'illiam.  The  old  Moses  Spurgeon  farm,  where  he  and  his  wife  died,  is  now 
owned  by  Thomas  Brothers. 

.-\fter  his  marriage.  Tohn  F.  Shonkwiler  remained  on  the  old  home  place 
for  a  time,  then  mo\-ed  to  a  farm  in  this  vicinity.  Seven  years  ago  he  went 
to  Belmore  and  remained  two  years,  coming  to  his  present  farm  five  years 
ago.  He  has  erected  excellent  buildings  on  the  same  and  has  a  well  im- 
proved and  valuable  place,  desirable  from  every  viewpoint.  It  joins  his 
grandfather's  old  place  on  the  north,  and  consists  of  ninety  acres,  and  he 
also  owns  twenty-five  acres  of  the  old  Carmichael  farm  and  has  two  hun- 
dred and  ninetv-six  acres  two  miles  south  of  the  ninety.  He  is  doing  well 
with  his  diversified  farming  and  stock  raising,  making  this  his  main  business. 

Mr.    Shonkwiler  has  always  been  a  Republican  and  at  one  time  was  a 


332  WEIK  S   HISTORY  OF 

candidate  for  county  commissioner.  His  family  consists  of  the  following 
children,  four  sons  and  three  daughters :  Daniel  lives  on  his  father's  old 
homestead  and  was  a  minister  in  the  United  Brethren  church  in  Indiana  and 
Illinois  for  nine  years ;  William  lives  on  the  old  Carmichael  farm ;  John  also 
lives  on  a  part  of  the  old  Shonkwiler  farm ;  Oliver  is  farming  in  JVIadison 
township;  Jane  is  single  and  living  at  home;  Amanda  married  William 
Boswell  and  lives  in  Parke  county;  Mary  married  George  Cricks,  of  Clinton 
township. 

The  father  of  these  children  is  a  member  of  the  United  Brethren  church, 
but  was  a  ^Methodist  early  in  life;  he  is  one  of  the  loyal  supporters  of  the 
Beech  Grove  church,  Putnam  countv. 


WARREN  PICKENS. 

The  names  of  those  men  who  have  distinguished  themselves  through  the 
possession  of  those  qualities  which  daily  contribute  to  the  success  of  private 
life  and  to  the  public  stability  and  who  have  enjoyed  the  confidence  and  re- 
spect of  those  about  them  should  not  be  permitted  to  perish.  Such  a  one  is 
Warren  Pickens,  whose  name  needs  no  introduction  to  the  readers  of  this 
work,  for  not  only  does  he  enjoy  a  wide  acquaintance  in  Putnam  county,  but 
the  sterling  qualities  which  characterize  him  have  brought  to  him  the  honor 
and  esteem  of  all  who  know  him. 

\\'arren  Pickens  is  a  native  son  of  the  county  in  which  he  lives,  having 
been  born  in  Jefferson  township  in  1846.  He  is  the  son  of  James  and  Matilda 
(Rogers)  Pickens.  James  Pickens,  who  was  born  in  1804,  was  the  son  of 
James  Pickens.  Sr.,  and  was  a  native  of  Harrison  county,  Kentucky.  Matilda 
Rogers  was  born  in  1814  and  was  the  daughter  of  Col.  George  and  Elizabeth 
(White)  Rogers,  of  Boone  county,  Kentucky.  In  that  county  Jarnes  Pickens 
and  Matilda  Rogers  were  married  and  for  a  few  years  they  followed  farm- 
ing there.  Seven  children  were  born  to  them,  namely:  Two  daughters  that 
died  in  infancy;  James  B.,  now  a  resident  of  Elwood,  Indiana;  Samuel  was  a 
member  of  Company  I,  Twenty-seventh  Regiment,  Indiana  Volunteer  In- 
fantr}-,  and  died  in  the  service  in  1864;  Warren  is  the  immediate  subject  of 
this  sketch;  Emily  J.,  who  died  in  1890.  was  the  wife  of  John  M.  Scott;  Mary 
C.  resides  in  Clo\erdale.  James  Pickens  and  wife  came  to  Cloverdale  town- 
ship. Putnam  county,  in  1835.  at  which  date  the  country  was  wild  and  un- 


PL'TXAM    COrXTV.    IXDIAXA.  333 

settleil,  their  nearest  neighbor  being  distant  a  mile  and  a  halt  and  the  land 
being  mostly  co\'ered  with  a  dense  growth  of  the  nati\e  timber,  in  which 
roamed  wolves,  panthers  and  other  wild  game.  Here  'Sir.  Pickens  entered  a 
tract  of  go\ernment  land,  three  miles  east  of  Cloverdale.  and  luiught  other 
land,  SM  that  his  total  hi_ildings  amonntcd  tD  'ine  hnn^lred  and  sixt\'  acres,  A 
few  }-ears  later.  nc)t  later  than  1840,  he  entered  another  tract  of  government 
land  in  Jefterson  tc^wnship,  this  cmint}',  and  also  l)onght  adjoining  land,  mak- 
ing one  hundred  and  sixt}-  acres  in  that  tract  also.  (])n  this  latter  place  there 
\\as  a  water-power  mill,  which  became  known  far  and  near  as  Pickens'  Mill, 
and  which  was  operated  with  cinisiderable  success  untd  1850.  The  elder 
Pickens  lived  on  this  faun  until  1S70.  when  he  moved  to  (do\enlale.  where 
he  spent  the  remainder  of  his  da\'s,  his  death  occin'ring  Xi:i\emljei"  i.  iSSc). 
His  wife  died  on  July  31.  18S3. 

Warren  Pickens  w;is  reared  on  the  home  farm  and  recei\'ed  his  earl\" 
education  in  the  cmmtrx-  schorjis  of  that  period,  being  compelled  the  most  ot 
the  time  to  walk'  twri  nules  to  the  s<diool.  which  was,  in  comparis(:)n  to  the 
schiH'iK  nf  todax",  svimew  hat  primiti\e  in  iiietliMiN  and  e'juipment.  .\  little 
later  he  began  teaching  school  during  the  winter  months,  apphing  himself 
to  fai'ui  wiirk  in  summer,  this  arr.angement  cintinuing  for  fi\c  or  six  \ears. 
Piuring  much  of  this  time  he  also  t.aught  writing  ■^clu'icil  in  the  ex'enings.  In 
those  d;n-s  his  wages  a\"eraged  two  (hollars  i"ir  Ic'^^  a  da_\'.  anil  the  da\''s  work 
was  long  and  he  wa-  CMinpelled  t'l  perform  all  the  ianit^ir  >er\  ice  :  beside^  this 
he  always  f.nmd  an  abundance  of  farm  chores  t' >  doi  at  It 'me  out  of  schoijl 
hours.  In  the  spring  of  lisfx)  ]\lr.  Pick'cns  commenced  farming  iin  his  (;)w  n 
accotmt  on  the  place  where  his  f.ather  had  first  settled,  three  miles  east  of 
CIi"i\'erdale.  and  as  the  farm  had  been  rented  out  for  a  nmiiber  i)f  ^■ears  it 
\\as  in  bad  shape  when  he  took  hi_")lil  of  it.  How  e\  er.  he  made  all  the  needed 
improvements  and  continued  to  ^uccessftilly  operate  it  dm-ing  the  fc)llowing 
ten  }ears.  Plis  wife  dying.  Mr.  Pickens  ga\-e  up  housekeeping  anrl  m(i\-ed  to 
( "lo\  erd.ale.  where  he  engaged  in  handling  lixestock'  for  fom"  rjr  fi\'e  \ears. 
being  during  the  following  three  and  a  half  \ears  engaged  in  the  butchering 
business.  He  is  still  resiiling  in  (~lo\-erdale.  where  he  has  a  pleasant  hi>me 
surrounded!  with  four  acres  of  land,  and  he  continues  the  operation  of  his 
f.arm,  though  not  In'mself  actix'cK'  engageil  in  work,  being  nciw  able  to  eniov 
the  fruits  ..f  his  former  efforts.  However,  he  will  ne\-er  "rust  "Ut."  for  he 
is  not  the  kind  of  a  m:m  who  can  sit  iilly  by  and  do  nothing,  but  he  is  alwa\-s 
occupied  with  something.  One  of  his  fa\orite  iliversir)ns  is  fishing,  at  which 
he  is  an  exjiert.  and  few  followers  of  Iz,i;d<  \\'alti''n  .are  m>'re  enthusiastic  or 
successful  than  he. 


334 


WEIK  S    HIST("JRV   OF 


In  iSuS  Mr.  Pickens  was  united  in  marriage  to  Hester  M.  Collins,  the 
(lau"-hter  <if  Whitfield  and  Mary  A.  Collins,  and  they  l)ecanie  the  parents  of 
two  children.  .\lva  K.  and  Oris  E.,  the  tdrnier  having  died  at  the  age  of  seven 
vears.  Oris,  who  lives  on  the  home  farm,  three  miles  east  nf  Cloverdale, 
married  Mvrtle  Watson,  the  daughter  of  James  M.  and  Malissa  W"atson,  and 
thev  ha\e  lour  children.  Clara,  Arthm"  E.,  Mar}'  Chloe  an<l  Warren.  Mrs. 
Hester  Pickens  died  in  1S7S  and  in  18S6  Mr.  Pickens  married  Mar}'  E.  Pot- 
torff,  the  daughter  of  Thomas  and  .\nn  hdizaheth  1  Ililtom  I'ottorff.  Her 
paternal  grandfather  was  a  nati\e  of  Germany  an<l  his  wife  was  a  native  of 
Ireland. 

Fratern.alK-  Mr.  Pickens  is  a  member  ol  the  Independent  Order  of  Odd 
Fellows  and  wa>  a  meniher  of  the  encampment  of  that  ijrder  until  it  was  dis- 
solved and  the  charter  surrendered.  Politically  he  is  a  strong  Repulilican  and. 
though  living  in  a  Democratic  stronghold,  he  came  very  near  election  as 
trustee.  He  is  not.  however,  a  seeker  after  oftice,  though  he  takes  an  intelli- 
gent interest  in  local  public  affairs.  ]\Irs.  Pickens  is  a  member  of  the  Aletlio- 
dist  Episcr)pal  church.  Thev  are  widely  known  and  botli  are  highly  esteemed 
bv  all  who  know  them. 


E\'AX  CLIXE. 

.Vniong  the  progre--si\e  and  enterprising  agricultm-ists  of  Putnam 
countv,  Indiana,  none  stands  higher  in  public  regard  than  does  the  gentleman 
whose  name  appears  at  the  head  of  these  paragraphs  and  who  is  engaged  in 
the  operatii'iu  oi  a  splendiil  and  well  cultivated  farm  in  Clo\  erdale  township. 
Mr.  (.'line  was  born  l"ebruar_\-  15,  o"^?-'.  in  this  township  and  is  a  son  of 
Peter  and  Marv  (  Carmack  )  Cline.  The  paternal  gramlparents  were  Jacob 
and  r.arliara  Cline.  The  Cline  fannly  came  original]}  from  C.erman_\-,  three 
Ijrothers  coming  together,  one  settling  in  Pennsylvania  and  another,  Jacob, 
locating  in  the  eastern  part  of  Tennessee.  Later  he  mcneil  to  Kentucky, 
where  because  of  a  defecti\e  title,  he  lost  his  land  and  crops.  During  the 
earlv  twenties,  while  Cloverdale  township,  Putnam  county,  was  first  being 
settled,  lacob  Cline  and  fannly  came  here  and  located  about  two  and  a  half 
miles  west  of  where  Clovenlale  now  is.  They  were  in  rather  poi^r  financial 
circumstances  ,it  that  time,  their  cash  capital  aniixmting  to  but  fifty  cents. 
But  thev  were  determined  W^  win  a  home  and  competence  and  went  willfully 
to  work  ti")  this  end.      lacob  Cline  entered  a  tract  of  gox'ernment  lami,  which 


PL-TNA.M    COLN'TY.    INDIANA. 


335 


was  covereil  with  the  primeval  forest  and  t^)  the  task  of  clearing  this  land 
and  renderinj;-  it  tit  for  cultivation  these  hardy  pioneers  applied  themselves. 
The  first  year  they  were  iinaijle  to  plant  their  own  ground  and  walked  back 
and  iV>rth  three  miles  h>  a  patch  of  cleared  land  which  they  rented  and  worked 
with  hoes.  They  raised  a  fair  crop  of  corn  and  other  stnfif  and  from  that 
time  forward  they  prospered  in  their  labors  and  eventuallv  developed  the 
l>Iace  into  one  of  the  best  farmsteads  in  the  commum'tv.  There  Jacob  Cline 
spent  the  remainder  of  his  years  and  reared  his  children,  his  death  occurring- 
ill  the  late  fi>rtie^.  He  was  twice  married  and  wa--  the  father  of  the  folh^w- 
ing  children:  Sarah  C.  l>irn  June  J_\  1700:  William,  born  fuly  11.  1-92; 
Samuel,  horn  .\ugust  jd.  \;')4:  Jacob.  July  iS.  1707;  James.  b,,rn  .\ugiist 
18,  1799;  Xancy.  born  Xovember  8.  1805:  Pegg}'.  June  J7.  1807;  Xicholas, 
born  March  17.  1S09:  Elizabeth,  borvi  March  11.  i8ri:  Catharine.  Iwrn 
-March  j8.  1813:  Peter.  Imrn  June  18.  1815:  Daniel,  born  Februar\-  11.  r8i-: 
Anderson,  burn  Februarv  [4.  !8_'0. 

Peter  Cline.  the  subject's  father,  was  Init  a  >""ung  man  when  he  accom- 
panied the  family  to  Indiana,  and  here  he  spent  his  remaining  davs.  His 
S(_-)n  Evan  was  reared  on  the  homestead  in  Clm-erdale  township  and  secured 
a  gwod  practical  education  in  the  district  sdiool-  of  the  neighborhood.  He 
h,i-  always  folhnxed  the  pursuit  of  agriculture  and  in  this  line  he  has  achieved 
a  dehnite  measure  of  success.  ?Ie  has  been  conducting  operations  on  his  own 
account  since  about  1878.  ha\ing  started  on  forty  acres  of  land  located  in  the 
west  part  of  the  township.  To  this  he  has  added  by  purchase  from  time  to 
time  until  now  he  is  the  owner  of  two  hundred  and  ten  acres.  In  188"  he 
bought  one  hundred  and  nine  acres  where  be  now  lives,  to  which  he  added  an 
eighty-acre  tract  adjoining,  having  soM  his  original  forty  acres.  Mrs.  Cline 
aKo  own>  tweiit}-  acres  of  land  adioining.  In  comiection  with  the  tilling  ,)f 
the  soil.  Mr.  Cline  also  gives  considerable  attention  to  the  raising  of  livestock. 
in  which  he  meets  with  gratifving  success. 

Mr.  Cline  married  ^Margaret  Coffman.  and  to  them  ha\e  been  born  the 
following  children  :  .\lva.  Elmer.  Cora.  Rosa.  Flora.  Mvrtle.  Retha  ami  Edna 
Cora  and  Retha  are  engaged  in  teaching  -chooj.  the  former  in  Clo\-erdaIe 
township,  thi-  county,  and  the  latter  in  Owen  count^■.  this  state.  In  matters 
political  .Mr.  tdine  a-si-nie-  an  indei)eiident  attitude,  believing  that,  in  local 
elections  at  least,  the  best  men  shonld  be  selected  for  public  office,  re-^fardless 
of  political  affiliations.  He  is  a  metnber  of  the  Horse-thief  Detecti\-e  .\sso- 
ciatic)!!.  He  gi\-es  his  sup]i(M-t  to  all  worth}'  mo\-ements  fiir  the  public  o-,^,-,,! 
and.  because  of  his  sterling  qualities,  he  enjoys  the  respect  and  confidence  of 
all  who  know  him. 


336  weik's  history  of 


WILLIAM  S.  EURRIS. 

Among  the  progrcssixe  and  enterprising  farmers  of  Clo\erclaIe  town- 
ship, Putnam  county,  Indiana,  is  numbered  the  well-known  gentleman 
whose  name  appears  as  the  caption  (jf  this  sketch.  A  lifelong  residence  in 
this  cuuntv  has  gixen  him  a  wide  acquaintance  and  wherever  known  he  is 
lu'ltl  in  the  highest  esteem  l)ecause  of  his  sterling  personal  qualities. 

William  S.  Rurris  is  a  native  son  of  Putnam  county,  his  birth  ha\ing 
occurred  here  on  the  rjtli  day  of  P'ebruar}-,  1S63.  lie  is  the  son  of  James  A, 
and  .Mar\-  .\.  (  Pierc\- )  P.urris.  The  father  was  born  in  Bourbon  county, 
Kentuckv.  on  a  farm,  and  was  a  son  of  Hezekiah  Eurris.  The  Burris  family 
is  believed  to  liave  been  ijf  Scotcli  r.n-igin  and  in  the  members  of  the  family 
are  to  he  found  those  sturdy  (|ualities  which  luu'e  characterized  that  race. 
Tames  .\.  Burris  came  to  Putnam  count}  about  1S3S.  being  then  in  his  young 
manhood,  and  shortP-  afterwards  he  married  Mary  A.  Piercy,  a  daughter 
of  John  Piercv.  He  engaged  in  teaching  school  in  Jefferson  tou-nship.  this 
count\-,  and  met  with  proncumcerl  success  in  this  calling  for  a  number  of 
years.  During  thi^  period  he  was  also  engaged  in  agriculture,  in  which  he 
was  successful.  lie  and  his  wife  were  the  parents  of  four  children,  namely: 
Tohn  B.,  lames  C  William  S.  and  P'lla.  John  B.  is  mentioned  elsewhere  in 
this  work.  lames  W  died  in  the  spring  of  iSSO.  William  S.  is  the  immediate 
subiect  of  this  sketch.  Llla  died  in  !88j.  at  the  age  of  si.xteen  years.  James 
A.  Burris.  the  father  (_)f  these  children,  died  in  July,  i8riO,  at  the  age  of 
thirtv-four  vear-;:  his  wido>v  i>  still  li\-ing  and  resides  in  Cloverdale. 

William  S.  I'.urris  was  reared  under  the  [larental  rnni  in  Jefferson 
tin\n-hip.  and  recei\cd  hi--  pi-climiuary  education  in  the  [lublic  schooL  of 
the  township.  Subsc(|ueiitl\-  lie  to.ik  a  co'iimercial  C(;ur^e  and  :{]>><  the 
teachers'  course  at  the  (/entral  Xormal  ('ollege,  at  Dan\i]le.  Indiana,  and 
dm-ing  the  tMlldwiug  tw  year-^  he  wa^  engaged  as  a  clerk  in  a  st<>re  in 
Cloverdale.  He  was  married  in  1SN5  and  at  that  time  he  bought  one  humlred 
and  sixty  acres  of  land  located  one  mile  south  of  Cloverdale,  to  the  operation 
of  which  he  devoted  hi'^  energies  until  October.  1005.  He  followed  a  general 
line  of  farming,  rai-ing  all  tlie  cmp-;  common  to  this  section  nt  the  cinuitr\-. 
also  gi\"ing  some  attention  {>>  the  rru'-ing  ',{  tine  li\-estock.  particularh'  Short- 
horn cattk\  Dm-oc  hogs,  Oxford  D'.wn  dieep  and  Percheron  hordes,  in  all 
of  which  he  was  very  successful.  He  was  enabled  to  purchase  more  land 
from  time  to  time  until  eventually  he  became  the  owner  of  .seven  hundred 
and  thirt\-  acres  of  -pjenilid  land,  all  in  one  tract,  besides  which  he  and  his 


WILLIAM  S     BfRRlS 


PL'TXAM    COUNTY.    INDIAXA.  ^T,/ 

brother  own  one  hundred  and  sixty  acres  jointly.  On  the  5th  of  October, 
1905,  Mr.  Burris  purchased  a  large,  attractive  and  comfortable  residence  in 
Cloverdale.  and  has  since  resided  there.  In  all  his  operations  he  show  ed  him- 
self to  be  a  man  of  practical  ideas  and  sound  judgment  and  his  success  has 
been  well  earned. 

On  October  5,  1885.  Mr.  Burris  was  married  to  Margaret  L.  Home, 
the  daughter  of  Thomas  and  Eliza  Home,  who  were  natives  of  North  Caro- 
lina, but  came  to  Indiana  some  years  before  the  birth  of  their  daughter,  Mrs. 
Burris.  To  ]\[r.  and  Mrs.  Burris  have  been  born  four  children,  namelv : 
Garnet  K..  Maude  M..  Dorothy  E.  and  Marjorie  E.,  the  latter  dying  Decem- 
ber 20,  1899,  at  the  age  of  two  years  and  seven  months.  The  three  older 
children  are  still  at  home  with  their  parents. 

Politically,  Mr.  Burris  renders  a  stanch  adherence  to  the  Democratic 
party,  in  the  success  of  which  he  is  deeply  interested,  though  he  does  not 
take  an  active  part  in  public  affairs,  preferring  to  devote  himself  to  his  own 
business  affairs.  However,  he  was.  in  December.  1895,  elected  county  com- 
missioner, serving  in  this  capacity  six  years  and  one  month,  and  giving  the 
ci'Ainty  efficient  and  appreciated  service.  In  e\ery  sphere  in  which  he  has 
exerted  himself.  Mr.  Burris  has  performed  his  full  part  and  his  efforts  have 
been  rewarded  with  a  due  meed  of  success.  He  is  an  ardent  supporter  of  all 
movements  having  for  their  object  the  advancement  of  the  best  interests  of 
the  communitv  and  is  numbered  among  its  leading  citizens. 


TACK  HUFFMAX. 


The  representative  farmer  and  enterprising  citizen  of  whom  tlie  biogra- 
pher writes  in  this  connection  belongs  to  one  of  the  <3ld  and  well  known 
families  of  Putnam  county  and  it  is  a  compliment  honorably  earned  to  as- 
cribe to  him  a  prominent  place  among  the  leading  men  of  the  community  in 
which  he  resides.  Edmund  Huffman,  father  of  the  subject,  was  a  native  of 
Nelson  county.  Kentucky,  where  his  birth  occurred  on  the  6th  day  of  August. 
1824,  being  a  son  of  Peter  and  Cynthia  Huffman,  who  about  the  year  1836 
moved  from  that  state  to  Putnam  county.  Indiana,  and  settled  in  Washington 
township.  Edmund  married,  April  5.  1849.  Louisa  Ann  Rightsell,  who  was 
born  .August  9.  1830.  the  union  resulting  in  the  birth  of  twelve  children, 
namely:  James  Robert.  Maria  F...  Cephas.   Douglass.  Ivan.   Daniel  V..  Lu- 

(22) 


T^^a  WEIK  S    HISTORY  OF 

cretia  A.,  General  Jackson,  Charles  H.,  ^Margaret  and  Greeley  R.,  of  whom 
Cephas  and  Daniel  V.  died  in  early  lite,  the  others  growing  to  mature  years. 

Edmund  Huffman  began  life  for  himself  as  a  tiller  of  the  soil  and  was 
only  sixteen  vears  old  when  he  left  home  to  make  his  own  way  in  the  world. 
He  worked  for  some  time  as  a  farm  hand  at  five  dollars  per  month,  which  he 
very  generously  turned  over  to  his  father,  but  after  his  marriage  set  up  his 
domestic  establishment  on  seventy  acres  of  land  in  Washington  township, 
which  he  purchased  about  that  time  and  on  which  he  continued  to  reside  until 
about  1866,  when  he  removed  to  the  farm  one  mile  south  of  Reelsville.  where 
he  made  his  home  during  the  twelve  or  fifteen  years  ensuing. 

In  manv  respects  Edmund  Huft'man  was  much  more  than  an  ordinary 
man.  Owing  to  his  limited  advantages  in  youth,  his  education  was  entirely 
neglected  and  it  is  said  that  he  did  not  learn  to  read  and  write  until  after 
his  marriage.  Notwithstanding  this  early  neglect,  he  afterwards  made  the 
most  of  his  opportunities  and  not  only  mastered  the  fundamental  branches 
as  taught  in  the  subscription  schools  of  his  day,  but  developed  extraordinary 
business  capacity,  as  is  indicated  by  the  fact  of  his  having  acquired  a  large 
fortune,  much  of  which  consisted  of  real  estate,  owning  at  one  time  fifteen 
hundred  acres  of  the  finest  land  in  Putnam  county.  He  was  a  staunch  Demo- 
crat, but  not  a  politician,  always  kept  abreast  of  the  times  on  the  leading  pub- 
lic questions  of  the  day  and  his  opinions  carried  weight  and  commanded  re- 
spect among  his  fellowmen.  In  1898  he  left  his  farm  and  removed  to  Reels- 
ville, where  he  built  a  large  modern  residence  in  which  he  spent  the  re- 
mainder of  his  life  in  honorable  retirement,  and  in  which  his  death  occurred 
on  the  1 6th  dav  of  September,  1900.  Mrs.  Huffman  did  not  long  survive  her 
husband,  dving  December  7th  of  the  same  year,  a  little  less  than  three  months 
after  his  decease. 

As  indicated  in  a  preceding  paragraph,  much  of  the  wealth  accumulated 
bv  Mr.  Huffman  consisted  of  land  which  he  had  carefully  selected  with  an 
eve  to  its  future  value.  Two  years  previous  to  his  removal  to  Reelsville  he 
divided  his  holdings  among  his  children,  giving  to  each  a  good  farm,  retain- 
ino-  for  himself  sufficient  means  to  enable  himself  and  wife  to  spend  the 
residue  of  their  lives  in  comfort  and  quietude.  In  all  of  his  business  rela- 
tions he  was  the  soul  of  honor  and  his  influence  was  ever  exerted  for  the 
o-ood  of  his  fellowmen.  His  career  affords  a  striking  illustration  of  what 
intellio'ence,  sound  judgment  and  tact  can  accomplish  in  gaining  success  in 
face  of  opposing  circumstances  and  his  example  may  be  profitably  imitated 
bv  the  young  man  whose  life  work  is  yet  to  be  accomplished. 

Jack  Huffman,  whose  name  appears  at  the  head  of  this  article,  was  born 
September  6,  1865.  on  the  farm  in  Washington  township  which  he  now  owns 


PUTXAM    COUNTY.    INDIANA.  339 

and  his  lite  thus  far  has  been  spent  within  tlie  geographical  limits  of  his  native 
county.  Reared  to  habits  of  industry,  he  early  laid  broad  and  deep  the 
foundation  for  his  future  course  of  action  and  from  his  youth,  being  animated 
by  a  laudable  ambition  to  become  something  more  than  a  mere  passive  factor 
in  the  affairs  of  men,  he  has  builded  wisely  and  well  and  is  today  a  man  of 
progressive  ideas  and  a  leading  citizen  of  the  township  in  which  he  resides. 
While  still  a  young  man  he  took  charge  of  the  home  farm,  consisting  of  three 
hundred  acres,  and  managed  the  same  for  his  father  until  1896,  Upon  the 
division  of  the  latter's  estate,  there  fell  to  him  as  his  share  three  hundred  and 
ten  acres  on  which  he  has  since  lived  and  prospered.  Two  years  later  he 
erected  the  fine  modern  dwelling  which  the  family  now  occupies  and  since  then 
has  made  a  number  of  improvements,  thus  adding  greatly  to  the  appearance 
and  \alue  of  the  farm,  which  at  this  time  is  one  of  the  finest  in  the  countv, 
surpassed  by  few  in  this  part  of  the  state, 

Mr,  Huffman  is  progressive  in  his  tendencies  and  cultivates  the  soil  ac- 
cording to  the  most  approved  methods  in  this  latitude,  realizing  bountiful  re- 
turns from  the  time  and  labor  expended  on  his  fields.  Like  the  majority  of 
enterprising  agriculturists,  he  devotes  considerable  attention  to  livestock, 
being  a  successful  breeder  of  fine  cattle  and  hogs,  the  grade  of  hogs  raised  on 
his  place  being  in  great  demand  throughout  the  central  part  of  the  state.  By 
continuous  experimenting  he  has  succeeded  in  developing  a  breed  of  hogs  that 
are  pronounced  absolutely  cholera  proof  and  for  these  there  is  also  a  large 
demand,  much  larger  than  he  can  possibly  supply.  Mr.  Huft'man  has  found 
it  just  as  easy  and  far  more  profitable  to  raise  thoroughbred  livestock  than 
the  common  inferior  breeds  and  as  a  result  he  makes  his  own  prices  and  never 
fails  to  receive  them.  His  example  in  this  respect  has  done  much  to  induce 
the  farmers  of  his  vicinity  to  improve  their  breeds  of  domestic  animals,  and 
he  is  also  free  with  his  counsel  and  advice,  which  his  neighbors  have  found 
of  great  practical  value, 

Mr.  Huffman's  financial  success  has  been  commensurate  A\-ith  the  energy 
and  ability  which  he  displayed  in  the  management  of  his  affairs,  and  he  is 
now  independent,  being  among  the  solid  m,en  of  his  township  and  county 
as  well  as  a  public  spirited  citizen  who  manifests  a  lively  interest  in  all  that 
concerns  the  material  and  moral  good  of  his  fellow  men. 

On  August  2.  1896.  Mr.  Huffman  was  united  in  marriage  with  Bessie 
Plummer,  daughter  of  J.  C.  and  Luellin  (Shoptough)  Plummer,  of  Washing- 
ton township  (see  sketch  of  J.  C.  Plummer),  the  union  being  blessed  with 
two  children,  Jackson  Reese  and  Olive  Lee.  Mrs.  Huffman  is  a  native  of 
Putnam  county,  born  and  reared  in  Washington  township,  and  was  twenty- 


340 


WEIK  S    HISTORY  OF 


four  years  of  age  when  she  was  married  to  Mr.  Huffman.  She  is  a  lady  of 
intelligence  and  sterling  worth,  presides  with  gentle  grace  over  her  household 
and  has  nobly  seconded  her  husband  in  all  of  his  efforts  to  rise  in  the  world. 
Mr.  Huffman  has  kept  out  of  politics  and  gives  his  support  to  the  candidates 
best  qualified  for  the  offices  to  which  they  aspire,  regardless  of  party  dictation 
or  influence.  He  enjoys  in  a  marked  degree  the  esteem  of  his  neighbors  and 
friends  and  is  a  true  type  of  the  enterprising,  up-to-date  farmer,  representa- 
tive citizen  and  intelligent,  high-minded  courteous  gentleman  whom  to  know 
is  to  esteem  and  honor. 


LUNA  W.  SELLER. 


In  studying  the  interesting  life  histories  of  many  of  the  better  class  of 
men.  and  the  ones  of  unquestioned  merit  and  honor,  it  will  be  found  that  they 
have  been  compelled,  very  largely,  to  map  out  their  own  career  and  furnish 
their  own  motive  force  in  scaling  the  heights  of  success  and  it  is  such  a  one 
that  the  biographer  is  pleased  to  write  of  in  the  following  paragraphs. 

Luna  W.  Seller,  whose  fine  farm  is  located  in  Jefferson  township,  Put- 
nam county.  Indiana,  was  born  in  the  city  of  Greencastle.  this  county,  on  the 
2 1st  day  of  December,  1868.  He  is  the  son  of  Theophilus  and  Myra  (Craw- 
ford) Seller.  Theophilus  Seller  was  born  in  Greencastle.  January-  21.  1827. 
the  son  of  John  F.  and  Rebecca  (Sellers)  Seller. 

John  F.  Seller,  one  of  the  first  settlers  of  Putnam  county,  was  born  in 
Harrison  county.  Kentucky.  February  22,  1791.  In  early  life  he  removed 
to  Garrard  county,  Kentucky,  where  he  married  Rebecca  Sellers  July  24, 
18 1 7.  She  was  a  native  of  Garrard  county,  born  November  12,  1797.  In 
1822  he  came  with  his  family  to  Putnam  county,  Indiana,  and  settled  on 
section  27,  Greencastle  township,  later  removing  to  section  21  of  that  town- 
ship. John  F.  and  Rebecca  Seller  had  twelve  children,  of  which  Theophilus. 
father  of  the  subject,  was  the  fifth  in  order  of  birth.  The  others  were: 
Delorians.  born  Januan,-  12.  1819:  James  W.  P..  born  December  4.  1820; 
Milton  H..  born  November  12.  1822;  Columbus  D..  born  October  11.  1824, 
and  died  October  4,  1853;  Bainbridge  B.,  born  August  18,  1828.  and  died 
August  II,  1829;  Louisa  J.,  born  February  14.  1830.  and  died  August  25, 
1846:  John  F..  born  September  28.  1831,  and  died  September  27,  1858:  Re- 
becca Ann,  born  July  20.  1833,  and  died  May  11.  1843;  Western  W..  born 
April  9,  1835:  Elizabeth  H..  born  February  i,  1838,  and  died  May  17.  1843; 


PUTNAM    COUNTY,    INDIANA.  34I 

Tabitha  C.  born  ]\lay  6,  1840,  and  Theopliilus  Seller,  who  became  a  physician 
and  was  well-know  n  as  a  highly  respected  citizen.    He  died  September  6,  1871. 

The  subject's  mother  was  born  in  1838  in  Hendricks  county,  Indiana, 
and  was  the  daughter  of  Moses  and  Melinda  (Churchman)  Crawford.  The- 
ophilus  Seller  received  a  good  preliminary  education  and  then  studied  medi- 
cine. He  followed  the  active  practice  of  his  profession  for  a  time,  but  find- 
ing that  line  of  work  detrimental  to  his  health  he  gave  up  his  professional 
work  and  thereafter  applied  himself  to  agricultural  pursuits  until  his  death, 
which  occurred  in  1871.  Sometime  after  his  death,  his  widow  married  Wal- 
lace Johnstone,  by  whom  she  has  a  daughter,  Minnie,  the  wife  of  Robert  C. 
Schell,  of  St.  Louis,  where  she  now  resides  with  them.  To  Theophilus  and 
Myra  Seller  were  born  three  children,  AValter,  Jennie  and  Luna.  Walter 
is  engaged  in  the  grocen'  business  in  Greencastle,  Jennie  is  the  wife  of  William 
Ranclel,  of  Greencastle. 

Luna  W.  Seller  was  reared  by  his  parents  and  received  his  education  in 
the  public  schools  of  Greencastle,  also  attending  an  academy  in  that  city. 
After  completing  his  education,  he  devoted  himself  to  farming,  with  which  he 
has  been  identified  continuously  since.  In  18S9  he  located  on  the  farm  in  sec- 
tion 15.  Jefferson  township,  where  he  now  resides.  He  had  formerly  owned 
one  hundred  and  ten  acres  of  the  old  home  farm,  but  now  his  holdings  in 
section  15  amount  to  one  hundred  and  ninety  acres,  nearly  all  of  which  is 
under  a  high  state  of  cultivation  and  yielding  bountiful  crops.  Mr.  Seller 
carries  on  general  farming,  raising  all  the  crops  common  to  this  section  of  the 
country.  He  has  also  given  some  attention  to  the  raising  of  live  stock,  with 
considerable  success.  In  1895  Mr.  Seller  built  a  substantial  and  attractive 
residence  and  the  property  is  otherwise  highly  improved,  its  appearance  re- 
flecting credit  on  the  owner. 

On  May  7,  1893,  Mr.  Seller  married  Nettie,  the  daughter  of  Francis  M. 
and  Sarah  E.  (Sandy)  AUee,  who  are  mentioned  elsewhere  in  this  work.  To 
this  union  has  been  bom  a  son,  Hubert,  who  is  now  a  student  in  the  high 
school  at  Greencastle. 

Politically  ilr.  Seller  is  a  Republican,  while  his  religious  affiliation  is 
with  the  Xew  Providence  Baptist  church.  Fraternally  he  is  a  member  of  the 
Knights  of  Pythias,  holding  membership  in  the  sulwrdinate  lodge  at  Belle 
Union.  He  is  a  man  of  splendid  personal  qualities  and  is  public  spirited  in 
his  attitude  toward  all  movements  for  the  advancement  of  the  best  interests 
of  the  community.  Because  of  his  genuine  worth  he  enjoys  the  esteem  of  all 
who  know  him. 


342 


WEIK  S   HISTORY  OF 


JOSEPH  A.  THOMAS. 


The  history  of  the  Thomas  family  in  Putnam  county  is  coincident  with 
much  of  the  important  and  interesting  history  of  this  locality  and  in  examin- 
ing the  local  records  we  find  that  many  members  of  this  worthy  family  of  the 
past  and  present  have  been  prominent  in  various  walks  of  life  locally  and  have 
always  discharged  their  duties  in  a  manner  befitting  high-grade  citizenship 
and  in  a  manner  that  never  failed  to  win  the  esteem  of  their  fellow  countrymen 
who  knew  them  best. 

Of  this  family,  Elzeaphus  Thomas  should  receive  our  first  consideration. 
He  was  long  a  well-known  citizen  of  Morton,  Clinton  township,  and  his  death 
occurred  September  22,  1889,  when  eighty-two  years,  ten  months  and  seven- 
teen days  old.  Elzeaphus  Thomas  was  the  son  of  Joel  and  Mary  (Stiles) 
Thomas,  the  former  of  Bath  county,  Kentucky.  Joel  Thomas  brought  the 
family  to  Putnam  county,  Indiana,  about  1825  and  entered  land  in  Clinton 
township,  one  mile  north  of  Morton,  and  there  spent  the  remainder  of  his 
life,  dying  at  an  advanced  age.  William  Thomas,  father  of  Joel,  came  here 
about  1828  and  settled  near  Pisgah  church,  but  soon  moved  to  the  Thomas 
farm  north  of  Greencastle,  on  the  place  where  H.  T.  Thomas  was  born.  His 
wife,  Fanny  Butcher,  married  in  Kentucky;  she  lived  to  be  about  seventy 
years  old.  William's  sons  besides  Joel  were  Isaac,  William,  George  and  Lewis. 
Isaac  was  a  soldier  in  the  Union  army ;  he  lived  in  Madison  township  until  his 
death;  William  spent  many  years  in  Parke  county,  where  he  died;  George 
also  lives  in  Parke  county,  and  Lewis  married  there.  Isaac  and  Joel  are  the 
only  living  ones  in  Putnam  county.  The  elder  Joel  Thomas'  children,  besides 
William  were,  John  and  James,  who  served  in  the  L'nion  army.  Elzeapiius 
Thomas  married  Ruth  .A.  Ralston,  who  died  Januan.-  22.  1876,  when  sixty-six 
years,  five  months  and  twenty-one  days  old.  Mr.  Thomas  settled  on  the  farm 
at  the  Morton  Corners  and  in  the  fifties  built  the  house  that  still  stands  there. 
Rudy  Burkett  having  recently  built  on  the  site  of  the  original  house. 
Mr.  Thomas  began  life  with  but  little,  but  prospering,  he  added  to  his  place 
until  he  became  one  of  the  well-to-do  and  influential  men  of  this  and  adjoin- 
ing counties,  owning  at  one  time  nineteen  hundred  acres  of  valuable  land, 
mostly  near  the  home  place,  so  that  he  could  ride  horseback  over  his  broad 
acres  and  give  it  his  personal  attention.  He  loaned  money  and  traded  in 
stock  extensively,  keeping  all  within  range.  He  paid  as  high  as  fifty  and 
sixty  dollars  per  acre  for  that  which  at  first  cost  only  four  or  five  dollars  per 
acre.     He  hauled  wheat  to  Lafavette  and  sold  it  for  thirty-seven  an<l  one-half 


PUTXAM    COrXTV,    INDIANA.  343 

cents  per  bushel.  He  was  a  keen  observer,  a  good  manager  and  was  very' 
successful  in  business.  .Although  often  importuned  to  do  so,  he  would  never 
hold  office,  being  a  Democrat,  but  no  politician.  His  family  consisted  of  eleven 
children,  named  as  follows:  John  H.  spent  his  life  in  this  county,  dying  at 
the  age  of  se\'entv-three  years  in  1903  ;  Eli.?:alieth  is  the  widow  of  George 
Frank  at  Morton;  ^Margaret  is  the  widow  of  George  Cooper  and  is  living  in 
Clinton  township;  ^larthy  Patsy  married  Richard  Lloyd,  lived  in  this  county 
and  died  when  past  sixty  years  of  age;  .\manda  Ellen,  wife  of  Harry  Randel, 
employed  in  the  bank  of  J.  L.  Randel  at  Greencastle;  James  X.  lives  in  Clinton 
township ;  Joseph  Andrew,  of  this  review ;  Rosanna  married  Ed.  Perkins  of 
Greencastle;  Sarah  Frances  is  the  wife  of  James  Cross,  of  Lebanon.  Indiana; 
Milton  E.  dierl  at  the  age  of  forty-se\en  years,  in  this  county ;  AFary  Augustus 
married  Rudy  H.  Eurkett,  of  Greencastle. 

Joseph  Andrew  Thomas,  whose  name  initiates  this  sketch,  was  born  .\pril 
10,  1843,  ^^  Morton,  Putnam  county,  on  a  farm  where  he  spent  his  lx>yhood 
days  until  the  breaking  out  of  the  Civil  war  when  he  showed  his  love  of 
country  by  enlisting  in  1861  in  Company  B,  Forty-third  Regiment  Indiana 
Volunteer  Infantry,  serving  with  much  credit  through  all  the  vicissitudes  of 
his  regiment  for  three  and  one-half  years.  He  was  captured  by  the  enemy  at 
Marks  Mills,  while  with  Steele,  while  on  detail  for  supplies,  and  he  was  later 
sent  to  Camp  Ford,  Tyler,  Texas,  placed  in  the  stockade  there  and  retained 
eleven  months  or  until  exchanged  in  March.  1S65.  He  was  compelled  to 
march  three  hundred  miles  on  short  rations,  in  reaching  Tyler.  He  relates 
that  his  Christmas  dinner  that  year  consisted  of  ox  tail  soup.  When  finally 
liberated  he  was  much  reduced  in  flesh,  but  he  never  regretted  his  service  to 
his  country. 

He  remained  with  his  father  until  his  marriage  in  1867  to  Nancy  C. 
Burkett.  who  was  twenty  years  old  at  that  time,  the  daughter  of  Benton  C. 
and  Rebecca  (  Xutgrass)  Burkett,  a  sketch  of  whom  appears  elsewhere  in 
this  work.  She  was  born  in  Russell  township,  this  county,  and  she  was  always 
always  known  by  the  soubriquet  of  "Xan." 

After  his  marriage  Mr.  Thomas  settled  in  Clinton  township,  near  wdiere 
his  brother  James  lives  and  there  he  remained  for  fourteen  years,  getting  a 
good  start,  then  bought  his  present  excellent  place  at  [Morton,  and  he  bought 
a  fann  in  Russell  township  which  he  operated  very  successfully.  He  received 
one  hundred  anrl  forty-two  acres  of  his  father's  farm  and  he  has  owned  over 
five  hundred  acres  in  all  at  one  time,  most  of  which  has  been  given  to  his 
sons.  He  has  been  an  excellent  manager  and  is  regarded  as  one  of  the  lead- 
ing agriculturists  of  this  township. 


344  WEIK  S    HISTORY  OF 

To  'SW.  and  Mrs.  Joseph  A.  Thomas  three  children  were  born,  one  of 
whom  died  when  nineteen  years  old,  named  Zoe;  Alva  V.  owns  one  hundred 
and  sixtv  acres  near  Brick  Chapel.  Monroe  township;  he  married  Gertrude 
O'Hair  and  they  have  two  children,  Russell  and  Orville.  Ottis  M.  has  re- 
mained single  and  he  operates  the  home  farm.  Joseph  A.  Thomas  is  a  good 
Democrat  but  no  politician,  and  he  is  known  to  be  a  man  who  is  deeply  inter- 
ested in  the  welfare  of  his  neighbors,  with  whom  he  is  uniformly  popular 
because  of  his  honesty. 


JOHX  W.  O'DAXIEL. 

The  historv  of  the  loyal  sons  and  representative  citizens  of  Putnam 
countv  would  not  be  complete  should  the  name  that  heads  this  review  be 
omitted.  \Vhen  the  fierce  fire  of  rebellion  was  raging  throughout  the  South- 
land, threatening  to  destroy  the  Union,  he  responded  with  patriotic  fervor  to 
the  call  for  volunteers  and  in  some  of  the  bloodiest  battles  for  which  that  great 
war  was  noted  proved  his  loyalty  to  the  government  he  loved  so  well. 

The  subject  is  descended  from  sturdy  Scotch  ancestry,  where  the  name 
was  formerlv  spelled  "O'Donnell."  The  paternal  grandfather,  William 
O'Daniel.  was  a  native  of  Scotland,  while  his  mother  was  a  native  of  Ger- 
man v.  \\'illiam  O'Daniel,  Sr..  emigrated  to  the  United  States  and  among 
his  children  was  a  son,  also  named  William,  father  of  the  subject  of  this 
sketch.  William  O'Daniel.  Jr.,  who  was  born  after  the  family  came  to  Amer- 
ica, became  a  shipbuilder  in  New  Jersey,  removing  later  to  Pennsylvania,  and 
eventuallv  locating  near  Columbus,  Ohio,  where  he  followed  the  coopering 
business.  In  the  fall  of  1852  the  family  came  to  Owen  county,  Indiana,  lo- 
cating near  Cataract,  where  the  father  had  a  contract  to  do  the  coopering  for 
the  mill  there.  In  1854  the  family  removed  to  Cloverdale  and  in  August,  of 
the  year  following,  the  father  died.  His  widow  lived  to  be  eighty-four  years 
old.  her  death,  on  May  24,  1909,  having  been  caused  by  blood  poison.  Up  to 
her  last  ilhiess  she  had  enjoyed  remarkably  good  health.  William  O'Daniel. 
Tr..  was  twice  married.  Bv  the  first  union  were  bom  Elijah.  George,  Wash- 
ington. Eliza.  Maria.  Priscilla.  Rachael.  Sally  Ann  and  William  R.  The  chil- 
dren bv  the  second  marriage,  which  was  to  Emily  Hoklren.  were  George  W.. 
John  \\'.,  Louis  R..  Thomas  J.  and  Uriah  V.  George  W.  was  a  member  of 
the  Fifteenth  Regiment  Indiana  Volunteer  Infantry  during  the  Civil  war  and 
died  at  Xashville.  Tennessee.  Louis  R.  died  at  Cloverdale  in  young  man- 
hood. Thomas  J.  resides  at  Cloverdale  and  Uriah  V.  at  Greencastle.  All 
the  children  were  horn  in  Ohio  excepting  the  last  named. 


PUTNAM    COUNTY.    INDIANA.  345 

Ji^hn  W.  O'Daniel  was  born  June  Ji,  1845,  at  the  old  home  on  the  Na- 
tional road  just  east  of  Columbus,  Ohio.  In  1852  he  came  with  his  parents 
to  Cataract.  Owen  county,  Indiana.  He  spent  two  years,  1857-58,  in  Illi- 
nois. In  August,  1861,  Mr.  O'Daniel  enlisted  in  Company  A,  Fifty-ninth 
Regiment  Indiana  Volunteer  Infantry,  which  command  was  assigned  to  the 
Department  of  the  West,  under  Generals  Pope.  Sherman  and  Grant.  They 
took  part  in  the  siege  of  Vicksburg,  including  the  several  severe  engage- 
ments in  that  immediate  vicinity  and  at  Jackson,  Mississippi,  The  regi- 
ment then  went  back  to  Black  River  and  at  Champion's  Hill  the  regiment 
took  part  in  a  bloody  charge  that  cut  the  enemy's  forces  in  two.  Mr.  O'Daniel 
was  present  at  the  cai)ture  of  Vicksburg  and  saw  Generals  Grant  and  Pember- 
ton  together  under  the  historic  tree  arranging  the  terms  of  surrender.  The 
command  was  then  sent  to  Tennessee  and  took  part  in  the  battles  of  Shiloh 
and  Missionary'  Ridge  and  others,  followed  which  was  the  hard  campaign 
down  to  Atlanta,  many  battles  and  skirmishes  being  engaged  in  on  the  way. 
.\fter  General  McPherson's  lamentable  death  the  company  to  which  the  subject 
belonged  was  assigned  as  a  body  guard  to  accompany  the  remains  to  the 
rear.  The  subject  then  participated  in  Sherman's  celebrated  march  to  the 
sea.  assisted  in  the  capture  of  Columbia,  South  Carolina,  from  which  point 
he  proceeded  w-ith  the  regiment  to  Wilmington,  North  Carolina,  where  he 
received  an  honorable  discharge,  having  served  six  months  after  the  expira- 
tion of  his  period  of  enlistment.  He  passed  through  many  severe  experi- 
ences and  hardships  and  proved  a  valiant  and  courageous  soldier.  At  \'icks- 
burg  a  shell  burst  so  near  his  head  that  the  concussion  destroyed  an  ear 
drum,  injuring  his  hearing. 

In  1882  Mr.  O'Daniel  was  seriously  injured  in  an  explosion  of  dyna- 
mite, suffering  the  loss  of  his  right  hand  and  wrist.  Since  1880  he  has  been 
engaged  in  the  real  estate,  insurance,  patent  and  pension  business  at  Clover- 
dale,  in  which  he  has  met  with  a  gratifying  degree  of  success.  In  1909  he 
received  from  the  Home  Insurance  Company  a  beautiful  medal,  in  testimony 
of  the  fact  that  he  had  been  connected  with  the  company  for  twenty-five 
years.  He  is  a  man  of  good  business  qualifications  and  sound  judgment 
anrl  is  numliered  among  the  leading  men  of  his  community. 

Politicallv  Mr.  O'Daniel  is  a  staunch  Republican,  though  not  an  office- 
seeker.  Under  the  old  statutes,  when  one  man  could  hold  several  offices  at 
the  same  time,  he  served  as  clerk,  treasurer  and  assessor  of  Cloverdale,  but 
aside  from  this  he  has  never  been  connected  with  public  official  life.  Fra- 
ternallv  he  is  a  member  of  Gen.  Frank  White  Post.  No.  422.  Grand  Army  of 


346 


WEIK  S    HISTORY  OF 


the  Republic,  at  Cloverdale.  Religiously  he  and  his  wife  and  their  son  are 
members  of  the  Methodist  Episcopal  church  at  Cloverdale  and  take  an  active 
interest  in  its  work. 

Mr.  O'Daniel  has  been  married  three  times.  In  1S70  he  married  Sarah 
^latilda  Brown,  daughter  of  Thompson  Brown,  and  to  them  was  born  a 
daughter,  Eva  M.,  who  now  lives  with  her  maternal  grandfather.  Mrs. 
Sarah  O'Daniel  died  on  September  18,  1883,  and  subsequently  2vlr.  O'Daniel 
married  Minnie  E.  Horn,  daughter  of  Thomas  and  Eliza  (Douglas)  Horn. 
A  son,  born  to  this  union,  died  in  infancy.  The  wife  and  mother  died  on  ^lay 
10,  1899,  and  on  June  3.  1890,  Mr.  O'Daniel  married  Lucy  Branham.  daugh- 
ter of  William  G.  and  Sarah  E.  (Hughes)  Branham.  William  Branham 
was  a  lifelong  school  teacher  and  was  the  first  superintendent  of  schools  of 
Putnam  county,  later  following  farming.  To  the  last  marriage  of  the  sub- 
ject has  been  born  a  son.  \\'illiam  Wesley. 


HENRY  CLAY  DARXALL. 

A  fine  type  of  pioneer  farmer,  whose  life  covers  practically  the  history 
of  Putnam  county  with  which  he  has  been  identified  in  a  most  honorable 
way,  is  the  subject  of  this  sketch.  In  the  twilight  of  his  existence,  retired 
from  the  active  struggles  and  hard  work  with  which  he  was  long  so  familiar. 
he  is  able  to  look  back  complacently  to  his  boyhood  days  and  contrast  them 
with  the  circumstances  surrounding  the  youth  of  the  present  generation.  He 
is  justified  in  taking  pardonable  pride  in  reflecting  on  the  part  he  took  in  mak- 
ing modern  Indiana  possible  and  it  is  but  a  just  compensation  that  he  has 
lived  to  enjoy  the  comforts  and  luxuries  that  have  come  to  the  class  to  whicli 
he  belongs.  \\'here  formerly  he  trudged  through  mire  and  miserable  mud 
roads,  he  is  now  able  to  travel  at  swift  speed  over  fine  pikes  ramifying  in 
all  directions.  Instead  of  going  miles  for  his  mail,  he  finds  it  at  his  door 
every  morning,  delivered  free  of  charge.  Messages  to  friends,  formerly 
delivered  by  slowgoing  letters  or  uncertain  messengers,  may  now  be  com- 
municated by  word  of  mouth  to  any  part  of  the  county  by  that  marvelous 
product  of  electricity,  the  telephone.  It  is  pleasing  to  see  on^  of  the  old  pio- 
neers surviving  in  good  health  to  get  the  benefit  of  the  marvels,  in  wliich  he 
bore  his  full  part.  His  family  originated  in  Kentucky,  both  his  father  and 
mother  being  natives  of  Mt.  Sterling,  in  that  state.  Turpin  Damall  was  born 
Augu.st  8.   1799.  and  Louisa  Yeates.  whom  he  married,   was  born   May   7. 


PL'TXAM    COUNTY.    INDIANA.  347 

1807.  They  came  to  Putnam  county  in  183 1  and  entered  a  section  of  land  in 
Clinton  township,  worth  then  a  dollar  or  two,  but  now  commanding  from 
one  hundred  and  twenty-five  dollars  to  one  hundred  and  fifty  dollars  an  acre. 
This  difference  in  value  of  itself  marks  as  no  words  could  do  the  progress  of 
Putnam  county  during  the  last  eighty  years.  Mr.  Darnall  was  a  Whig,  then 
a  Republican,  but  the  only  ofifice  he  ever  held  was  that  of  captain  of  militia 
while  living  in  Kentucky.  This  fine  pioneer  pair  had  seven  children,  William, 
Nancy.  Sarah.  Livonia,  James  F.,  Henry  Clay  and  Mary.  The  father  died 
in  August,  i88r,  and  the  mother  on  March  28,  1888. 

Henry  Clay  Darnall.  the  only  surviving  member  of  his  father's  family, 
was  born  in  Putnam  county.  Indiana,  October  12.  1832.  He  is  able  to  tell 
all  about  the  old  log  school  house,  as  it  was  the  only  seminary  of  learning 
into  which  he  entered.  He  has  pleasing  recollections  of  the  greased-paper 
windows,  the  hard  slab  benches  and  the  puncheon  floor,  to  say  nothing  of  the 
rosy-cheeked  girls,  then  full  of  laughter  and  freedom  from  care,  but  now,  alas, 
all  passed  away.  Mr.  Darnall  remained  with  his  father  on  the  farm  until  he 
was  twenty-one  years  old  and  many  was  the  hard  lick  he  struck  with  an  ax 
or  mattock  in  getting  things  in  shape  to  raise  crops.  The  training  was  good 
for  him,  however,  and  he  got  the  benefits  afterward  in  life,  from  the  practical 
knowledge  obtained  and  the  good  health,  of  which  the  foundations  were  laid 
by  his  outdoor  life  on  the  farm  in  his  youth  and  early  manhood.  He  looks 
back  with  pride  to  the  fact  that  he  cast  his  first  vote  for  the  young  Repub- 
lican party  when  John  C.  Fremont  was  the  candidate  in  the  fifties.  Mr. 
Darnall  has  always  been  enthusiastic  in  Masonry  and  has  been  a  member  of 
that  noble  order  for  fifty-four  years.  He  belongs  to  Lodge  Xo.  75,  Free  and 
Accepted  Masons,  at  Bainbridge  and  has  held  numerous  offices  connected  with 
the  fraternitv.  He  is  of  religious  temperament  and  a  member  of  the  Method- 
ist church  at  Bainbridge. 

On  September  11.  i860.  ^Ir.  Darnall  married  Elizabeth  L.  Bridges, 
born  July  12.  1840.  and  a  daughter  of  Charles  Boles  and  Rachel  (Lockridge) 
Bridges,  both  early  pioneers  of  Putnam  county.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Darnall  have 
six  children:  Flora  E.,  born  December  9,  1861,  married  O.  M.  Batman; 
Charles  T..  born  February  4,  1864.  married  ]VIamie  Fry,  and  resides  at  In- 
dianapolis; Lena  R..  born  January  6,  1866,  is  the  widow  of  William  R.  Todd, 
who  died  September  29.  1906;  Franklin  DeWitt,  born  November  24.  1869, 
married  Prudie  Allen,  and  is  in  the  general  merchant  tailoring  business  at 
Butte.  Montana;  Nellie  P..  born  April  22.  1876,  is  the  wife  of  Charles  Young, 
who  is  engaged  in  the  handle  factory  business  at  Poplar  Bluff.  Missouri ; 
William  C.  born  August  15.  1878.  married  Cecil  Frank  and  is  railroading  at 
Kansas  Citv.  Missouri. 


34^  weik's  history  of 

]Mr.  Darnall  is  a  well  preserved  man,  of  good  health  and  still  enjoying 
life  to  the  full.  At  one  time  he  owned  three  hundred  forty  acres  of  land,  but 
has  disposed  of  most  of  this  and  now  retains  only  a  fine  farm  of  seventy  acres. 
Though  practically  retired,  he  still  keeps  an  eye  on  farming  matters  and  in- 
sists that  everything  shall  be  run  in  shipshape.  He  is  one  of  the  type  that 
make  a  good  model  for  the  imitation  of  the  rising  generation,  who  may  learn 
from  him  the  value  of  sobriety,  industry  and  the  painstaking  care  for  details 
without  which  there  can  be  no  permanent  success  in  business. 


THE  RISSLER  FAAHLY. 

This  prominent  old  family  has  been  so  closely  identified  with  the  settle- 
ment and  development  of  certain  parts  of  Putnam  county  that  the  histon*-  ot 
one  is  pretty  much  the  history  of  both.  The  Risslers  are  of  German  origin 
and  were  first  represented  in  the  United  States  by  an  immigrant  from  the 
Fatherland  who  settled  many  years  ago  among  the  Blue  Ridge  mountains  of 
Virginia,  where  he  established  a  home  and  reared  a  family  of  five  sons  and 
two  daughters,  all  but  two  of  whom  lived  and  died  among  the  rugged  scenes 
of  their  native  state. 

William  Rissler,  the  son  who  left  the  Virginia  homestead  and  came  to 
Indiana,  was  bom  October  12,  1797,  and  when  a  young  man  married  Susan 
Boone,  a  sister  of  the  noted  hunter  and  pioneer,  Daniel  Boone,  who  figured 
so  prominently  in  the  early  annals  of  Kentucky  and  elsewhere  on  the  frontier. 
A  sister  of  William  Rissler  became  the  wife  of  Squire  Boone.  Daniel's  brother, 
who  took  an  active  part  in  the  history  of  southern  Indiana  and  Kentucky  and 
later  \\ent  to  Iowa,  locating  on  the  present  site  of  Boonesboro  where  his  son, 
Tyler  Boone,  and  a  daughter.  Myrtle,  still  reside. 

William  Rissler  came  to  Putnam  county  in  1S25  and  purchased  from 
the  go\ernment  the  tract  of  land  in  Washington  township  now  owned  by  his 
grandson.  George  Rissler,  riding  to  Vincennes  to  make  the  entry  and  receiving 
a  patent  bearing  the  signature  of  John  Ouincy  Adams,  President  of  the  United 
States.  Later,  in  183 1.  he  entered  land  adjoining  his  original  purchase  and 
in  1838  he  purchased  a  third  tract  in  the  same  locality,  the  patent  for  which 
was  signed  by  President  Van  Buren.  William  Rissler  was  a  miller  by  trade 
and  shortly  after  settling  in  Putnam  county  he  erected  a  mill  on  Walnut  creek, 
near  what  is  known  as  the  Hufifman  Bridge,  and  it  was  greatly  prized  by  the 
community,  he  operating  this  mill  for  a  number  of  years  with  gratifying  sue- 


PUTNAM    COUNTY,    INDI.>a^A.  349 

cess.  In  due  time  he  cleared  and  improved  a  good  farm  and  became  one  of 
the  leading  men  of  the  township  in  which  he  lived,  having  always  taken  an 
active  part  in  the  development  of  the  country-  and  used  his  influence  for  the 
social  and  moral  ad\ancement  of  his  neighborhood.  In  his  old  age  he  turned 
his  business  over  to  his  son  Moses  and  spent  the  last  few  years  of  his  life 
at  the  home  of  his  daughter,  dying  in  the  month  of  February,  1884:  his  wife, 
who  was  born  October  24.  1802.  departed  this  life  in  October,  1885. 

The  following  are  the  names  of  the  children  of  William  and  Susan  Riss- 
ler :  Hiram,  who  died  in  1875:  Phoebe  Ann,  wife  of  Robert  Rollins,  both  de- 
ceased: George,  who  lives  in  Wayne  county,  Iowa,  aged  eighty  years;  Harriet, 
\viflow  of  the  late  Joseph  Rissler,  lives  in  Washington  township,  ha\ing 
reached  the  age  of  seventy-eight :  Lewis,  lives  in  Brown  county,  Iowa  :  John  T., 
a  resident  of  Washington  township,  Putnam  county,  and  Moses,  whose  birth 
occurred  at  the  family  homestead  March  14,  1839.  During  the  father's  last  ill- 
ness Moses,  the  youngest  son  of  the  family,  looked  after  his  father's  comfort 
and  interests  and  after  his  death  took  charge  of  the  farm,  which  he  managed 
so  efficiently  that  within  a  comparatively  brief  period  all  indebtedness  against 
the  estate  was  settled  and  its  affairs  satisfactorily  adjusted.  Subsequently  he 
paid  off  the  heirs  and  in  due  time  became  owner  of  the  farm  which,  as  already 
indicated,  is  now  in  possession  of  his  son,  George  Rissler.  one  of  the  leading 
agriculturists  of  the  township. 

Afoses  E.  Rissler  was  reared  on  the  above  farm,  receiveel  his  educational 
training  in  the  public  schools  and  on  attaining  his  majority  began  tilling  the 
soil  upon  his  own  responsibility,  which  honorable  calling  he  followed  with 
success  and  profit  the  remainder  of  his  days.  Louisa  Pallom,  whom  he  mar- 
ried in  his  young  manhood,  was  born  July  24,  1845,  in  Ohio  and  at  the  age 
of  two  years  was  brought  to  Indiana  by  her  parents,  Joseph  and  Lydia  (Trie) 
Pallom,  and  grew  to  maturity  in  Clay  county. 

About  the  vear  1884  Mr.  Rissler  moved  to  the  farm  in  Washington 
township  where  his  son  Morton  now  lives,  having  previously  purchased  other 
lands  in  the  county,  including  what  is  known  as  the  Rollings  farm,  also  a  tract 
of  one  hundred  sixtv  acres  of  bottom  land,  to  which  he  afterwards  moved  and 
on  which  he  continued  to  live  and  prosper  until  his  death,  in  the  month  of 
July,  1905.  His  widow,  who  still  makes  her  home  in  Washington  township, 
is  an  estimable  and  popular  lady  whose  high  character  and  beautiful  life  have 
won  the  lasting  friendship  of  those  among  whom  her  lot  has  been  cast. 

}ifo.ses  B.  and  Louisa  Rissler  had  four  children,  George,  the  oldest,  who 
is  living  on  the  family  homestead,  ^forton  L. :  Emma,  who  married  E.  P. 
Aker.  of  Washington  township,  and  Rosa,  the  wife  of  Clarence  Wright,  who 
resides  near  Bis:  Walnut  church. 


350  VVEIK  S   HISTORY  OF 

Morton  L.  Rissler  was  born  September  15,  1866,  and  spent  his  early 
life  amid  the  healthful  influence  and  excellent  discipline  of  the  country  and 
while  still  a  mere  lad  became  familiar  with  the  rugged  duties  of  the  farm. 
He  remained  at  home  until  his  twenty-fourth  year,  at  which  time  he  chose 
a  companion  and  helpmeet  in  the  person  of  Maggie  Huffman,  with  whom  he 
was  united  in  the  bonds  of  wedlock  on  the  13th  day  of  October,  1889.  ]Mrs. 
Rissler  was  born  in  Putnam  county,  Indiana.  March  20.  1S70,  being  a  daugh- 
ter of  Edmund  and  Louisa  Ann  Huffman,  notice  of  whom  may  be  found  by 
reference  to  the  sketch  of  Douglas  Huffman  on  another  page  of  this  work. 
Securing  seventy-five  acres  of  the  old  homestead  at  their  marriage,  Mr.  and 
Mrs.  Rissler  in  1906  returned  to  the  same  and  have  made  their  home  there 
since.  Previous  to  that  date,  however,  ]Mr.  Rissler  purchased  other  real  estate 
in  various  parts  of  the  county  and  at  the  death  of  his  wife's  father  he  came 
into  possession  of  another  fine  farm  of  three  hundred  thirty-three  acres,  which 
he  manages  in  connection  with  the  place  where  he  lives. 

Mr.  Rissler  is  energetic  and  progressive  in  the  most  liberal  acceptance 
of  the  terms  and  as  a  farmer  and  stock  raiser  ranks  among  the  most  success- 
ful men  of  his  calling"  in  the  county.  He  has  owned  several  farms  at  different 
times,  but  is  now  mainly  concerned  with  the  two  above  mentioned,  which  are 
about  one  mile  apart  and  situated  in  one  of  th€  finest  agricultural  districts  in 
this  part  of  the  state.  He  has  made  many  valuable  improvements  on  his  land 
in  the  way  of  buildings,  etc.,  and  cultivates  the  soil  according  to  the  most  ap- 
proved modern  methods,  devoting  special  attention,  however,  to  livestock, 
principally  cattle  and  hogs,  which  he  breeds  and  sells  in  large  numbers  everv' 
year.  The  Rissler  farm  is  pronounced  one  of  the  finest  and  most  productive 
in  Putnam  county,  its  every  feature  indicating  the  presence  of  a  broad-minded 
American  agriculturist,  who  believes  in  the  dignity  of  his  vocation.  Neither 
money  nor  labor  has  been  spared  in  making  the  place  beautiful  and  attractive, 
and  in  all  the  essentials  of  a  desirable  modern  home  there  is  little  to  be  added. 
.  ^[r.  Rissler  is  a  Republican  in  politics  and  manifests  an  active  interest  in 
the  leading  questions  and  issues  of  the  time.  In  religious  views  he  holds 
to  the  Baptist  creed  and  with  his  wife  belongs  to  the  Big  Walnut  church,  of 
which  his  parents  were  also  communicants,  the  present  building  having  been 
erected  by  his  father. 

Mr.  and  Mrs.  Rissler  have  four  living  children,  viz :  Delpha  Hazel,  Clyde 
Hansel,  Harlan  Moses  and  Otis  Herschel.  Gladys  }ilarie  dying  when  two  years 
old  and  another  dying  in  infancy.  The  children  are  bright  and  intelligent  and 
nothing  is  being  spared  in  providing  for  their  educational  training,  to  the  end 
that  they  may  grow  up  to  be  an  honor  to  their  parents  and  a  blessing  to  the 
world. 


PUTNAM    COUNTY,    INDIANA. 


A.    J.    OWEN. 

^Vhile  success  cannot  be  achieved  without  unflagging  industry,  the  futil- 
ity of  effort  is  often  noticeable  in  the  business  world  and  results  from  the 
fact  that  it  is  not  combined  with  sound  judgment.  Many  a  man  who  gives 
his  entire  life  to  toll,  earnest  and  unremitting,  never  acquires  a  competence, 
but  when  iiis  labor  is  well  directed,  prosperit}'  always  follows.  Mr.  Owen  is 
one  whose  work  has  been  supplemented  by  careful  management  and  today  he 
is  numbered  among  the  successful  agriculturists  of  the  township  in  which  he 
lives. 

A.  J.  Owen  is  the  son  of  George  Owen,  who  was  bom  in  Clark  county,  In- 
diana, on  November  21,  18 jo,  and  the  latter  was  the  son  of  Levi  Owen, 
who  was  born  February  7,  1795.  George  Owen  came  to  Putnam  county  in 
1836,  and  lived  here  continuously  until  his  death,  which  occurred  on  the  7th 
of  October.  1903.  After  coming  to  Putnam  county  he  was  married  to  Mar- 
garet Stobaugh,  a  member  of  a  prominent  old  pioneer  family  of  Virginia  who 
spent  their  first  winter  in  Indiana  at  Indianapolis.  They  became  the  parents 
of  four  children,  namely:  Levi,  .\.  J.,  John  F.,  and  .Anna  Eliza,  who  died 
in  infancy.  The  subject's  grandmother,  Sarah  Shaker  Owen,  was  born  on 
January  2,  1803,  in  Clark  county,  Indiana,  in  a  fort,  being  the  first  white 
child  born  in  the  territory.  The  Shaker  family  was  of  German  origin.  Sarah 
Shaker  was  married  to  Mr.  Owen  in  1819  and  their  marriage  was  blessed  with 
ten  children,  namely:  George.  Rachael,  Mordecai,  Sarah,  Levi,  Elizabeth, 
Hugh,  Mary,  Indiana,  Evan,  all  of  whom  grew  to  mature  years.  Levi,  while 
on  a  trip  with  his  father,  was  bitten  by  a  dog,  from  the  effects  of  which  he 
died  after  his  return  home.  Evan  left  home  at  the  age  of  si.xteen  years,  about 
the  opening  of  the  Civil  war,  and  has  not  been  heard  from  since.  The  mem- 
bers of  this  family  are  now  all  deceased  excepting  Mordecai,  who  resides 
at  Lebanon,  Boone  county,  Indiana,  being  now  eighty-five  years  old.  ' 

The  subject  of  this  sketch  was  born  .'Vpril  16,  1856,  and  was  reared  under 
the  parental  roof.  He  secured  his  preliminary  education  in  the  public  schools, 
supplementing  this  by  attendance  at  a  normal  school  at  Ladoga,  thus  acquiring 
a  sound,  practical  education.  Since  reaching  manhood  Mr.  Owen  has  given 
his  attention  mainly  to  agriculture.  He  also  served  as  secretary  of  the  Farm- 
ers' Co-operative  Insurance  Company.  It  is  as  a  husbandman,  however,  that 
Mr.  Owen  has  achieved  his  greatest  success  and  among  the  farmers  of  Floyd 
township  he  occupies  a  conspicuous  position.     His  farm  is  well  improved  and 


352  WEIK  S    HISTORY  OF 

has  been  maintained  at  a  higli  standard  of  productivity,  the  property  being 
also  well  improved  in  every  respect.  Mr.  Owen  is  progressive  in  his  methods, 
keeping  in  touch  with  the  most  advanced  ideas  relating  to  the  science  of  agri- 
culture, consequently  he  is  able  to  realize  handsome  returns  for  the  labor  be- 
stowed. 

A  stanch  Democrat  in  his  political  views,  Mr.  Owen  has  at  all  times  given 
his  party  earnest  support  and  in  1888  he  was  elected  trustee  of  Floyd  town- 
ship, serving  five  years  and  rendering  his  constituents  an  efficient  and  satisfac- 
tory administration  of  the  office. 

On  the  i6th  of  September.  1883.  Mr.  Owen  was  united  in  marriage  to 
Lydia  B.  Wilson,  a  daughter  of  Michael  and  Elizabeth  (Black)  Wilson,  both 
of  whom  were  natives  of  Kentucky.  To  this  union  were  born  two  children, 
namely:  Stella  M.,  born  January  28,  1884,  and  George  M.,  born  March  26. 
18S7.  The  mother  of  these  children  passed  away  on  the  "th  of  August,  1907. 
She  was  a  woman  of  many  splendid  Qualities,  a  faithful  wife  and  loving 
mother,  and  her  death  was  deeply  regretted  throughout  the  community. 

Fraternally,  Mr.  Owen  is  a  member  of  the  Free  and  Accepted  Masons, 
and  is  also  an  active  member  of  the  Knights  of  Pythias,  holding  membership 
in  Bainbridge  Lodge,  No.  323.  He  has  held  all  the  offices  in  the  last-named 
lodge  and  is  also  a  member  of  the  grand  lodge.  He  is  a  Baptist  in  his  relig- 
ious proclivities.  A  man  of  splendid  personal  qualities,  Mr.  Owens  has,  because 
of  his  genuine  worth,  long  enjoyed  the  respect  and  confidence  of  the  people 
of  his  community  and  is  numbered  among  its  leading  and  representative  men. 


■■     ■.    .  JESSE  LEE  HUBBARD. 

The  Hubbard  family  has  been  one  of  the  most  progressive  and  popular 
in  Cloverdale  township  since  the  early  history  of  the  same  and  Putnam  county 
has  known  no  better  citizen.  One  of  the  best  known  members  of  this  family 
of  the  present  generation  is  Jesse  Lee  Hubbard,  who  was  born  in  this  town- 
ship Januarv  7.  1862.  the  son  of  William  and  Catherine  (Beard)  Hubbard. 
William  Hubbard  was  a  native  of  Garrard  county,  Kentucky,  born  there 
October  17,  1816,  and  he  accompanied  his  parents  to  Putnam  county,  In- 
diana, in  183 1.  He  was  the  son  of  Wright  and  Lydia  (W'alder)  Hubbard. 
Wright  Hubbard  and  wife  settled  in  the  northeast  part  of  Cloverdale  town- 
ship and  lived  there  the  rest  of  their  lives. 


PUTXAM    COUNTY,    INDIANA.  353 

William  Hubbard  grew  up  on  a  farm  in  Cloverdale  township  and  on 
I^Iay  2,  1S37,  he  married  Mahala  Peck,  who  died  leaving  five  children,  two  of 
them  still  surviving,  Jacob  P..  now  in  the  state  of  Washington,  and  Lydia, 
wife  of  Hiram  Moser,  of  Jefferson  township.  After  the  death  of  his  first 
wife,  William  Hubbard  married  Catherine  Beard.  June  2.  1853.  She  was 
born  in  Ohio  May  i,  1832,  the  daughter  of  Philip  and  Elizabeth  ( Doup) 
Beard.  Her  parents  were  from  Germany  and  the  voyage  across  the  Atlantic 
required  si.x  months,  during  which  time  two  of  their  children  died  and  were 
buried  at  sea.  The  Hubbards  came  to  Putnam  county,  Indiana,  and  entered 
land  from  the  government  in  section  33,  Jefferson  township,  in  1847;  they 
also  traded  for  other  land. 

William  Hubbard  remained  in  Cloverdale  township,  in  the  east  part  of 
which  he  entered  land,  section  t,S-  F'^'^  children  were  born  to  his  last  union, 
three  of  whom  are  now  living,  namely:  Hester  A.  Moore,  of  Westfield, 
Illinois;  Jesse  Lee,  of  this  review,  Hannah  Horn  lives  in  the  east  part  of 
Cloverdale  township  on  the  old  homestead. 

W'illiam  Hubbard  remained  on  his  farm  until  in  October,  1888,  when  he 
moved  to  Cloverdale  and  lived  until  his  death,  April  24,  1889,  his  widow 
sur^aving  until  in  May,  1906.  They  were  highly  respected  people  and  had 
hosts  of  friends  throughout  this  locality. 

Jesse  L.  Hubbard  grew  up  on  the  home  place  in  Cloverdale  township  and 
there  assisted  with  the  general  work  about  the  place  until  his  marriage. 
October  2,  1888,  to  Rosa  E.  Horn,  the  daughter  of  Jesse  Thomas  and  Xancy 
Elizabeth  (Cox)  Horn.  She  was  born  in  Cloverdale  township.  Her  father 
was  a  native  of  Wayne  county.  North  Carolina.  He  came  to  this  county 
with  his  parents,  John  and  Celia  (Bogue)  Horn.  John  was  the  son  of 
Thomas  and  Phoebe  Horn,  the  father  dying  in  North  Carolina  and  his  wife, 
Phoebe,  came  to  Putnam  county,  Indiana,  in  an  early  day  and  located  in  sec- 
tions 35  and  36,  Cloverdale  township,  where  they  entered  government  land. 
Jesse  Thomas  Horn  lived  most  of  his  life  in  Putnam  county  and  awhile  in 
Owen  county.     He  is  mentioned  at  greater  length  on  another  page  of  this 

work. 

Xancv  Elizabeth  Cox  was  born  in  the  southeast  part  of  Jefferson  town- 
ship, this  county,  the  daughter  of  William  Morris  and  Hannah  Pemberton 
(Powers)  Cox.  Her  father  was  from  Virginia  and  came  here  in  an  early 
day  and  entered  land  in  Jefferson  township.  He  and  his  wife  came  all  the  way 
from  the  Old  Dominion  on  horseljack,  Mrs.  Cox  carrying  a  baby  in  her  arms. 
They  located  in  the  forest,  for  the  land  here  was  new  and  had  to  be  cleared. 
They  erected  a  two-room  log  ca1)in  and  began  life  in  true  first-settled  fashion. 


354 


WEIK  S    HISTORY  OF 


The  country  was  overrun  with  all  kinds  of  wild  game,  and  once  during  a 
storm  a  herd  of  wild  deer  came  up  to  their  door.  They  entered  their  land  near 
a  spring,  the  ground  being  high  enough  to  be  free  from  standing  water. 

After  their  marriage  Jesse  L.  Hubbard  and  wife  lived  three  years  on 
the  old  Hubbard  homestead.  He  already  owned  some  land  in  section  28. 
Jefferson  township,  and  built  a  house  there  after  his  marriage  and  moved 
into  it.  He  has  been  very  successful  and  has  since  added  more  land,  now 
owning  a  fine  farm  of  two  hundred  and  eleven  acres  in  Cloverdale  town- 
ship, thirty-seven  acres  lying  in  Jefferson  township,  all  joining  in  one  piece, 
nearly  all  under  cultix'ation  and  well  improved.  He  carries  on  general 
farming  and  stock  raising  in  a  manner  that  stamps  him  as  being  abreast  of 
the  times.  In  1892  he  built  a  four-room  house  and  in  1908  remodeled  it, 
adding  other  rooms,  so  that  it  is  practically  a  new  house,  is  unusually  well 
constructed  and  attracti\-e  from  an  architectural  viewpoint.  It  is  well  suited 
in  even-  wav  for  a  good  comfortable  home,  having  many  of  the  very  latest 
conveniences,  such  as  a  furnace,  etc.  It  cost  four  thousand  dollars,  is  tastily 
furnished  and  about  it  is  always  an  air  of  hospitality  and  cheerfulness. 

To  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Hubbard  seven  children  have  been  born,  namely: 
Anna  Gladys  is  a  graduate  of  the  Cloverdale  high  school;  William  Thomas 
is  living  on  a  fami  at  Hooper,  Washington,  in  the  southeast  part  of  the 
state;  Robert  Lee  is  attending  high  school;  Hester  Florence;  Omer  Worth. 
Theodore  Von  and  Royal  Glenn. 

Mr.  Hubbard  in  1909  made  an  extensive  tour  of  the  West,  visiting  the 
Alaska-Yukon-Pacific  E.xposition  at  Seattle,  Washington.  Politically  he 
was  first  a  Democrat,  but  is  now  an  ardent  Prohibitionist  and  aids  in  the 
cause  whenever  possible.  He  is  a  member  of  the  Modern  Woodmen  of 
America  and  he  and  Mrs.  Hubbard  belong  to  the  Methodist  Episcopal  church. 
They  are  regarded  by  their  neighbors  as  being  kind,  good  hearted  and  gen- 
erous, and  their  friends  are  numbered  by  the  scores. 


JOHN  SAMUEL  MICHAEL. 

Amono-  the  citizens  of  Floyd  township.  Putnam  county,  Indiana,  who 
have  built  up  a  comfortable  home  and  surrounded  themselves  wdth  a  fair 
amount  of  landed  and  personal  property,  few  have  attained  a  higher  degree  of 
success  than  the  subject  of  this  review.  With  few  opportunities  except  what 
his  own  efforts  were  capable  of  mastering  and  with  some  obstacles  to  over- 


PUTNAM    COUNTY.    INDIANA.  35^ 

come,  he  lias  made  a  success  of  lite,  and  in  his  declining  years  has  the  grati- 
fication of  knowing  that  the  community  in  which  he  has  resided  has  been  bene- 
fited by  his  residence  therein. 

John  S.  Michael  was  born  March  17,  1841.  in  Greencastle  township,  this 
county,  and  is  the  son  of  Jacob  and  Maria  (Hulett)  Michael.  The  former 
was  a  native  of  \'irginia  and  the  son  of  a  German  emigrant,  he  himself  not 
being  able  to  read  the  English  language.  He  had  three  brothers.  Benjamin. 
Jacob  and  G.  H.  He  was  a  Democrat  in  politics  and  a  man  of  stanch  integrity 
of  character,  who  enjoyed  the  resi)ect  of  all  who  knew  him.  He  came  to  Put- 
nam county.  Indiana,  in  1833,  being  numbered  among  the  early  and  active 
pioneers  of  this  section  of  the  state. 

John  S.  ]\Iichael  was  reared  under  the  parental  roof  and  received  his 
education  in  the  common  schools,  the  school  which  he  attended  being  located 
about  two  and  one-half  miles  from  his  home.  Hk  was  reared  to  the  life  of 
a  farmer  and  has  devoted  the  greater  part  of  his  life  to  that  occupation.  He 
is  now  the  owner  of  one  hundred  and  eighteen  acres  of  splendid  and  fertile 
land,  on  which  he  raises  all  the  crops  common  to  this  section  of  the  countrv, 
and  he  also  gives  considerable  attention  to  the  raising  of  livestock,  giving 
special  attention  to  the  breeding  of  Aberdeen  Angus  cattle,  in  the  handling  of 
Avhich  he  has  been  very  successful.  Besides  farming,  Mr.  Michael  is  an  ex- 
pert stonemason,  and  has  done  considerable  work  in  that  line,  having  con- 
structed several  culverts  in  this  county.  He  is  accomplished  in  several  lines 
of  work,  being  in  some  respects  a  jack-of-all-trades.  He  has  lived  in  his 
present  residence  for  forty  years  and  has  maintained  the  property, at  a  high 
standard  of  excellence,  it  being  improved  with  a  good  residence  and  substan- 
tial barns  and  outbuildings. 

On  June  2,  1861,  Mr.  Michael  was  united  in  marriage  with  Marv  E. 
Wilson,  a  daughter  of  William  and  Mary  E.  (Wilson)  Wilson,  and  to  them 
have  been  born  the  following  children:  John  H..  who  married  Elizabeth  Sum- 
mers: Ida  is  the  wife  of  James  Snowden,  of  Indianapolis,  this  state:  Jacob,  a 
son,  married  Mildred  Wilson,  but  he  died  leaving  a  son  and  a  daughter :  Ammi ; 
Sophia  A.  was  the  widow  of  G.  Fitzimmons  and  later  married  Shelby  Blades, 
living  near  Roachdale :  Ora  married  Ida  Brown  and  is  living  in  Hendricks 
county,  this  state ;  Maude,  deceased ;  Ernest,  who  lives  in  this  county,  married 
Xorah  Oliver:  Orville  married  Erie  Montgomery. 

In  politics  Mr.  Michael  is  a  staunch  Democrat  and  takes  an  intelligent 
interest  in  local  public  affairs.  He  is  a  man  of  positive  convictions  and  takes 
a  firm  stand  on  the  temperance  question,  exerting  his  influence  in  the  direc- 
tion of  the  abolition  of  saloons.     A  remarkable  fact  in  connection  with  Mr. 


356  weik's  history  of 

Michael's  genealogical  record  is  that  his  paternal  grandfather  had  twenty- 
three  children,  of  which  number  twenty-two  were  boys.  The  subject  is  a 
man  of  commendable  personal  qualities  and  enjoys  the  regard  and  contidence 
of  all  who  know  him,  his  acquaintance  in  the  county  being  extensive. 


JOHN  A.  BAUMUNK. 

This  enterprising  farmer  and  stock  raiser  hails'  from  Owen  county. 
Indiana,  where  he  was  born  on  the  8th  day  of  August,  i860,  being  a  son  of 
iMichael  and  Christina  Baumunk,  both  natives  of  Germany.  Michael  Bau- 
munk  was  brought  to  America  when  eight  years  old  and  grew  to  maturity 
in  Pennsylvania,  marrying  in  that  state  when  a  young  man,  Mrs.  Christina 
(Haynes)  Smith,  who  also  came  to  this  country  in  early  life.  In  1834,  in 
company  with  his  younger  brother.  Peter,  he  came  to  Indiana  and  located  in 
Owen  county,  Peter  settling  at  Poland,  in  the  county  of  Clay.  Michael  bought 
land  about  one-half  mile  from  the  Putnam  county  line  and  lived  on  the  same 
until  his  death.  Peter  after  a  few  years  moved  to  the  farm  south  of  Reels- 
ville,  where  he  spent  the  remainder  of  his  days  and  which  is  now  owned  and 
occupied  by  his  son,  Thomas  Baumunk. 

The  death  of  Michael  and  Peter  Baumunk  and  a  daughter  of  the  latter, 
Mrs.  Homer  Smith,  occurred  the  same  year  (1901),  under  peculiar  circum- 
stances. Mrs.  Smith  departed  this  life  in  the  month  of  August  and  was  fol- 
lowed to  the  grave  bv  her  father  and  uncle  Michael:  one  month  later  Michael 
was  called  to  his  reward,  Peter  being  among  the  chief  mourners  at  his  funeral, 
and  in  October,  ensuing,  Peter  breathed  his  last,  all  three  being  interred  in  the 
cemetery  at  Poland. 

The  family  of  Michael  and  Christina  Baumunk  consisted  of  one  son, 
John  A.,  of  this  review,  and  two  daughters,  Mary  E.,  wife  of  Ivan  Huffman, 
of  Washington  township,  and  Margaret,  who  married  John  Zenor  and  lives 
at  Spencer,  Owen  county,  near  which  place  her  husband  has  large  farming 
interests.     Another  son  died  in  infancy. 

John  A.  Baumunk  was  reared  on  the  home  place  in  Owen  county  and 
remained  with  his  father  until  his  twenty-second  year;  meantime  he  bore  his 
full  share  of  the  labor  of  the  farm  and  of  winter  months,  during  his  minority, 
pursued  his  studies  in  the  public  schools  until  acquiring  a  pretty  thorough 
knowledge  of  the  branches  taught.  When  twenty-two  years  old  he  severed 
home  ties  and  began  life  for  himself,   choosing  the  honorable  vocation  of 


PUTNAM    COUXTY.    INDIANA.  35/ 

agriculture  for  his  calling  and  has  since  followed  the  same  with  most  gratify- 
ing results.  The  same  year  in  which  he  left  the  parental  roof,  Mr.  Baumunk 
was  united  in  the  bonds  of  wedlock  with  Eliza  Jane  Rightsell,  daughter  of 
John  and  Mary  (Neece)  Rightsell,  and  immediately  thereafter  set  up  his 
domestic  establishment  on  a  farm  in  Putnam  county,  where  he  continued  to 
reside  until  trading  the  place  for  another  tract  of  land  in  the  same  locality. 
Subsequently  he  made  other  exchanges  and  in  1901  moved  to  the  farm  in 
\\'ashington  township,  where  he  now  lives  and  which  under  his  judicious 
labors  and  excellent  management  has  been  brought  to  a  high  state  of  culti\a- 
tion  and  otherwise  improved. 

Mr.  Baumunk  is  a  careful  and  methodical  farmer  and  seldom  if  ever 
fails  to  realize  ample  returns  from  the  time  and  labor  expended  on  his  fields. 
By  studying  the  character  of  soil  and  its  adaption  to  the  different  grains  and 
vegetables,  etc..  also  by  a  judicious  rotation  of  crops,  he  has  largely  developed 
the  productive  capacity  of  his  land  and  in  addition  to  its  tillage  devotes  con- 
siderable attention  to  livestock,  especially  the  finer  breeds  of  cattle  and  hogs. 
He  also  raises  fpiite  a  number  of  mules,  for  which  there  is  a  wide  demand 
and  which  he  sells  at  weaning  time,  finding  it  more  satisfactory  and  profitable 
to  dispose  of  them  when  young  than  when  fully  grown. 

In  the  management  of  his  varied  interests  Mr.  Baumunk  displavs  busi- 
ness ability  of  a  high  order  and  it  is  a  fact  worthy  of  note  that  evervthing 
to  which  he  gives  his  attention  proves  financially  successful.  From  the  begin- 
ning of  his  career  to  the  present  time  he  has  made  money  and  it  is  unnecessarv 
to  state  that  he  is  now  the  possessor  of  a  comfortable  competency  of  this 
world's  goods.  His  farm,  consisting  of  ninety  acres,  seventy  of  which  is 
bottom  land,  lies  in  one  of  the  richest  agricultural  districts  of  Putnam  county 
and  his  splendid  modern  dwelling,  one  of  the  finest  and  most  attractive  homes 
in  Washington  township,  crowns  the  summit  of  a  beautiful  knoll  and  com- 
mands an  extensive  view  of  the  valley  and  surrounding  country.  Mr.  Bau- 
munk has  furnished  his  home  with  all  the  latest  improvements,  it  being  in 
every  respect  up-to-date  and  such  a  dwelling  as  to  make  rural  life  pleasant  and 
desirable.  He  believes  in  using  the  good  things  of  this  world  to  judicious 
ends,  hence  has  not  been  at  all  sparing  in  providing  comforts  for  his  family 
and  rendering  the  lot  of  those  dependent  upon  him  as  agreeable  as  circum- 
stance will  admit. 

Mrs.  Baumunk  bore  her  husband  seven  children  and  departed  this  life 
on  January  7,  1907,  profoundly  lamented  by  the  large  circle  of  neighbors  and 
friends  who  had  learned  to  prize  her  for  her  many  excellent  qualities  of 
head  and  heart.  She  belonged  to  one  of  the  old  and  respected  families  of 
Putnam  county  and  her  loss  was  deeply  mourned  by  all  who  knew  her. 


358  weik's  history  of 

Of  the  six  living  children  of  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Baumunk,  James  .Albert  is 
the  oldest :  he  married  and  moved  to  Illinois  some  years  ago.  where  he  is  en- 
gaged in  farming.  Perrv  Franklin,  the  second  son,  is  with  the  Burdsal  Paint 
Company,  of  Indianapolis,  and  stands  high  in  the  confidence  of  his  employers. 
John  Michael  is  at  home  assisting  his  father  in  cultivating  the  farm.  Anna  is 
in  school,  as  is  also  Mary  Effa  and  Louis  Edward.  Mr.  Baumunk  married 
on  September  i,  1909.  Mrs.  Lucretia  (Craft)  Rissler,  daughter  of  Daniel 
and  Jane  Craft.  Lucretia  Baumunk  has  a  daughter,  Flossie  Jane,  aged  six 
years,  by  her  marriage  to  John  Rissler. 


GEORGE  TAYLOR  REEVES. 

The  history  of  the  Reeves  family  in  Putnam  county  is  traced  back  to 
the  log-cabin  days  and  one  of  the  best  known  members  is  George  Taylor 
Reeves,  who  has  lived  to  see  Monroe  township  pass  through  all  the  states  of 
development  to  one  of  the  prosperous  sections  of  the  Hoosier  state.  His 
birth  occurred  on  February  28,  1847,  the  son  of  Stacey  Lawrence  and  Nancy 
(Howlett)  Reeves,  the  father  born  in  Campbell  county,  Kentucky,  September 
20,  1820,  and  the  mother  was  born  on  February  22,  1822.  They  came  to 
Putnam  county,  Indiana,  in  its  early  days  and  married  here  in  1835,  -^f''- 
Reeves  buving  land  from  Mr.  Johnson.  George  \V.  Howlett  was  among  the 
first  settlers  and  by  the  assistance  of  Indians  he  erected  his  first  house.  A 
pet  bear  followed  Mr.  Howlett  and  his  family  from  their  Kentucky  home. 
Xancy  Howlett  was  then  only  eighteen  months  old  and  the  Indians  often 
visited  their  hut  and  played  with  her.  giving  her  little  trinkets  of  their  own 
making.  Stacev  L.  Reeves  devoted  his  life  to  farming:  however,  when  a  boy 
he  worked  for  a  time  at  the  boot  and  shoe  business  in  Greencastle,  and  he 
successfully  maintained  a  shoe  shop  on  his  farm  many  years. 

The  following  children  were  i)orn  to  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Stacey  L.  Reeves: 
Sarah  E.  died  when  twenty  years  of  age  in  1861 ;  Emmerine  is  deceased: 
James  L.  is  deceased:  George  Taylor,  of  this  review:  Allen  Wiley  was  born 
May  12.  1849:  Mary  C.  was  born  March  12,  1851 ;  Charles  F.,  born  Novem- 
ber 17,  1853,  was  city  marshal  of  Greencastle  at  one  time;  Annie  E.,  born 
Xovemlier  3,  1855,  married  C.  V.  Johnson  and  is  living  in  Crawfordsville. 

Stacev  L.  Reeves  was  a  fxepublican  in  politics,  but  held  no  offices :  but 
he  took  great  interest  in  the  aff'airs  of  the  Alethodist  church,  of  which  he  was 
a  regular  attendant.     He  was  well  known  in  this  countv,  and  his  death  oc- 


PUTNAM    COUNTY.    INDIANA.  359 

cnrred  on  December  26.  1888.  his  ashes  resting  in  the  old  Brick  Chapel  bury- 
ing ground. 

George  T.  Ree\es  attended  the  schools  taught  in  the  old  log  sclnxjl  liouses 
in  Monroe  township.  He  lived  with  his  father  for  thirty  years  and  assisted 
in  farming  and  has  matle  this  his  life  work,  now  owning  a  neat  little  farm 
of  forty-five  acres,  which,  together  with  his  stock  raising,  makes  him  a  verv 
comfortable  living. 

Mr.  Reeves  was  married  on  December  7.  1879.  to  Martha  Ellen  Shinn. 
daughter  of  W'illoughby  and  Elizabeth  Frances  (\\'ilson)  Shinn.  the  father 
born  in  Mercer  county,  Missouri,  from  which  place  he  came  to  Putnam  county, 
Indiana,  being  then  twelve  years  of  age,  having  been  born  on  February  22. 
1839.  Grandfather  Shinn  came  here  in  the  spring  of  the  year,  contracting 
the  cholera  soon  afterwards  which  caused  his  death.  But  the  family  found 
kind  friends  among  their  neighbors  and  were  greatly  assisted  in  gettinj  es- 
tablisheil.  The  trip  from  Missouri  was  made  in  the  usual  mode  of  pioneer 
tra\eling.  in  ox  carts.  George  T.  Reeves  still  lives  on  the  old  Grandfather 
Shinn  farm. 

Ti)  Mr.  and  Mrs.  George  T.  Reeves  one  child,  a  daughter,  has  been  born, 
Edith  May.  whose  birth  occurred  June  24,  1884.  and  she  married  Elmer  Mc- 
Camey.  living  at  .\dvance,  Boone  county,  this  state,  and  they  are  the  parents 
of  three  children.  Effie,  Oscar  Lee  and  Hazel.  Mr.  McCamey  is  engaged 
in  the  livery  business  si.xteen  miles  east  of  Crawfordsville. 

}v[r.  Reeves  is  a  worker  in  the  Methodist  church,  being  regarded  as  one 
of  the  pillars  of  the  local  congregation,  and  having  been  a  delegate  to  the  con- 
ference of  his  cliurch  six  times  and  serving  on  the  stationing  committee.  Po- 
liticallv  he  is  a  Republican. 


JOHN  WILSOX. 

It  will  l:e  found  upon  examinatii5n  that  the  person  who  lives  the  quietest 
and  most  uneventful  life — <ine  that  is  free,  on  the  one  hand,  from  too  great 
degree  of  toil,  and  tree.  <;n  the  other,  from  nen'ous  excitement,  such  as  falls 
to  the  lot  of  the  dwellers  of  the  cities,  will  live  the  longest  span  on  earth  and 
will  to  the  greatest  degree  enjoy  his  declining  years.  It  seems  that  all  per- 
sons are  given  at  the  outset  of  their  lives  only  about  so  much  vitality,  and  if 
they  squander  it  before  they  reach  maturity,  or  if  they  squander  it  too  fast 
at  any  stage  of  their  careers,  it  means  a  premature  death.  Like  a  canrlle. 
thev  burn  out  too  fast  and  are  left  nothing  but  a  wick,  black  and  unsightlv. 


360  WEIK  S    HISTORY  OF 

But  the  quiet  and  steady  life  is  what  counts.  Such  a  person  has  great  re- 
serves of  vital  force  which  he  can  call  into  action  at  any  emergency  and  is 
thus  enabled  to  make  a  better  showing  in  a  crisis  than  the  person  who  is  ready 
to  fall  at  the  least  excitement.  John  Wilson,  a  highly  honored  and  success- 
ful resident  of  Floyd  township,  is  one  who  has  had  the  wisdom  to  save  his 
best  powers  for  suitable  occasions,  and.  as  a  result  of  his  sober,  exemplary 
life,  he  has  not  only  consen-ed  his  energies,  rendering  him  hale  and  hearty 
in  his  old  age,  but  he  has  won  the  confidence  and  friendship  of  all  who  have 
formed  his  acquaintance. 

i\Ir.  Wilson  was  born  January  23.  1838,  the  son  of  Abel  and  Julia  A. 
(Holsapple)  Wilson,  natives  of  Kentucky,  the  former  of  English  and  the 
latter  of  German  ancestry.  This  old  pioneer  family  came  to  Putnam  county, 
Indiana,  in  1834  and  developed  a  good  farm,  Abel  Wilson  reaching  an  ad- 
vanced age,  dying  here  on  January  31,  1892.  followed  to  the  unseen  world  a 
few  days  later,  February  2.  1892.  by  his  wife.  They  were  a  fine  old  couple 
:\hnm  everybody  delighted  to  honor. 

John  Wilson  was  educated  in  the  old  log  school  houses  of  his  day  with 
their  greased  paper  windows  and  slab  seats.  He  was  reared  on  a  farm  and  con- 
tinued that  line  of  endeavor,  having  prospered  by  reason  of  close  application 
to  his  work  and  good  management  and  he  is  now  the  owner  of  one  of  the 
choice  farms  of  Floyd  township,  comprising  two  hundred  and  seventeen  acres, 
which  has  been  placed  under  modern  improvements  and  is  yielding  large 
returns  for  the  labor  expended  upon  it.  He  has  a  good  home  and  is  very 
comfortably  fixed  in  every  respect. 

John  Wilson  was  married  on  February  i,  i860,  to  Isabella  Lewis,  daugh- 
ter of  John  Lewis,  which  union  resulted  in  the  birth  of  three  children,  named 
as  follows:  Delana  C,  born  July  23,  1865:  Charles  A.,  born  October  i,  1867; 
and  Gilbert  A.,  born  August  19,  1872. 

The  mother  of  these  children  died  on  July  12,  1895,  and  Air.  ^^'ilson 
married  again,  on  November  5,  1896,  his  last  wife  being  Mrs.  Ellen  Allen, 
widow  of  Frank  Allen,  by  whom  she  had  one  son. 

'Sir.  \Mlson  is  a  Democrat  in  politics  and  he  held  very  acceptably  the 
office  of  county  commissioner  from  1886  to  1889. 

Delana  C.  Wilson,  mentioned  above,  received  a  good  common  school 
education  and  he  later  attended  higher  schools  and  fitted  himself  for  a  teacher, 
and  for  two  vears  he  taught  very  successfully  in  Floyd  township,  but  he  left 
the  school  room  for  the  more  remunerative  and  less  exacting  life  of  the  agri- 
culturist and  he  has  been  well  paid  for  the  labor  he  has  expended  in  this  line. 


PUTXAM    COUNTY.    INDIANA.  361 

He  is  making  liis  iKune  with  liis  father  and  has  a  good  farm  of  his  own  near 
Bainbridge. 

Charles  A.  Wilson,  also  mentioned  before,  received  a  good  common 
school  education,  graduating  from  the  State  Normal  at  Terre  Haute,  also  at 
Franklin  College,  south  of  Indianapolis:  also  passed  through  the  McCormick 
Seminary  of  Chicago,  later  taking  a  course  in  an  oratorical  school,  thus  be- 
coming unusually  well  equipped  for  his  life  labors — that  of  the  ministry — 
at  which  he  has  been  very  successful,  now  being  pastor  of  the  Bethany 
Presbyterian  church  of  Chicago. 

Gilbert  A.  Wilson,  the  other  son.  is  a  well-known  school  teacher  in  Jack- 
son township. 


DAVID  WALLACE. 


A  successful  farmer  of  Mill  Creek  township  is  David  Wallace,  who  was 
born  in  [Morgan  county,  Indiana,  December  5,  1839.  the  son  of  Elijah  and 
Elizabeth  (^lanlev)  \A'allace.  the  former  the  son  of  David  and  Elizabeth 
(Atkins)  Wallace.  Elijah  Wallace  was  born  in  Tennessee  and  it  is  believed 
his  parents  were  of  Scotch-Irish  descent.  The  parents  of  David  Wallace 
came  from  Tennessee  to  Indiana  and  settled  near  the  convergence  of  Putnam, 
^lorgan  and  Hendricks  counties,  and  there  followed  farming  and  stock 
raising. 

David  \\"allace  was  one  of  a  family  of  eleven  children,  namely :  .Knianda. 
wife  of  Leonard  Shaw,  deceased;  John,  of  Mill  Creek  township;  James  lives 
in  ^lorgan  county;  David,  of  this  review;  Elizabeth  is  the  widow  of  James 
Hill  (deceased)  and  lives  in  Morgan  county;  Louisa  Ann  is  the  wife  of 
Thomas  Sandy,  living  in  Cloverdale;  Xancy  is  the  wife  of  Samuel  McCollum ; 
William  is  deceased;  Surelda,  deceased;  Mary  Ellen  is  the  wife  of  Richard 
Brown,  of  Morgan  county ;  Adeline  died  when  three  years  of  age. 

David  Wallace's  father  lived  in  Hendricks  county  on  a  farm  consisting 
of  six  hundred  acres ;  he  also  owned  a  large  body  of  land  in  Mill  Creek  town- 
ship. Putnam  county,  part  of  it  lying  in  Morgan  county.  He  was  a  Democrat. 
ah\ays  active,  but  never  held  office.  His  death  occurred  July  12,  1884.  David 
Wallace's  mother  died  May  11,  1890. 

David  \\'allace  grew  to  maturity  on  the  farm,  which  he  assisted  in  re- 
claiming from  the  wilderness,  among  his  duties  being  to  assist  in  operating 
his  father's  old  "ground-hog"  threshing  machine.  David  also  threshed  grain 
with  a  flail  and  by  tramping  it  out.     His  uncle  had  a  mill  in  Tennessee,  and 


362  weik's  history  of 

before  leaving  that  state  Da\id's  father  worked  at  the  shoemaker's  trade  for 
a  time.  He  made  the  long  journey  to  Indiana  in  a  one-horse  wagon,  making 
his  fortune  after  coming  here.  He  bought  land,  fed  hogs  which  he  drove 
to  Lawrenceburg.  on  the  Ohio  river,  and  when  a  boy  his  son,  David,  assisted 
in  driving  some  of  his  hogs  to  Indianapolis. 

David  Wallace  lived  on  the  home  farm  until  his  marriage.  February  3, 
1865,  to  Rebecca  E.  Stringer.  She  is  the  daughter  of  Reuben  and  Mildred 
(Ludlow)  Stringer.  Her  parents  were  from  Kentucky.  She  was  born  in 
Hendricks  county. 

To  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Wallace  four  children  were  born,  namely :  Charlie  died 
when  seven  vears  old:  Lidia  died  at  the  age  of  three;  .\lbert  and  Alpha  are 
living.  The  former  married  Shada  Dale  Staley,  daughter  of  Hiram  Staley. 
Albert  is  li\ing  on  a  farm  south  of  his  father's.  He  and  his  wife  have  one 
daughter,  Lola.  Alpha  married  Walter  Allee  and  lives  in  Mill  Creek  town- 
ship, a  short  distance  southeast  of  her  father;  they  have  six  children,  Nona 
]vlarie.  Jewel  D..  Thelma  and  Velma  (twins),  Flossie  and  Albert  Ross. 

David  Wallace  has  lived  forty-five  years  on  the  same  farm  in  section 
8.  Mill  Creek  township,  having  moved  here  April  i,  1865.  He  was  in  Com- 
pany K,  Fiftv-fifth  Regiment,  Indiana  Volunteer  Infantry,  during  the  Civil 
■war.  Politically  he  is  a  Democrat  and  he  and  his  wife  are  both  members 
of  the  Friends  church. 


LORENZO  D.  SECKMAN. 

An  enterprising  and  successful  farmer  of  Putnam  county,  Indiana,  and 
one  who  proved  his  loyalty  to  the  government  and  his  patriotism  in  up- 
holding the  national  union,  is  the  gentleman  whose  name  appears  at  the  head 
of  this  sketch  and  who  is  a  native  son  of  the  Buckeye  state.  He  was  born 
June  I,  1835,  and  is  a  son  of  Benjamin  and  Mary  A.  Seckman.  These  par- 
ents were  natives  of  Virginia,  who  in  1834  moved  to  the  state  of  Ohio,  where 
they  remained  during  the  following  sixteen  years,  removing  in  1850  to  Iowa. 
Their  stav  in  the  latter  state  was  brief,  however,  as  in  185 1  they  came  to 
Marion  township.  Putnam  county,  Indiana,  where  they  bought  forty  acres 
of  land,  foi-  which  they  paid  twelve  dollars  and  fifty  cents  per  acre.  Benja- 
min Seckman  entered  at  once  upon  the  task  of  improving  this  land  and  by 
dint  of  hard  labor  and  rigid  economy  he  prospered  and  e\entually  added 
twenty  acres  to  this  farm.  He  was  by  trade  a  papermaker  and  he  carried  on 
this  pursuit  as  a  side  line,  this  being  prior  to  the  advent  of  modern  paper- 


PL"TXAM    COL'XTY.    INDIANA.  303 

making  machinerv.  He  was  a  man  of  inflexible  character  and  sterling  in- 
tegrity, and  was  a  constant  reader  of  the  Scriptures,  having  reatl  the  Bible 
through  manv  times.  He  and  his  wife  were  faithful  members  of  the  Poplar 
Grove  Methodist  Episcopal  church  and  their  daily  lives  were  consistent  witli 
their  professions.  The  father  died  on  December  23,  1897.  at  the  age  of 
eighty-eight  years,  and  the  mother  on  October  20.  1895,  at  the  age  of  eighty- 
one  vears.  their  remains  being  interred  in  the  Stilesville  cemetery,  in  Plen- 
dricks  county. 

Lorenzo  D.  Seckman  remained  with  his  parents  in  their  various  places 
of  residence  until  i860,  when,  his  patriotic  spirit  being  aroused  by  the  at- 
tempts of  the  Sc3uth  to  destroy  the  national  union,  he  enlisted  in  the  Forty- 
third  Regiment,  Indiana  Volunteer  Infantry,  and  during  the  following  three 
and  a  half  years  he  rendered  valiant  and  faithful  service  in  the  defense  of 
Old  Glory.  At  Marks'  Mills.  Arkansas,  he  was  captured  and  for  ten  months 
was  confined  at  Camp  Ford.  Tyler.  Te.xas.  On  his  return  home  he  resumed 
farming,  and  in  1868  he  married  and  settled  on  his  father-in-law's  farm, 
where  he  remained  until  the  death  of  his  first  wife,  in  1870.  He  then  located 
on  sixt>  acres  of  land,  which  he  cultivated  for  seven  years  and  then  sold, 
buying  ninety  acres  of  land  in  section  23.  Marion  town.ship,  on  which  he  has 
made  his  home  during  the  past  twenty-five  years.  He  is  a  practical  farmer 
and  has  achieved  a  distinctive  success  of  his  vocation.  His  place  is  well  im- 
proved and  Mr.  Seckman  is  known  as  one  of  the  substantial  and  enterprising 
farmers  of  the  township. 

On  March  18.  1868,  Mr.  Seckman  married  Cynthia  J.  Burt(Mi.  the 
daughter  of  Alfred  S.  and  Katherine  J.  Burton.  She  was  a  member  of  the 
^lissionarv-  Baptist  church  and  was  a  woman  of  culture  and  refinement.  Her 
death  occurred  on  March  i.  1870,  her  remains  being  interred  in  the  Burton 
family  lot  at  Greencastle.  and  on  February  16,  1876.  Mr.  Seckman  was  joined 
in  marriage  with  Susanna  O.  Ouinlan.  who  was  born  in  Putnam  county.  Indi- 
ana. September  30.  1S43.  the  daughter  of  William  M.  and  Serelda  (Sinclair) 
Ouinlan.  the  former  a  native  of  Maryland  and  the  latter  of  Putnam  county. 
Indiana.  Mrs.  Seckman  having  been  for  a  number  of  years  a  successful 
teacher  in  the  public  schools.  Xo  children  were  born  to  the  sul)ject's  first 
marriage.  To  \\'illiam  L.  and  Serelda  Ouinlan  have  been  born  eight  chil- 
dren, five  of  whom  are  living,  namely :  Virginia,  the  wife  of  James  Denny, 
an  attorney  at  Greencastle:  Mrs.  L.  D.  Seckman:  Ann  Missouri  is  unmar- 
ried and  keeps  house  for  her  brother.  Frank  \\'. :  Gramaliel  B..  a  farmer  in 
^Marion  township:  Lorenzo  D. :  Lucinda  E..  the  decea.sed  wife  of  James  W 


364  weik's  history  of 

Burton:  Angeline  A.,  who  died  unmarried.  Mr.  and  Airs.  Seckman  have 
not  been  blessed  with  any  children  of  their  own,  but  they  have  acted  the 
part  of  the  good  samaritians  in  rearing  a  boy  from  tender  years  to  manhood. 
He  was  well  educated  and  is  still,  at  the  age  of  twenty-two  years,  making  his 
home  with  them. 

\\"illiam  N.  Ouinlan  came  from  Maryland  to  Putnam  county  in 
1S37,  being  numbered  among  the  early  pioneers  of  the  county.  He 
had  a  large  part  in  the  moral  and  material  development  of  the  county, 
helping  to  lay  the  foundations  of  good  government  in  this  frontier  section. 
He  entered  a  tract  of  land  and  improved  a  good  farm,  spending  the 
rest  of  his  days  and  dying  in  this  county.  He  was  a  son  of  James 
and  Susanna  (Cooper)  Ouinlan,  the  former  a  native  of  Ireland  and 
the  latter  of  Wales.  These  parents  emigrated  to  America,  locating  in  Mary- 
land, where  the  father  died  at  the  remarkable  age  of  one  hundred  and  one 
years.  James  Ouinlan  was  loyal  to  his  adopted  land  and  during  the  war  of 
the  Revolution  he  served  valiantly  on  the  side  of  the  colonies.  He  was  a  man 
of  marked  influence  and  stood  high  in  his  community.  Mrs.  Seckman  pos- 
sesses a  number  of  valuable  relics  which  have  descended  to  her  from  her 
honored  ancestry,  in  which  she  takes  a  justifiable  pride.  Among  these  is  a 
set  of  pure  silver  spoons  which  were  made  for  her  mother  from  her  grand- 
father's knee  buckles.  She  also  has  a  mustard  cup  over  one  hundred  years 
old,  and  an  exquisite  sample  of  her  grandmother's  needle  work.  The  latter, 
which  is  verv  artistic  in  design  and  execution,  is  made  on  brown  linen,  and 
shows  that  in  the  early  days  art  was  prevalent  which  at  this  day  would  be 
hard  to  duplicate.  Other  relics  in  the  collection  evidence  the  high  position 
which  the  former  possessors  held  in  society  in  the  early  days  of  this  Republic, 
many  of  them  having  held  high  positions  in  relation  to  our  early  institutions 
and  industries.  Among  the  early  generation  of  the  Sinclairs  and  Ouinlans 
were  a  number  of  ministers  who  took  a  prominent  part  in  advancing  the 
civilization  of  the  new  communities  in  which  they  settled,  they  enjoying  the 
confidence  of  all  who  knew  them,  their  honor  and  integrity  being  above 
reproach. 

Politically.  Air.  Seckman  is  a  Republican  and  takes  an  intelligent  interest 
in  local  public  affairs,  though  he  is  not  a  seeker  after  public  office.  His  re- 
ligious membership  is  with  the  Methodist  Episcopal  church,  in  the  various 
activities  of  which  he  takes  a  prominent  part,  giving  the  society  an  earnest 
and  liberal  support.  He  is  a  man  of  good  parts  and  enjoys  the  high  regard 
of  all  who  know  him. 


PUTNAM    COUNTY,    INDIANA. 


CHARLES   :\IILTON   PICKETT. 


Among  the  progressive,  enterprising  and  industrious  residents  of  Floyd 
township.  Putnam  county,  Indiana,  none  takes  higher  rank  than  the  gentle- 
man whose  name  heads  this  sketch.  He  is  descended  from  a  prominent  and 
well-known  Southern  family,  the  Picketts  having  come  originally  from 
Xorth  Carolina,  where  they  occupied  a  prominent  place  in  their  locality. 
The  subject's  paternal  grandfather,  Aquilla  Pickett,  reared  a  family  of  four- 
teen children,  all  of  whom  attained  to  respected  positions  in  life,  being  well 
known  in  Putnam  county.  Two  brothers,  Thomas  and  Ralph,  and  two  sisters, 
Elizabeth  and  Seritha,  still  survive.  The  Pickett  settlement  in  this  countv 
numbered  many  members  and  during  war  times  it  was  commonly  known  as 
Fort  Pickett. 

The  subject's  father,  David  Pickett,  was  born  on  the  14th  of  April, 
18J9,  and  died  on  the  29th  of  January,  1909.  He  was  born  in  Da\idson 
county,  Xorth  Carolina,  and  accompanied  the  family  on  their  remo\aI  to 
Putnam  county,  Indiana,  in  1S30.  Here  the  father  entered  land,  first  settling 
in  Russell  township,  but  three  years  later  he  moved  to  Floyd  township,  where 
he  spent  his  remaining  years.  He  was  a  Democrat  in  politics,  but  not  an 
ofifice  seeker,  though  he  was  induced  to  accept  the  position  of  overseer  of 
roads.  Though  not  a  member  of  church  or  fraternal  organizations,  he  was 
a  good  man  and  enjoyed  the  unbounded  confidence  and  respect  of  all  who 
knew  him.  His  wife  bore  the  maiden  name  of  Elizabeth  Spaugh.  and  she 
also  was  a  native  of  North  Carolina.  To  this  worthy  couple  were  born  six 
children,  namely:  Polly,  Charles  'M..  Ellen,  Lawrence,  Sophia  and  Alalvina. 
These  children  are  all  living  and  all,  with  the  exception  of  the  last  named, 
are  residents  of  Floyd  township. 

Charles  M.  Pickett  was  born  on  the  26th  day  of  July,  1856.  and  was 
reared  under  the  parental  roof.  As  soon  as  old  enough  he  took  up  the  work 
of  the  farm  and  became  an  able  assistant  to  his  father.  After  completing 
his  education  in  the  common  schools,  he  became  a  student  in  the  Xormal 
School  at  Danville,  and  then  took  up  the  occupation  of  teaching  school,  in 
which  he  was  successfully  engaged  for  fifteen  years.  In  1900  he  served  as 
township  trustee,  his  former  experience  in  the  school  room  aiding  him  in 
his  performance  of  the  duties  of  the  office,  which  he  discharged  for  four  years 
to  the  eminent  satisfaction  of  his  constituents.  Since  quitting  the  school  room 
]\Ir.  Pickett  has  devoted  his  attention  to  agriculture,  in  which  also  he  has  met 
with  marked  success.     He  owns  sixtv  acres  of  as  good  land  as  can  be  found 


366 


WEIK  S   HISTORY  OF 


in  the  township  and,  being  practical  and  systematic  in  his  operations,  lie  has 
been  enabled  to  realize  a  good  profit  on  his  land.  He  carries  on  a  general 
line  of  farming,  raising  all  the  crops  common  to  this  section  of  the  country, 
and  also  gives  some  attention  to  the  raising  of  livestock. 

On  August  30,  1887.  Mr.  Pickett  was  united  in  marriage  with  Myrtie 
Adams,  who  was  a  native  of  Putnam  county  and  a  daughter  of  Ephraim 
Adams,  of  Greencastle.  and  to  this  union  were  born  five  children,  namely : 
Chester.  Dallas.  Lelia.  Rolland  and  Garia.  all  of  whom  are  living.  Mrs. 
Pickett  died  on  March  25.  1898,  and  on  February  i,  1906,  Mr.  Pickett  mar- 
ried Ella  Hendricks,  who  was  born  in  Owen  county,  Indiana,  March  25, 
1866,  the  daughter  of  John  M.  and  Clara  (Lancet)  Hendricks.  The  father 
is  a  native  of  Warren  township,  this  county,  his  father  having  been  a 
native  of  Bath  county,  Kentucky,  and  a  pioneer  settler  in  Putnam  county, 
where  he  entered  land.  Mrs.  Pickett's  mother  is  descended  from  German 
ancestry.  To  this  second  union  three  children  have  been  born,  twins,  who 
died  in  infancy,  and  a  daughter,  Louise,  born  November  21,  1909. 

Politically  Mr.  Pickett  is  a  stanch  Democrat  and  he  takes  a  keen  and 
intelligent  interest  in  public  affairs,  though  not  an  office  seeker.  Fraternally 
he  is  a  member  of  Lodge  Xo.  542,  Free  and  Accepted  Masons,  at  Grove- 
land,  which  he  served  as  worshipful  master  several  terms  and  of  which  he  is 
now  secretary.  His  religious  membership  is  \vith  the  Missionary  Baptist 
church,  of  which  he  is  a  regular  attendant  and  in  the  work  of  which  he  takes 
an  active  part.  His  support  is  always  given  to  whatever  tends  to  advance  the 
highest  interests  of  the  community  and  because  of  his  integrity  of  character, 
his  genial  disposition  and  his  genuine  worth,  he  is  held  in  high  esteem 
in  the  community. 


WILLL\M  A.  MOSER,  M.  D. 

In  a  locality  ranking  high  for  its  medical  talent,  whose  professional 
men  take  conspicuous  places  among  their  colleagues  throughout  the  state, 
is  Dr.  William  A.  Moser,  who  is  located  at  Belle  Union,  Jefferson  township, 
Putnam  county,  where  he  is  enjoying  a  lucrative  practice  and  has  long  been 
known  as  one  of  the  leading  citizens  of  this  section  of  the  county.  He  is  the 
descendant  of  one  of  the  old  and  influential  families  of  this  county,  having 
been  born  in  the  southwestern  part  of  this  township,  September  19.  1869, 
the  son  of  David  and  Sarah  A.  (Bryan)  Moser.     A  full  history  of  his  ances- 


PUTNAM    COLXTY.   INDIANA.  367 

trv  is  to  be  found  on  another  page  of  this  work,  hence  will  not  be  repeated 
here. 

The  Doctor's  boyhood  was  spent  on  the  home  farm,  where  he  earlv 
learned  the  art  of  agriculture,  but  when  a  mere  lad  he  determined  to  enter 
the  medical  profession  and  consequently  began  bending  every  effort  in  that 
direction.  He  enjoyed  a  liberal  education,  having  attended  the  public  and 
high  schools  at  Cloverdale  and  later  the  Xormal  School  at  Danville.  Indiana. 
He  spent  one  year  in  the  College  of  Physicians  and  Surgeons  at  St.  Louis, 
Missouri,  and  he  then  entered  the  medical  department  of  the  University  at 
Indiana,  located  at  Indianapolis,  formerly  known  as  the  Indiana  Aledical  Col- 
lege, thus  completing  the  four-years  course  in  medicine  and  surgery,  grad- 
uating in  1903.  In  ]May  of  that  year  Doctor  Moser  opened  an  office  at  Belle 
Union.  Jefiferson  township,  at  which  place  he  has  practiced  ever  since,  meet- 
ing with  a  fair  measure  of  success  from  the  first  and  he  now  ranks  as  one  of 
the  leading  physicians  of  the  county. 

Doctor  Moser  married  Clara  Vesta  Cradick.  of  Owen  county,  Indiana, 
in  1894.  She  was  the  daughter  of  John  Cradick.  This  union  resulted  in  the 
birth  of  one  child.  O.  Joyce  Moser.  Eleven  months  later  ^Irs.  Moser  died, 
and  in  ]\Iav.  igoS.  ]Mr.  Moser  married  Hazell  Gillette  Dobbs.  daughter  of 
George  Dobbs.  of  Greencastle. 

The  Doctor  is  a  member  of  the  Benevolent  and  Protective  Order  of  Elks, 
the  Independent  Order  of  Odd  Fellows  and  the  Knights  of  Pythias.  He  is 
also  a  member  of  the  Putnam  County  Medical  S(X-iety  and  the  State  ^ledical 
Society  of  Indiana. 

Doctor  Moser  possesses  the  happy  faculty  of  winning  and  retaining  many 
warm  personal  friends  and  the  high  regard  in  which  he  is  held  indicates  on 
his  part  a  determination  to  discharge  his  every  duty  and  obligation  as  be- 
comes a  good  man  and  a  worthv  citizen. 


JOHN  S.  NEWGEXT. 

Few  citizens  of  Putnam  county,  especially  Clinton  township  and  vicin- 
ity, were  better  or  more  favorably  known  than  the  late  John  S.  Xewgent, 
He  was  born  August  25,  1830,  and  after  an  active  and  useful  life  passed  to 
his  rest  on  March  14,  1894.  He  received  a  fairly  good  education  in  the  com- 
mon schools  of  his  day  and  assisted  with  the  work  on  the  home  place  until 
he  reached  maturity,  marrying  Lucinda  Lewis,  who  was  born  January   16. 


368 


WEIKS   HISTORY  OF 


1S31,  in  Shelbyville,  Kentucky,  the  daughter  of  Aaron  and  Milhe  (Aloseley) 
Lewis.  This  family  came  to  Monroe  township,  Putnam  county,  Indiana, 
1838.    John  S.  Newgent  served  twice  as  county  commissioner. 

The  Xewgent  family  consisted  of  the  following  children :  William  Tal- 
bot married  Margaret  Noble  and  lives  in  Putnam  county;  Nancy  married 
Thomas  Heady,  who  lives  in  Madison  township;  Sarah  Elizabeth  died  in 
early  life;  James  Edward  remained  with  his  mother;  Lewis  Newgent  was 
born  January  28,  1861,  remained  single,  spending  his  entire  life  on  the  home 
farm;  Nellie  married  Walter  Sigler,  of  Putnam  county;  John  S.,  Jr.,  died 
when  thirty  years  of  age,  having  married  Mary  Martin,  by  whom  he  had  two 
children,  Merl  and  Earl. 


JOHN  SCADY  CHANDLER. 

Among  the  progressive  citizens  of  Clinton  township  who  are  deserving 
of  representation  in  a  work  of  this  character  is  John  S.  Chandler,  who  was 
born  in  the  house  in  which  he  now  lives,  on  July  6,  1850,  the  son  of  Scady 
and  Sarah  (Busey)  Chandler,  the  latter  the  widow  of  James  Roberts.  Scady 
Chandler  was  a  native  of  Virginia  and  was  reared  to  manhood  at  Crab 
Orchard,  Kentucky.  He  spent  one  year  in  Shelby  county,  Indiana,  and  in 
1824  entered  the 'land  on  which  his  descendants  now  reside  in  Clinton  town- 
ship, the  entrv  being  made  at  Crawfordsville.  He  settled  in  the  woods  and 
built  a  half- faced  shanty  near  the  present  Chandler  residence.  In  1S28  he 
erected  what  was  then  a  fine  substantial  brick  house,  burning  the  brick  on  his 
place.  Two  of  his-molders  differed  in  politics,  one  being  a  Jackson  man, 
the  other  favoring  Adams,  and  they  inserted  the  names  of  their  favorite 
candidates  in  the  year  1828.  and  many  of  the  bricks  bear  them  to  this  day. 
Scadv  Chandler  took  a  scholarship  at  .Wabash  College.  Crawfordsville,  hav- 
ing been  deeply  interested  in  educational  affairs.  He  was  a  public-spirited 
man  and  patriotic,  ha\ing  served  in  the  war  of  181 2  as  a  commissioned 
officer.  He  spent  his  life  on  the  farm.  Later  he  added  to  the  three  original 
brick  rooms,  making  it  a  long  brick  house,  one-story.  He  was  well-to-do  for 
those  davs  and  owned  about  four  hundred  acres  of  land  in  this  tract,  at  the 
time  of  his  death,  seventy-six  acres  at  INIt.  [Meridian  and  two  hundred  acres 
in  Clark  county,  Illinois.  He  was  a  Democrat,  but  not  an  office  seeker.  He 
was  a  member  of  Wesley  Chapel  ^Methodist  church.  The  death  of  this 
prominent  and  well  liked  old  pioneer  occurred  on  March  7.  1S64.  when  he 
lacked  onlv  seven  days  of  his  seventieth  birthday.     His  first  wife  died  early. 


JOHN  S.  CHANDLER 


^  PL'TXAM    COUNTY,   IXDIAXA.  369 

bearing  him  one  daughter,  Ehza,  who  married  David  Talbot,  and  is  deceased. 
Her  daughter  is  h\ing  in  Ilhnois.  Mr.  Chandler  married  a  second  time,  his 
last  wife  being  Mrs.  Sarah  (Busey)  Roberts,  a  sister  of  a  brick  mason  who 
laid  brick  in  his  house.  Her  father,  Jacob  Busey,  was  from  Kentucky.  The 
Roberts  family  lived  in  Kentucky,  where  Mrs.  Chandler  spent  her  girlhood 
days  and  married  James  Roberts.  Three  children  were  born  to  Mrs.  Chand- 
ler by  her  first  husband,  James  Roberts,  among  them  being  a  daughter. 
Mahala,  who  is  now  the  widow  of  James  De\ore,  of  Terre  Haute,  and  is  the 
only  one  of  the  three  children  li\ing.  Three  children  were  born  to  Mr. 
Chandler  by  his  second  wife,  named  as  follows:  Sarah  married  Jesse  Mc- 
Pheeter  and  went  to  Illinois,  where  she  died  at  the  age  of  forty,  leaving  two 
children;  Elza  died  near  Hannibal,  Missouri,  having  left  here  when  a  young 
man;  John  Scady,  of  this  review.  The  mother  of  these  children  died  in 
April,  1873.  Scady  Chandler  was  a  man  of  good  foresight  and  made  early 
entries  of  lands  and  John  S.  Chandler  holds  as  relics  five  old  sheepskin 
patents,  three  issuetl  by  President  ^lonroe  and  two  by  Andrew  Jackson. 
Scady  Chandler  was  a  popular  and  well-known  and  highly  respected  farmer 
and  his  integrity  and  honor  were  above  reproach. 

John  Scady  Chandler  spent  his  boyhood  on  the  farm,  operating  the 
same  with  his  brother  until  he  was  of  age,  remaining  with  his  mother  until  her 
death  in  1S73.  On  December  J3,  1875.  ^^  married  .Ann  Eliza  Phillips, 
daughter  of  John  D.  and  Hester  A.  (Smith)  Phillips,  the  latter  born  near 
^It.  Sterling.  Kentucky,  and  about  the  close  of  the  \var  came  to  Fillmore. 
Putnam  county,  and  made  that  her  home  for  several  years.  Her  father  was 
a  shoemaker  and  later  a  farmer  at  Putnamville.  He  came  to  Clinton  town- 
ship about  1S77  and  here  lived  until  his  death,  .\pril  2j.  1SS5.  His  widow- 
went  to  Evansville,  Indiana,  where  she  still  resides. 

Remaining  on  the  farm  until  about  1893,  John  S.  Chandler  went  to 
Evansville  for  seven  years,  where  he  was  interested  in  the  lumber  business 
in  which  he  had  been  more  or  less  interested  while  on  the  farm.  He  returned 
to  the  farm  about  1900  and  devoted  his  after  work  to  this  line  of  endeavor 
with  varied  success,  on  ninety-eight  acres,  a  part  of  which  his  father  had 
entered  from  the  government,  he  buying  out  his  mother's  dowry,  making 
one  hundred  and  sixty-six  acres,  but  he  has  sold  all  but  ninety-eight  acres. 
He  carries  on  general  farming.  He  has  a  fine  sugar  grove  and  takes  a  great 
deal  of  pains  with  it.  He  is  a  member  of  the  advisory  board  of  his  town- 
ship and  refuses  to  be  trustee,  although  often  solicited  by  his  friends;  how- 
ever, he  takes  a  deep  interest  in  local  matters  and  always  does  what  he  can 
(-'4' 


2,70 


WEIK  S   HISTORY  OF 


for  the  general  good  of  his  community.  He  is  an  uncompromising  Democrat 
and  uses  his  influence  wliere  it  will  do  the  most  good. 

One  child,  a  daughter,  has  been  born  to  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Chandler:  Myrtle 
E.,  bom  November  22,  1876,  wife  of  Lewis  H.  Carton,  of  Creencastle.  a  lum- 
ber salesman ;  no  children  have  been  bom  to  them. 

Mr.  and  Mrs.  Chandler  are  members  of  Union  Chapel  Methodist  church; 
he  has  filled  mo.st  of  the  church  offices  and  is  a  good  contributor  to  the  sup- 
port of  the  church.  Fraternally  Mr.  Chandler  is  a  member  of  the  Masonic 
order,  and  he  and  his  wife  and  daughter  belong  to  the  Eastern  Star,  Morton 
Chapter.    He  has  long  been  active  in  lodge  work. 

Mr.  Chandler  has  a  neat  and  comfortable  home  which  is  often  the 
o-athering  place  for  the  many  friends  of  the  family,  and  the  immediate  sur- 
roundings of  the  place  are  most  pleasant.  Nearby  is  one  of  the  finest  springs 
in  the  county,  of  pure,  sparkling  water  which  runs  down  a  beautiful  vale 
throuo-h  other  famis.  furnishing  water  for  stock,  and  in  many  respects  this 
place  is  a  verv  valuable  and  desirable  one.  Air.  Chandler  underwent  the 
deprivations  and  hardships  of  pioneer  life  and  helped  lay  the  foundation  for 
good  g(nernment  and  morals  in  this  locality. 


HUGH  H.  PARKER. 


Among  the  long  established  and  highly  respected  families  of  Putnam 
countv,  Indiana,  none  have  occupied  a  higher  place  in  public  esteem  than  the 
Parker  familv,  numerous  representatives  of  which  reside  here  and  who  for 
manv  years  have  taken  a  prominent  and  active  part  in  the  advancement  of 
the  various  business  interests  of  the  county. 

The  emigrant  ancestor  of  the  Parker  family  was  John  Parker,  who  was 
born  and  reared  in  England,  but  who.  because  he  accidentally  injured  the 
wife  of  a  nobleman,  was  banished  from  his  native  land.  His  coming  to 
America  was  sometime  prior  to  the  war  of  the  Revolution  and  relics  of  this 
ancestor  are  now  in  the  hands  of  his  great-grandson,  Benjamin  A.  Parker, 
of  this  township,  .\mong  the  children  of  this  John  Parker  was  a  son,  Wil- 
liam, who  was  born  in  South  Carolina  about  1790.  On  reaching  mature  years, 
the  latter  married  Candace  Austin,  and  to  them  was  born  a  son,  William  Hen- 
lev  Parker.  On  November  27,  1827,  William  and  Candace  Austin  arrived  in 
Putnam  countv.  Indiana,  and  located  on  section  17,  Mill  Creek  township,  of 
which  thev  were  the  third  settlers,  their  pioneer  home  being  located  in  the 


PLTNAM    COCNTV.   INDIANA.  3"! 

heart  of  the  forest.  Here  William  Parker  entered  eighty  acres  of  land,  and 
this  tract  of  land  has  remained  in  the  family  ever  since,  being  now  the  property 
of  his  grandson.  Benjamin  A.  Parker.  The  log  cabin  which  they  built  there 
served  as  their  home  for  many  years  and  remained  standing  as  late  as  1906. 

William  Henley  Parker  was  reared  on  the  parental  homestead  in  Mill 
Creek  township  and  lived  practically  all  his  life  there.  He  devoted  himself 
to  farming  pursuits  and  was  rewarded  with  a  fair  measure  of  success.  About 
1847  1''^  3"<1  his  cousin.  Joel  Wright,  started  a  general  store  on  the  farm, 
W'hich  they  conducted  until  about  1867.  At  the  time  of  the  inception  of  this 
enterprise  there  was  no  other  store  between  Stilesville,  Greencastle  and 
Cloverdale,  thus  they  drew  trade  from  a  wide  territory.  Mr.  Parker  also 
engaged  to  some  extent  in  the  shipping  of  hvestock,  which  had  to  be  driven 
to  Indianapolis,  as  many  as  four  hundred  hogs  being  shipped  this  way  in  one 
year.  He  was  active  in  politics,  being  affiliated  with  the  Democratic  party, 
and  served  as  the  first  trustee  of  Mill  Creek  township.  He  was  the  leader  of 
his  party  in  the  township  and  exerted  a  wide  influence.  His  death  occurred 
in  1875,  '"I's  ^v^t'^  having  died  the  previous  year.  They  were  active  members 
of  the  Primitive  Baptist  church  and  commanded  the  respect  of  all  who  knew 
them. 

William  Henley  Parker  married  Bethena  P.  Dobbs,  the  daughter  of  Joel 
Dobbs.  She  was  of  German  descent  and  came  to  Putnam  county  in  1S25, 
\\ith  her  parents,  who  were  among  the  early  settlers  in  this  section,  their 
farm  adjoining  on  the  west  to  that  owned  by  Mr.  Parker.  To  this  worthy 
couple  were  born  the  following  children:  Martin.  Candace.  Sarah,  Benja- 
min A.,  Martha  W.,  Mary.  Joel  D.,  Matilda,  Hugh  H.  and  Lucy  Ann.  Brief 
mention  is  made  of. these  children  as  follows:  Martin  died  at  Eminence, 
leaxing  two  sons;  Candace  is  the  widow  of  James  S.  Parish  and 
lived  at  Freeman.  Missouri,  where  he  died;  Sarah  is  the  wife  of  David  W. 
Sherrill  and  lives  south  of  Stilesville,  Hendricks  county,  this  state:  Benjamin 
A.  is  referred  to  in  a  later  paragraph ;  Martha  W.  is  the  widow  of  Solomon 
Dorsett.  deceased,  of  Eminence;  Mary,  who  was  the  wife  of  Richard  Stringer 
and  lived  in  Morgan,  county,  south  of  Stilesville,  died  in  1906;  Joel  D.,  who 
lives  in  Shattuck,  Oklahoma,  is  a  widower  and  the  father  of  seven  children ; 
Matilda  is  the  wife  of  Marion  M.  Hurst  and  they  live  north  of  Belle  Union; 
Hugh  H.  is  the  immediate  subject  of  this  sketch;  Lucy  Ann.  of  Eminence,  is 
the  widow  of  Thomas  Surber,  deceased. 

Benjamin  A.  Parker,  the  fourth  in  the  order  of  birth  of  the  children  of 
William  Henley  and  Bethena  Parker,  was  born  on  the  old  homestead  June 


372  WEIK  S    HISTORY   OF 

30,  183S.  In  i860  he  married  Hannah  Pruitt,  of  ^^lorgan  county,  who  died  in 
1861,  leaving  a  daughter,  ^Nlary  Esther,  who  died  in  the  summer  of  1892. 
In  1863  Mr.  Parker  married  Rachael  Brown,  of  Owen  county,  Indiana,  the 
daughter  of  Rev.  John  and  Lydia  (Smith)  Brown,  the  former  being  a  native 
of  Scotland  and  a  minister  of  the  Campbellite  church.  To  Benjamin  and 
Rachael  Parker  were  born  the  following  children :  Hannah  A.,  Willis  R., 
John  W.,  Daniel,  Clara.  Xoah,  Charles,  Rena  and  Ona. 

After  his  first  marriage  Mr.  Parker  moved  to  a  farm  near  Broad  Park, 
where  he  resided  up  to  1874,  when  he  moved  to  Alaska,  Owen  county,  where 
he  li\-ed  two  years.  In  February,  1876,  he  located  where  he  now  resides,  in 
Mill  Creek  township.  Mrs.  Rachael  Parker  died  on  February  28,  1897.  Of 
their  children,  the  following  facts  are  noted :  Hannah  A.  is  the  wife  of 
Charles  M.  Dorsett,  of  Mill  Creek  township,  and  they  have  eight  children, 
Thomas,  Flora,  Paul,  George,  Willis,  Viola,  Eddie  and  Evaline;  Willis  R., 
who  married  Martha  Lewis,  died  in  September,  1906;  John  W.,  who  lives  in 
Hendricks  countv,  married  Victoria  Arnold,  and  they  have  four  children, 
Clona,  Clyde,  Emory  and  Emma,  the  two  last  named  being  twins;  Daniel, 
of  Alill  Creek  township,  married  Efifie  Lewis,  and  to  them  have  been  born 
three  children,  Lester  Verlin.  Lloyd  and  Nola  Marie,  the  last  named  dying 
in  infancv;  Clara  first  married  John  Grimes,  by  which  union  was  born  one 
child,  Sarah  Melissa,  and  she  afterwards  married  Wilfred  Ogles,  of  Morgan 
countv,  and  thev  have  a  daughter.  Myrtle:  Noah,  of  ^lartinsville.  Indiana, 
married  Viola  Humphries;  Charles,  who  resides  near  his  father,  married 
Lottie  Keller  and  thev  have  a  daughter.  Garnet  Myrtle:  Rena  married  John 
George  and  lives  near  her  father  in  Mill  Creek  township ;  Ona  lives  at  home 
with  her  father. 

Hugh  H.  Parker,  whose  name  appears  at  the  head  of  this  sketch,  was 
born  in  INIill  Creek  township,  Putnam  county.  August  2S.  1852.  the  son  of 
William  Henley  and  Bethena  Parker.  He  received  his  education  in  the 
common  schools  of  the  neighborhood  and  has  ahvays  pursued  the  vocation 
of  farming,  in  which  he  has  met  with  a  gratifying  measure  of  success.  He 
owns  five  hundred  and  seventy  acres  of  land  in  section  8,  the  land  extending 
into  Morgan  county,  and  he  also  owns  land  in  Jefferson  township.  He  is  a 
practical  and  systematic  worker,  keeps  in  close  touch  with  every  detail  of  his 
business  and  is  numbered  among  the  successful  men  of  this  part  of  the 
countv.  His  splendid  estate  is  highly  improved  and  the  residence  property  is 
comfortable  and  attractive,  the  general  appearance  of  the  entire  place  indicat- 
ing the  owner  to  be  a  man  of  good  taste  and  excellent  judgment. 


PrTXAM    COI-XTV.   IXDIAXA. 


ci7Z 


On  February  2^.  1S75.  Hugh  H.  Parker  married  Soriida  Wood,  a  daugh- 
ter of  Elisha.and  Rhoda  (Broadstreet)  Wood.  Elisha  Wood  was  born" in 
Washington  county,  Indiana,  on  Februar>'  3.  1S22,  the  son  of  Daniel  and 
Margaret  Wood,  the  former  a  native  of  Indiana  and  the  latter  of  Pennsyl- 
vania. The  paternal  grandfather  was  a  soUHer  in  the  war  of  the  Revolu- 
tion, seri-ing  vahantly  for  seven  years.  He  was  among  the  first  settlers  of 
Wasiiington  county,  Indiana,  and  died  there  at  the  age  of  eightv-four  years. 
\Vhen  Elisha  Wood  was  fourteen  years  old  his  father  died  and  in  1840  he 
and  others  of  the  family  came  to  what  is  now  Mill  Creek  township,  Putnam 
county.  On  June  i.  1S40,  he  married  Rhoda  Broadstreet.  the  daughter  of 
Thomas  Broadstreet.  a  pioneer  settler  of  Putnam  county,  and  of  their  seven 
children  Mrs.  Hugh  Parker  was  the  youngest.  :Mrs.  Rhoda  Wood  died  April 
20,  1857,  and  on  September  8th  of  the  same  year  Mr.  Wood  married  Phoebe 
C.  Phillips,  to  which  union  seven  children  were  born.  Mr.  Wood  located  on 
a  farm  in  section  6.  Mill  Creek  township,  in  1S45.  ^t  which  time  it  was  prac- 
tically covered  with  a  heavy  growth  of  timber.  Commencing  life  for 
himself  with  a  cash  capital  of  only  ten  dollars,  he  eventuallv  became  the 
owner  of  two  hundred  and  eighty  acresof  good  land,  the  result  of  hard  work 
and  economy.  He  was  a  faithful  and  active  member  of  the  Missionarv  Bap- 
tist church,  of  which  he  was  a  trustee.  His  death  occurred  on  March  14, 
1906.  and  his  widow  died  in  June.  1909.  Six  children  were  born  to  Air.  and 
]\Irs.  Hugh  H.  Parker,  namely :  Elmer,  who  died  at  the  age  of  nine  months ; 
Victor}',  who  died  on  February  15,  1894.  at  the  age  of  seventeen  years; 
Bessie  died  at  the  age  of  four  years ;  Bertha  D.  married  Ancil  Dorsett,  who 
died  in  1904,  and  they  had  one  daughter,  Gladys,  who,  with  her  mother,  are 
now  living  with  the  subject,  Hugh  H.  Parker;  Grover  Cleveland,  who  li\-es 
a  half  mile  east  of  Broad  Park,  married  Dolly  Cof^man,  the  daughter  of  An- 
drew  Coffman,  of  Cloverdale  township,  and  they  had  one  son,  Gerald  Ray 
Parker,  who  died  at  the  age  of  seventeen  months :  A'ernie  Clyde,  the  youngest 
son,  who  lives  at  home  with  his  parents,  attended  the  Normal  School  at  Dan- 
ville, but  is  now  a  student  in  the  high  school  at  Broad  Park. 

Politically  Air.  Parker  is  aligned  with  the  Democratic  party  and  has  taken 
an  active  interest  in  local  public  affairs,  having  served  as  trustee  of  Mill 
Creek  township  for  seven  years.  Religiously  he  and  his  wife  are  members 
of  the  Missionarv-  Baptist  church,  to  which  they  give  an  earnest  and  liberal 
support.  Air.  Parker  is  a  man  of  large  physique,  is  genial  and  whole-souled 
in  his  relations  with  his  fellow  men  and  in  every  relation-  of  life  he  displays 
a  candidness  and  honesty  of  purpose  that  has  gained  for  him  the  esteem  of 
all  whom  he  has  come  in  contact  with. 


374  WEIK  S   HISTORY  OF 


JAMES  H.  SPARKS. 

Prominent  among  the  worthy  representatives  of  the  pioneer  element  in 
the  county  of  Putnam  is  the  well-known  gentleman  to  a  review  of  whose 
life  the  attention  of  the  reader  is  now  invited.  For  many  years  James  Sparks 
has  been  a  forceful  factor  in  the  prosperity  of  Cloverdale  township,  and  now, 
at  the  advanced  age  of  nearly  eighty-five  years,  he  is  enjoying  that  rest  which 
his  long  life  of  earnest  toil  so  richly  entitles  him  to. 

James  H.  Sparks  was  born  in  Lewis  county,  Kentucky,  on  the  8th  day 
of  February,  1826,  and  is  a  son  of  James  and  Elizabeth  (Gilman)  Sparks. 
The  maternal  great-grandfather,  Henry  Gilman,  was  a  soldier  in  the  war  of 
the  Revolution,  serving  under  General  Wayne.  When  the  subject  was  about 
twelve  vears  of  age  the  family  removed  to  Putnam  county,  Indiana,  locat- 
ing near  Mount  Meridian,  the  father  buying  a  tract  of  land  about  a  half  mile 
east  of  that  place.  Two  years  later  they  moved  to  the  southern  part  of 
Jefferson  township,  where  another  farm  was  purchased.  James  H.  remained 
with  his  parents  until  he  was  about  eighteen  years  old,  when  he  went  to 
Greencastle  and  apprenticed  himself  to  leam  the  trade  of  blacksmith.  About 
twenty  years  after  coming  to  Putnam  county  the  other  members  of  the 
family  removed  to  Clayton  county.  Iowa,  where  they  made  their  subse- 
quent home.  Mr.  Sparks  was  employed  at  the  smithy's  forge  in  Greencastle 
for  about  five  vears,  becoming  a  proficient  workman,  and  at  the  end  of  that 
period  he  came  to  Cloverdale  and  opened  a  shop  of  his  own.  which  he  con- 
tinued to  operate  about  fifteen  years.  He  then  gave  up  blacksmithing  and 
took  up  agriculture  as  a  vocation,  locating  on  his  present  farm  in  the  east- 
ern part  of  Cloverdale  township.  He  gave  intelligent  direction  to  his  efforts 
and  in  due  time  developed  his  farm  to  a  fine  estate.  He  has  always  been  a  hard 
worker  and  has  been  practical  in  his  methods,  so  that  his  eiforts  have  been 
rewarded  with  a  due  meed  of  success.  The  place  is  well  improved,  contain- 
ing a  comfortable  residence,  commodious  and  substantial  barns  and  out- 
buildings, while  the  general  condition  of  the  place  indicates  the  owner  to  be 
a  man  of  sound  judgment  and  good  taste. 

On  Februarv  27,  185 1,  Mr.  Sparks  married  Emily  Jane  Coffman,  a  na- 
tive of  Fountain  county,  Indiana,  and  the  daughter  of  John  and  [Mary 
(Williams)  Coffman.  These  parents  were  natives  of  Kentucky  and  came  to 
Fountain  county,  Indiana,  in  an  early  day.  In  1832.  when  slie  was  about 
six  weeks  old,  the  family  located  in  Cloverdale  township.  Putnam  county, 
where  she  grew  to  womanhood.  John  Cofifman  \vas  a  soldier  in  the  war  of 
18 12.  under  Gen.  William  Henrv  Harrison,  and  was  in  the  noted  battle  at 


PL "TNAM    COLNTV.    INDIANA.  3/5 

Murgantc)\\  n.  on  the  river  Thames,  where  the  Indian  chief  Tecuniseh  was 
killed.  To  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Sparks  were  born  si.x  children,  of  whom  but  two 
are  now  living,  two  having  died  in  infancy.  The  four  who  grew  to  maturity 
were  James,  Mary  Ann,  Eliza  Jane  and  Xiles  H.  James  lives  with  his  fa- 
ther on  the  home  farm.  Mary  Ann.  who  died  April  22,  1882.  was  the  wife 
of  Peter  Shopl.  of  Eminence,  ^lorgan  county,  Indiana,  anil  she  left  two  daugh- 
ters, Emma  and  Lucy  Jane.  Eliza  Jane,  who  died  on  February  25,  1S88, 
was  the  wife  of  Isaac  X.  Carpenter,  of  Cloverdale  township,  and  she  left 
a  son.  J.  H.  Carpenter,  whose  death  occurred  on  April  19,  1908.  Xiles  mar- 
ried Elizabeth  Hood  and  lives  a  short  distance  northeast  of  Cloverdale.  To 
him  and  his  wife  have  been  born  ten  children,  of  which  number  four  are  living. 
Three  of  the  children  died  in  infancy,  the  others  being  briefly  mentioned  as 
follows :  John  William  is  married  and  is  living  at  Mansfield.  Charles  P. 
li\es  in  Cloverdale  township,  this  county.  Allen  died  Xo\ember  18,  1901, 
Lee  on  the  29th  of  the  same  month,  and  Herschel  on  the  25th  of  October  of 
the  same  year,  the  three  deaths  being  due  to  typhoid  fever.  Of  those  living, 
Arizona  and  Elmer  remain  at  home  with  their  parents.  Mrs.  Emily  Sparks 
dietl  on  the  jth  of  Feljruary.  1902.  at  the  age  of  si.\ty-nine  years. 

Religiouslv.  ^[r.  Sparks  is  a  consistent  meml;er  of  the  Christian  church 
at  Cloverdale,  to  which  his  wife  also  belonged  up  to  the  time  of  her  death. 
Fraternally,  Mr.  Sparks  became  a  member  of  Temple  Lodge,  Xo.  47.  Free 
and  Accepted  Masons,  many  years  ago  and  is  now  probably  the  oldest  Mason 
residing  in  Putnam  county.  He  was  a  charter  member  of  Cloverdale  Lodge, 
X'o.  132,  Free  and  Accepted  Masons,  to  which  lodge  his  son  James  also  be- 
longs. 'SU.  Sparks  is  a  member  of  Gen.  Frank  White  Post.  Grand  Army  of 
the  Repul-ilic.  at  Cloverdale.  this  affiliation  being  consistent  from  the  fact  that 
during  the  Civil  war  Mr.  Sparks  enlisted  in  Company  I.  Forty-third  Indiana 
Volunteer  Infantry,  and  gave  effective  service  to  his  country  in  her  hour  of 
need.  He  is  one  of  the  Ijest  known  men  in  Cloverdale  township  and  en- 
joys the  unbounded  confidence  of  all  who  know  him.  He  has  always  given 
his  support  to  every  moxement  having  for  its  object  the  advancement  of  the 
best  interests  of  the  community  and  has  been  influential  for  good. 


LEWIS  XE\\"GEXT. 


Lewis  X'ewgent  was  born  January  2%.  1861,  on  the  farm  where  he  now 
lives.     His  father  was  John  S.  Xewgent.  and  mother  Lucinda  (Lewis)  Xew- 


376  weik's  history  of 

gent.  The  father  was  a  native  of  Putnam  county,  born  August  25,  1830, 
and  the  mother  was  born  in  Shelbyville.  Kentucky',  and  came  to  Putnam 
county  with  her  parents  when  seven  years  old.  The  father  farmed  all  his 
life  and  was  county  commissioner  two  terms.  He  was  a  Democrat.  He 
died  ]\Iarch  14,  1894.  He  belonged  to  the  Methodist  church.  He  owned 
two  farms  of  one  hundred  and  sixty  and  eighty  acres  when  he  died.  His 
widow  still  survi\-es,  and  lives  with  Lewis  Newgent  of  this  sketch.  She  is 
in  her  eightieth  vear.  These  parents  have  seven  children,  namely:  William 
T.,  of  Parke  county,  Indiana;  Nancy,  wife  of  Thomas  Heady,  of  Madison 
township;  Sarah  Elizabeth,  deceased;  Edward,  on  the  old  homestead;  Lewis, 
the  subject  of  this  sketch;  Millie,  wife  of  Walter  Sigler,  of  Clinton  town- 
ship; Tohn.  deceased,  who  married  Mar\'  Martin,  and  left  two  children,  Merl 
and  Earl. 

Lewis  Newgent  was  reared  on  the  farm  where  he  has  lived  all  his  life. 
He  received  a  common  school  education.  He  is  a  member  of  the  Methodist 
Episcopal  church  at  Bethel,  is  a  Democrat  in  politics  and  active  in  party 
affairs,  having  been  committeeman  of  his  precinct. 


JONATHAN  HANSELL. 

From  an  old  industrious  family  that  has  enjoyed  a  most  excellent  repu- 
tation wherever  its  members  have  lived  comes  Jonathan  Hansell,  one  of  the 
best  farmers  of  his  township  and  a  man  who  is  deserving  of  the  success 
he  has  achieved  because  he  has  worked  for  it  along  right  lines  and  pre- 
ferred to  "eat  bread  by  the  sweat  of  his  brow"  rather  than  try  to  win  fortune 
bv  unscrupulous  or  questionable  methods.  He  was  born  in  Floyd  township, 
Putnam  countv,  December  3,  1859,  the  son  of  George  Hansell,  who  was  born 
in  Frederick  countv,  Virginia,  April  29,  1813,  and  he  came  to  Putnam  county, 
Indiana,  in  1839.  He  was  the  son  of  John  and  Hannah  (Adams)  Hansell. 
On  September  15,  1836,  George  Hansell  married  Mary  A.,  daughter  of 
Elijah  C.  and  Elizabeth  Wilkinson,  born  February  18,  1817,  in  Highland 
countv,  Ohio,  and  this  union  resulted  in  the  birth  of  thirteen  children,  eight 
of  whom  are  living  at  this  writing,  named  as  follows:  Juretta  is  deceased; 
John  \\'.,  who  was  a  soldier  in  the  L^nion  army,  a  member  of  the  Twenty- 
seventh  Regiment,  Indiana  Volunteer  Infantry,  was  killed  at  the  battle  of 
-\ntietani :  David  is  living  at  Lena.  Indiana:  Elijah  C.   is  living  in  Pulaski 


PLTNAM   COUNTY,  INDIANA.  2>17 

county,  tliis  state:  Rachae!  Maria  lives  in  Greencastle ;  Hannah  I..  li\es  in 
Kansas:  Elizabeth  .\nn  is  deceased:  Mary  Ellen,  of  Iowa:  George  \\'.  is 
deceased:  Rebecca  is  living  in  this  county;  Jonathan,  of  this  review:  Jehu 
is  a  contractor  in  .\rkansas -City.  Kansas,  the  two  latter  being  twins.  Mrs. 
Hansell  died  March  17.  1901. 

George  Hansell  is  a  Republican  but  he  is  not  interested  in  political 
offices.  He  is  a  strong  Methodist  and  a  devout  Christian.  He  died  at  the  age 
of  sevent}'  }'ears  and  four  months,  at  the  old  homestead,  on  September  11, 
1883,  on  the  land  he  purchased  when  he  first  came  to  this  state  from  Hills- 
bury,  Ohio,  of  which  state  his  wife  was  a  native.  He  has  devoted  his  en- 
tire life  to  farming  and  has  been  very  well  repaid  for  his  long  years  of  hard 
toil. 

Jonathan  Hansell  received  a  very  good  education  in  the  public  schools. 
He  grew  up  on  the  home  farm  in  this  township  and  has  devoted  his  attention 
to  farming.  AA'hen  he  was  thirty  years  old  he  bought  thirty  acres  of  land, 
and  being  a  hard  worker  he  has  been  able  to  add  to  his  original  purchase 
until  he  now  owns  an  excellent  farm  of  one  hundred  and  twenty  acres  which 
is  well  improved  and  well  tilled.  He  has  erected  here  a  modern,  commodious 
and  desirably  located  dwelling  which  was  built  in  1899.  Xo  farm  in  section 
21  is  better  adapted  for  the  carrying  on  of  general  farming  and  stock  rais- 
ing, at  which  he  is  equally  successful. 

Mr.  Hansell  was  first  married  on  August  3,  1887.  to  Ollie  .A.  Wright, 
daughter  of  Marion  and  .Amanda  (Chatham)  Wright,  of  old  pioneer  stock. 
Two  children  were  born  to  this  union;  Gracie.  born  May  31,  1888.  married 
Earl  Smith,  who  is  a  mail  carrier  at  Greencastle;  Blanche  B.  was  born  ]\Iay 
23.  1892.  and  is  living  at  home,  attending  high  school  in  Floyd  township. 
The  mother  of  these  children  passed  away  on  October  2^.  1S99,  and  on  March 
20,  1902,  Mr.  Hansell  married  Clora  A.  Wise,  daughter  of  Isaac  and  Regina 
( Xewman )  \\'ise.  of  Hendricks  county.  Four  children  have  been  born 
to  them:  Jonathan  ]\Iaynard.  born  .April  i,  1903:  Ila  A.,  born  September  29, 
1004:  Lema  B.,  born  .August  4.  1906:  Isaac  Ward,  born  June  14,  1908. 

Mr.  Hansell  is  a  handv  man  with  tools  and  is  something  of  a  builder, 
having  planned  his  own  home  and  barn  and  worked  on  the  local  church. 
He  is  a  skilled  stone  mason.  He  has  never  aspired  to  any  of  the  county 
offices,  and  he  is  in  favor  of  prohibition.  He  is  a  member  of  the  Knights  of 
Pythias  Lodge  Xo.  i'},.  at  Bainbridgc.  having  been  a  Knight  for  the  past 
fifteen  years,  anrl  he  has  held  all  the  offices  in  the  local  organization,  being 
one  of  the  best  known  members  of  this  order  in  the  county. 


378  weik's  history  of 


JAMES  A.  RIGHTSELL. 

This  representative  farmer  and  business  man  is  a  native  of  Putnam 
county,  Indiana,  and  was  born  in  \\'ashington  township,  March  20.  1S63, 
having  first  seen  the  hght  of  day  on  the  old  Rightsell  homestead,  which  his 
grandfather  purchased  from  the  government.  His  father,  John  Rightsell, 
after  living  for  some  years  on  the  old  place,  bought  land  in  Cloverdale  town- 
ship and  about  1S71  purchased  the  farm  on  Walnut  Bottoms  now  owned  by 
his  son  Frank.  By  subsequent  purchases  from  time  to  time  he  added  to  his 
holdings  until  he  finally  became  the  owner  of  more  than  five  hundred  acres, 
about  one  hundred  and  si.xty  consisting  of  bottom  land,  the  rest  lying  among 
the  hills,  all  being  fertile  and,  under  his  control,  highly  cultivated.  Mr. 
Rightsell  started  in  life  with  nothing,  but  by  industry  and  good  management 
and  strict  economy,  succeeded  in  amassing  quite  a  fortune  and  at  the  time  of 
his  death  was  one  of  the  wealthiest  men  in  the  southern  part  of  Putnam 
countv.  He  was  a  splendid  example  of  the  successful  self-made  man,  stood 
high  as  a  citizen  and  was  public  spirited  in  all  the  term  implies.  He  was 
born  September  22.  1836,  married,  in  the  year  of  1857,  Mary  Neese,  and  de- 
parted this  life  in  the  month  of  November,  1903.  Mrs.  Rightsell,  whose 
birth  occurred  in  July,  1834,  was  a  daughter  of  John  and  Mary  Xeese,  early 
settlers  of  the  southeastern  part  of  Washington  township,  her  death  tak- 
ing place  on  March  20,   1905. 

The  early  experience  of  James  A.  Rightsell  was  similar  in  most  respects 
to  that  of  the  majority  of  country  lads,  his  childhood  and  youth  having 
been  spent  in  close  touch  with  nature  and  the  district  schools  affording  him 
the  means  of  a  fair  educational  training.  He  remained  at  home  until  at- 
taining his  majority,  when  he  sought  his  fortune  in  the  west,  going  first  to 
Kansas,  where  he  remained  two  years,  \'ariously  employed,  and  at  the  ex- 
piration of  that  time  proceeded  further  westwarfl  until  reaching  Colorado  and 
Wyoming.  During  the  nineteen  years  he  spent  in  the  west  he  followefl  differ- 
ent pursuits,  farming  in  Kansas  and  contracting  to  supply  timber  and  lumber 
to  the  Cripple  Creek  mines  in  Colorado,  near  which  he  also  took  up  a  pre- 
emption claim.  Later  he  engaged  as  motorman  with  the  Denver  electric 
street  car  line,  in  which  capacity  he  continued  for  five  years,  and  shortly 
after  resigning  his  position  returned  to  Putnam  county  and  engaged  in  ag- 
riculture, which  he  has  since  followed. 

Mr.  Rightsell  moved  to  his  present  fann  in  Washington  township  in 
Januarv,   1903.  and  at  the  settlement  of  his  father's  estate  came  into  poshes- 


PCTNAM    COL"XTV,    IXDIAXA.  379 

sion  of  se\ent\-  acres  on  wliich  lie  has  since  lived.  He  lias  made  a  number  of 
valuable  improvements  on  his  place,  including  a  fine  modern  barn,  thirty-six 
by  forty-four  feet  in  area,  with  a  large  shed  sixteen  by  thirty-six  feet,  the 
structure  being  complete  in  all  of  its  parts  and  admirably  adapted  to  the 
purposes  for  which  intended.  He  has  brought  this  land  to  a  high  state  of 
cultivation  and  in  connection  with  tilling  the  soil  devotes  considerable  atten- 
tion to  livestock,  his  cattle,  horses  and  hogs  being  of  superior  breeds  and 
among  the  best  in  this  part  of  the  county.  }vlr.  Rightsell's  home  stands  on 
an  eminence  about  one  hundred  feet  above  the  valley  and  commands  an  ex- 
tensive view  of  the  surrounding  countn.-.  The  home,  Avhich  was  erected  in 
1S84.  is  a  large  and  commodious  edifice  and  with  improvements  since  added 
is  now  one  of  the  best  residences  in  the  neighborhood,  being  furnished  with 
modern  conveniences  and  meeting  all  the  reciuirements  of  an  attracti\-e  anrl 
desirable  rural  residence. 

ilr.  Rightsell  married  at  Colorado  Springs,  Colorado,  Xo\-ember  i, 
1887,  Hontas  Xicholson.  daughter  of  Benjamin  and  Elizabeth  Xicholson, 
she  being  inn  a  visit  to  a  sister  at  that  place  when  the  ceremony  took  place, 
^ilrs.  Rightsell  was  born  at  Fillmore.  Putnam  crmnty.  Indiana,  and  died 
]\rarch  15,  1897.  ''t  Denver.  Col(jrado.  leaving  two  children.  Raymond  M. 
and  Ruth,  both  making  their  home  with  their  uncle.  Frank  Rightsell,  and 
attending  the  Washington  township  high  school.  Mr.  Rightsell  is  largelv 
interested  in  the  Reelsville  Telephone  Company,  one  of  the  leading  enter- 
prises of  the  kind  in  centra!  Indiana,  and  is  now  serving  as  its  president. 
This  c'lmpany  has  grown  steadily  in  the  favor  of  the  public  until  it  has 
quite  an  extensive  patronage,  the  service  including  one  hundred  and  sixtv 
telephones  throughout  the  county,  with  exchanges  at  Greencastle  anil  Po- 
land, the  rate  of  fifteen  cents  a  month  paying  all  the  expenses  of  the  con- 
cern. While  interested  in  all  that  makes  for  the  good  of  his  communitv  and 
the  welfare  of  his  fellow  men.  Mr.  Rightsell  takes  little  part  in  public  atTairs 
further  than  \-oting  his  principles  antl  gi\ing  his  su])i)ort  to  the  best  (pialified 
candidates.  He  has  never  been  a  politician,  much  less  an  office  seeker, 
but  has  ever  stood  for  law,  order  and  good  government,  being  readv  at  all 
times  to  labor  for  these  ends  and  to  make  any  reasonable  sacrifice  fi3r  what 
he  considers  the  l)est  interests  of  the  body  politic.  While  in  the  West  he 
spent  much  of  his  leisure  among  the  mountains  where  he  found  rare  sport 
as  a  huntsman,  and  since  returning  home,  the  rifle,  in  the  use  of  which  he 
is  quite  an  expert,  aiifords  him  his  chief  means  of  amusement  and  recreation. 
Personally    Mr.    Rightsell   is  quite   popular    and     has    many     warm     friends 


3^0  weik's  history  of 

throughout  the  county.  Moral,  upright  and  a  fine  type  of  the  courteous 
American  gentleman,  he  is  a  credit  to  the  race  from  which  he  sprang,  and 
of  the  community  in  which  he  was  born  and  reared. 


OLIVER  NELSON  HOUCK. 

This  is  an  age  in  which  the  farmer  stands  pre-eminently  above  any  other 
class  as  a  producer  of  wealth.  He  simply  takes  advantage  of  the  winds, 
the  warm  air,  the  bright  sunshine  and  the  refreshing  rains,  and  applying  his 
own  hands  and  skill  to  nature's  gifts  he  creates  grain,  hay,  live  stock,  etc., 
all  of  which  are  absolute  necessities  to  the  inhabitants  of  the  world.  Among 
the  up-to-date  farmers  of  Putnam  county  is  Oliver  Nelson  Houck,  a  member 
of  a  well  known  family  here,  the  son  of  David  Houck,  whose  life  record, 
also  those  of  the  subject's  brothers,  Jonathan  and  James  E.,  appear  else- 
where in  this  work. 

Air.  Houck  was  born  in  IVIadison  township,  Putnam  county,  September 
5,  1858,  just  three  years  younger  than  his  brother  Edgar.  The  day  he  was 
nine  years  of  age  he  came  to  the  present  farm.  He  received  a  fairly  good 
education  in  the  local  schools  and  early  in  life  directed  his  attention  to 
farming,  having  been  in  partnership  with  his  brother  Jonathan  for  five  or 
six  years.  Edgar  was  also  associated  with  them  in  general  farming  and 
stock  raising.  In  1892  Oliver  N.  came  back  to  the  old  farm,  of  which  he 
owns  fifty-one  acres.  He  also  owns  a  very  valuable  tract  of  land  on  the 
west  side  of  the  creek,  consisting  of  two  hundred  and  ten  acres,  adjoining 
the  farm  of  his  brother  Jonathan,  on  the  old  Gilmore  farm.  All  this  land 
has  been  well  improved  and  is  mostly  under  a  high  state  of  cultivation,  Mr. 
Houck  being  regarded  as  one  of  the  leading  agriculturists  of  this  part  of 
the  country.  He  has  a  commodious  and  attractively  located  dwelling,  erected 
by  himself,  facing  north  and  overlooking  the  valley  of  Walnut  creek.  He 
erected  his  large,  substantial  barn  himself.  For  ten  years  he  lived  on  about 
sixty  acres  of  the  old  place,  about  one  miles  west  of  his  present  home.  In 
1903  he  left  there  and  came  to  his  present  place,  erecting  a  dwelling  in 
1906.  He  had  lived  for  three  years  in  the  old  log  house  that  John  Gilmore 
built,  Mr.  Gilmore  using  the  upstairs  rooms  where  he  conducted  a  sort  of 
high  school  which  was  popular  in  those  days,  pupils  coming  from  Illinois. 

Mr.  Houck  carries  on  the  various  phases  of  his  work  with  hired  help, 
devoting-  a  great  deal  of  attention  to  stock    raising,    feeding    all  the  grain 


PUTNAM    COUNTY,  INDIANA.  38 1 

the  place  produces,  often  feeding  a  car  load  of  cattle  and  about  two  hundred 
head  of  hogs  at  a  time — in  fact  he  has  continued  this  annually  for  some  time, 
confining  his  attention  to  the  farm  exclusively,  and  he  has  been  very  suc- 
cessful. 

Mr.  Houck  was  married  March  ii,  1880,  to  Gertrude  Elliott,  daughter 
of  Harrison  and  Elizabeth  (Young)  Elliott,  a  well  known  family,  the  old 
Elliott  homestead  being  about  three  miles  from  Manhattan.  ]Mrs.  Houck's 
parents  having  settletl  there  about  1S54.  having  come  from  Wayne  county, 
this  state,  where  they  were  born,  reared  and  were  m.arried.  They  lived 
there  until  Mr.  Elliott  died  in  1888,  at  the  age  of  seventy-one  years.  He 
was  at  one  time  county  commissioner  and  proved  to  be  a  strong  member 
of  the  board,  he  and  Messrs.  Gardner  and  Ballard  being  instrumental  in 
building  many  bridges  and  county  buildings,  bridging  Walnut  creek  in 
many  places,  also  Mill  creek.  Of  the  eight  children  born  to  Mr.  and  Mrs. 
Elliott,  only  two  are  now  living  in  Putnam  county,  Mrs.  O.  N.  Houck  and 
Dan  Elliott,  of  Greencastle. 

One  son  has  been  born  to  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Houck.  bearing  the  name  of 
Earl,  now  twenty-four  years  of  age.  He  is  engaged  in  the  undertaking  busi- 
ness in  Terre  Haute.  He  married  Drucilla  Ringo,  of  Clay  county,  Indiana, 
and  they  are  the  parents  of  one  child,  Walter  Nelson. 

Oliver  N.  Houck  has  long  been  active  in  political  circles :  however, 
he  has  never  sought  political  offices,  being  too  busy  with  his  individual 
affairs,  but  he  is  deeply  interested  in  the  county's  best  interests  and  ahvays 
ready  to  lend  a  helping  hand  in  furthering  any  movement  looking  to  the 
general  good. 


ALFRED  E.  FLINT. 


Alfred  E.  Flint  is  a  native  son  of  the  old  Hoosier  state,  having  been  born 
near  Versailles,  Ripley  county,  January  4,  1866,  and  he  is  the  son  of  Alfred 
and  Marv  A.  (Anderson)  Flint.  Alfred  Flint,  who  was  born  in  Cincin- 
nati. Ohio,  was  a  son  of  William  Flint,  who.  with  his  wife,  came  to  the 
L'nited  States  from  London,  England.  He  was  the  son  of  a  wealthy  physi- 
cian, and  received  a  finished  college  education,  but  the  father  died  and  when 
William  attained  his  majority  he  found  himself  in  straitened  circum- 
stances financially.  Nothing  daunted,  he  learned  the  carpenter's  trade  and 
started  out  to  carve  his  own  fortune.  Coming  to  America,  he  and  his  wife 
located  in   Cincinnati,   and  he  became  a  dealer   in   large   tracts   of  land    in 


^82  weik's  history  of 

southern  Indiana.  Among  his  deals,  was  the  sale  of  a  square  mile  of  land  in 
Ohio  county,  Indiana,  to  Hugh  Anderson  and  another  man,  who  built  there 
a  grist  mill,  carding  mill  and  saw  mill.  Mr.  Flint  then  bought  tracts  of  land 
in  the  northern  part  of  Ripley  county,  which  he  later  sold  and  then  bought 
more  land  in  the  southern  part  of  that  county.  Alary  A.  Flint,  the  subject's 
mother,  was  a  daughter  of  Hugh  and  Ann  Anderson,  the  former  of  whom 
was  born,  reared  and  educated  in  Scotland,  while  his  wife  was  born  in  Ire- 
land in  very  humble  circumstances.  Both  emigrated  to  the  United  States, 
met  for  the  first  time  at  Cincinnati  and  were  there  married.  It  was  on  the 
Ripley  county  farm  of  Mr.  Flint's  that  Morgan's  raiders  camped  one  night 
durino'  the  Civil  war,  and  it  was  also  in  that  neighborhood  that  Morgan's 
men  captured  a  number  of  men  who  were  being  sworn  in  to  fight  him. 

Alfred  E.  Flint  was  reared  under  the  paternal  roof  in  Ripley  county 
until  he  was  about  eighteen  years  old,  at  which  age  he  began  teaching  school. 
His  ambition  at  this  time  was  to  secure  a  thorough  education  and  he  took 
up  teaching  in  order  to  help  defray  his  college  expenses.  After  teaching  two 
years  he  became  a  student  in  the  State  University  at  Bloomington,  where  he 
remained  nearly  three  years.  Returning  then  to  Ripley  county,  he  again  en- 
gaged in  teaching,  completing  six  years  in  that  profession  in  that  county. 

In  1890  Air.  Flint  bought  a  livery  stable  at  Cloverdale  in  partnership 
with  J.  S.  Hamilton.  In  June  of  the  following  year  he  also  went  to  farming 
in  Cloverdale  township,  which  he  found  so  satisfactory  that  in  the  fall  of 
the  same  year  he  sold  his  interest  in  the  livery  business.  A  year  later  he 
again  became  a  pedagogue  and  was  so  employed  during  the  winters  of  the 
following  six  years,  continuing  his  farming  operations  at  the  same  time. 
In  the  latter  enterprise  Mr.  Flint  has  been  practical  and  systematic  and  he 
has  met  with  a  very  gratifying  degree  of  success.  For  alx)ut  four  years 
and  until  very  recently  Air.  Flint  was  also  interested  in  the  furniture  and 
undertaking  business  at  Cloverdale.  He  has  maintained  his  residence  in 
Cloverdale  during  the  past  twelve  years  and  is  numbered  among  the  best 
citizens  of  the  town.  He  is  actively  interested  in  all  that  tends  to  advance 
the  best  interests  of  the  community  and  exerts  a  definite  and  salutary  influence 
in  the  town  and  township. 

On  the  14th  day  of  January,  1891,  Mr.  Flint  was  united  in  marriage  with 
Luella  Sandy,  the  daughter  of  Aaron  H.  and  Amanda  (Allee)  Sandy,  and 
they  have  become  the  parents  of  three  children,  namely:  Sidelia  S.,  a  college 
student  at  Terre  Haute;  Dolly  F.  and  Sandy  A.,  who  are  still  members  of  the 
home  circle  and  attending  school  in  Cloverdale. 


PUTNAM    COUXTV.   INDIANA.  383 

Politically  Mr.  Flint  is  a  Republican  and  takes  an  active  part  in  local 
public  affairs,  though  he  is  not  a  seeker  after  the  honors  or  emoluments  of 
public  office.  Fraternally  he  is  a  member  of  the  Free  and  Accepted  Masons, 
the  Knights  of  Pythias,  the  Independent  Order  of  Odd  Fellows  and  the 
Modern  \\'oodmen  of  America.  Religiously  he  and  his  wife  are  members 
of  the  Christian  church,  to  which  they  give  an  earnest  and  liberal  support. 
]Mr.  Flint  is  regarded  as  a  man  whose  integrity  of  principle  is  unquestioned 
and  he  is  a  man  of  friendly  disposition,  consequently  is  popular  in  business, 
fraternal  and  social  classes. 


DAVID  MOSER. 


.\mong  the  sturd_\'  pioneers  of  Putnam  county  \\'as  David  Moser,  the 
son  of  ^Michael  and  Rebecca  (Stevens)  IMoser.  He  was  born  in  Jefiferson 
township,  this  county,  August  14,  1S26.  He  grew  up  in  the  rude  log  cabin 
that  his  father  built  as  early  as  1824,  when  the  county  was  very  sparsely 
settled:  He  received  some  schooling  at  Cloxerdale,  walking  three  miles 
night  and  morning.  Early  in  his  boyhood  he  knew  what  hard  work  meant. 
On  November  15,  1866,  he  married  Sarah  Ann  Bryan,  daughter  of  William 
J.  and  Dulcena  (Myers)  Bryan.  She  was  born  in  [Montgomery  county.  Ken- 
tucky; her  father,  born  August  18,  1796,  was  the  son  of  Andrew  and  Mai-\^ 
(Jack)  Br}-an.  The  Bryans  first  came  from  Ireland  and,  penetrating  into 
the  interior,  located  first  in  Bourbon  county,  Kentucky,  later  moved  to  Mont- 
gomer}-  county,  that  state.  Dulcena  Myers  was  born  December  13,  1819, 
and  was  the  daughter  of  Henry  and  Rebecca  Myers.  Her  parents  came  from 
Kentucky  and  settled  near  Bainbridge,  Putnam  county.  Dulcena  Myers 
spent  her  early  childhood  in  Bourbon  and  Montgomery  counties.  Kentucky, 
and  was  brought  to  the  northern  part  of  Putnam  county  when  she  was  a 
little  girl,  her  parents  being  among  the  earliest  settlers  there :  they  died  a 
few  years  later  and  she  went  back  to  Kentucky  where  she  grew  to  maturity 
and  was  married. 

To  William  J.  Brv-an  and  wife  six  children  were  born,  namely:  Sarah 
Ann.  Mary  .Mien.  Margaret  Jane,  ^^'illiam  Andrew.  Maria  Amanda  and 
Rebecca  Elizabeth. 

In  1846  the  Bryan  family  came  to  Putnam  county  and  located  in  the 
southwest  corner  of  JefTerson  township.  A  year  later  he  bought  a  farm  five 
miles  south  of  Greencastle  on  the  National  road  where  Westland  is  now  lo- 
cated, his  farm  consisting  of  two  hundred  and  seventy  acres.     Mr.   Bryan 


384  weik's  history  of 

later  bought  more  laiul  and  lived  there  until  his  death,  June  17,  1875,  his 
widow  surviving  until  April  10,  1902,  dying  at  the  age  of  eighty-two  years, 
Of  the  children  of  William  J.  Bryan  and  wife  only  three  survive,  Sarah  A., 
Mary  Allen  and  Margaret  Jane.  The  first  named  married  David  Moser, 
November  15,  1866,  and  this  union  resulted  in  the  birth  of  seven  children;  the 
eldest.  Louis  Albert,  died  when  one  year  and  eight  months  old;  Dr.  William 
Andrew;  Verna  May  died  September  18,  1907;  Laura  Ellen  married  Otto 
McCoy  and  lives  on  the  Bloomington  road,  two  miles  north  of  Cloverdale ; 
she  is  the  mother  of  two  children,  Hazel  Marie  and  Elbert  Moser ;  Ida 
Dulcena  married  L.  F.  Cradick  and  li\es  two  and  one-half  miles  north  of 
Cloverdale  on  the  Bloomington  road ;  she  is  the  mother  of  three  children, 
Zella  Fayne.  Leo  Moser  and  Gilbert ;  Myrtle  Florence  married  Jessie  Cline, 
of  Cloverdale,  and  they  are  the  parents  of  four  children,  Dorothy  Drew, 
Clifford  Moser,  Emory  Lee  and  Claudie  Aladge ;  Emory  L.  married  Minnie 
Cline  and  li\-es  at  Lawes,  California,  and  they  have  three  children,  Glenn 
Closer.  Geraldine  and  James  Meredith. 

Mr.  and  Mrs.  Moser  lived  on  his  father's  place  for  eleven  months  after 
their  marriage,  then  bought  a  farm  of  lifty-eight  acres  in  section  21,  Jef- 
ferson township,  and  lived  there  three  years,  then  bought  a  farm  west  of 
the  home  place.  His  father  died  in  March,  1872,  then  David  Moser  and 
family  moved  back  to  his  father's  place  which  has  been  the  familv  home 
ever  since. 

Mr.  and  Mrs.  David  IMoser  while  yet  young  in  years  became  members 
of  the  Christian  church  to  which  they  were  always  loyal,  Mr.  Moser  having 
taken  considerable  interest  in  the  affairs  of  the  church  and  was  alwavs  a 
regular  attendant  upon  its  services.  The  death  of  this  good  man  occurred 
ALircli  24.  1883.  Mrs.  Closer  still  makes  her  home  on  the  old  farm,  but 
spends  her  winters  in  Belle  L^nion  with  her  sister.  ALary  Ellen  Bryan. 


EDWARD  NEWGENT.  ; 

It  would  be  presumptuous  for  the  biographer  to  introduce  to  the  readers 
of  this  book  Edward  Newgent.  who  is  well  known  throughout  the  countv 
and  regarded  by  everyone  knowing  him  as  one  of  Clinton  township's  leading 
citizens.  He  was  born  here,  in  the  house  which  still  shelters  him,  April  26, 
1843.  and,  with  the  exception  of  a  decade,  from  1868  to  1878,  has  spent  his 
life  in  the  same  dwelling,  which  was  built  in  1830.     He  is  the  son  of  Edward 


EDWARD  NEWGENT 


PUTNAM    COUXTY.   IXDIAXA.  3S5 

and  Elizabetli  (Pugh)  Newgent,  the  former  born  in  Shelby  county,  Ken- 
tucky, January  8,  1801.  and  the  latter  in  the  same  vicinity,  November  17, 
1800.  Thomas  Xewgent,  father  of  the  former,  was  a  Virginian,  who  mo\'ed 
to  Kentucky,  thence  to  Indiana,  where  he  died  ninety-four  }ears  ago.  He 
was  a  soldier  in  the  war  of  1812.  A  twin  brother,  John,  also  came  to  the 
Hoosier  state,  later,  and  settled  also  in  Clinton  township,  Putnam  county, 
where  he  remained  until  his  death;  his  sons.  Thomas  and  Richard,  still  live 
here,  also  two  daughters,  Martha  Ann  Newgent  and  Eliza,  wife  of  Joseph 
Jewett.  It  is  thought  that  Edward  Newgent  came  to  this  locality  in  1825, 
settling  on  land  which  his  wife's  father  owned,  the  latter  having  previously 
entered  the  land.  Edward  had  but  seventy-five  cents  in  cash  when  he  arrived 
here,  but  he  owned  some  tools,  and  with  the  assistance  of  two  sons,  Charley 
and  Richard  P..  he  erected  a  cabin  near  his  present  home  and  they  began 
keeping  house  in  that,  their  nearest  neighbors  being  three  or  four  miles  away. 
An  Indian  trail  crossed  near  the  cabin,  and  the  woods  were  so  thick  that  he 
once  got  lost  on  his  own  land  within  one-eighth  mile  of  his  cabin,  the  Indians 
telling  him  the  way  to  his  own  home.  Pie  set  to  work  clearing  his  land. 
burning  up  what  would  now  be  very  valuable  walnut  and  poplar  timber; 
but  in  time  he  prospered  and  owned  two  Inuulred  and  forty  acres  of  land. 
He  also  owned  two  tracts  of  one  hundred  and  sixty  acres  each  in  another 
part  of  the  township,  placing  a  large  acreage  in  cultivation.  He  did  a  great 
deal  of  hauling  w  ith  a  large  four-horse  team,  taking  large  cjuantities  of  wheat 
to  Lafayette  and  bringing  back  goods  for  the  local  stores  and  even  hauled 
between  Louis\ille.  Terre  Haute  and  other  remote  cities.  A  trip  of  four 
days  over  the  swamps  to  Lafayette  was  often  made  where  he  sold  wheat  for 
thirty-seven  and  one-half  cents  per  bushel.  The  death  of  this  rugged  old 
pioneer  occurred  on  June  22.  1853,  as  a  result  of  erysipelas,  resulting  from 
vaccination.  He  had  done  a  great  deal  of  hard  work  and  had  succeeded. 
His  first  eighty  acres  of  land  was  valued  at  one  hundred  dollars,  for  which 
he  gave  a  horse,  worth  eighty  dollars,  and  twenty  dollars  in  cash.  As  inti- 
mated, the  present  Newgent  home  was  built  in  1830;  it  is  of  hewn  poplar 
logs  and  was  doubtless  the  best  dwelling  in  the  county  at  the  time.  It  was 
always  open  for  all  who  passed  that  way.  The  first  meeting  of  local  Chris- 
tians was  held  in  it  until  a  church  house  could  be  built.  Mr.  Newgent  often 
made  trips  to  Kentucky  on  horseback,  bringing  back  apple  and  locust  trees, 
three  of  the  apple  trees  still  standing.  He  was  active  in  township  aft'airs, 
holding  many  local  offices,  as  a  Democrat.  He  is  buried  on  the  farm  in  the 
family  cemetery.  His  widow  survived  to  a  remarkable  age.  dying  in  her 
ninety-third  year,  in  March,  1893.     She  became  head  of  the  family  at  her 


386  weik's  history  of 

husband's  death  and  reared  the  children,  taking  charge  of  everything  until 
1878.  She  remained  on  the  old  homestead  until  her  death.  Their  family  con- 
sisted of  t\\  elve  children,  eleven  of  whom  reached  maturity,  namely  :  Charles, 
who  lived  in  Clinton  township,  died  March  5,  1909,  at  the  age  of  eighty- 
seven  vears :  his  son  Joseph  lives  on  part  of  the  original  farm.  Richard  P. 
graduated  in  medicine  at  Louisville,  practiced  in  Iowa,  then  Putnam  county, 
living  on  his  farm  near  the  old  home  until  advanced  in  years,  dying  in  April, 
1906.  Xancy  married  Zimri  Manker,  and  two  children  were  bom  to  them; 
she  is  deceased.  Sarah  is  the  widow  of  Thomas  Sigler,  of  Clinton  township. 
John,  who  secured  one  hundred  and  sixty  acres  of  his  father's  farm,  was 
county  commissioner  for  two  terms,  dying  when  past  seventy  years  of  age. 
Polly  is  the  widow  of  Ezekiel  White,  of  Parke  county,  this  state.  Isaac  lives 
in  Pulaski  county,  Indiana.  Lewis  P.  died  when  thirty-eight  years  old.  Lucy, 
the  wife  of  Joseph  Moler,  lives  on  the  place  adjoining  the  old  home.  Edward, 
of  this  review.  Wallace,  who  now  lives  in  Russellville,  has  fanned  part  of 
the  old  homestead. 

Edward  Newgent,  of  this  review,  was  ten  years  old  when  his  father 
died.  He  remained  with  his  mother  during  her  lifetime,  but  spent  ten  years 
on  another  part  of  the  fann.  When  the  division  of  the  home  place  was 
made  in  1878,  Edward  got  the  home  and  forty-nine  acres  and  there  he  and 
his  mother  lived  until  the  latter's  death;  he  delighted  in  caring  for  her.  al- 
though she  was  helpless  for  many  years.  He  had  added  eighty  acres  which 
ad-joins  the  home  place,  having  made  farming  his  principal  life  work;  he  has 
been  somewhat  handicapped  for  years  by  failing  health.  He  has  kept  the  old 
place  well  improved  and  has  kept  the  buildings  well  repaired.  His  barn  was 
built  the  year  he  was  born,  1843,  of  solid  hewn  timbers. 

Edward  Newgent  was  married  on  November  29,  1865,  to  Martha  Jane 
Holland,  daughter  of  Thomas  and  Jane  (Gooden)  Holland,  farmers  of  Clin- 
ton township,  where  Mrs.  Newgent  was  born  and  reared,  her  birth  occurring 
in  1849,  she  being  sixteen  years  old  at  her  marriage;  her  death  occurred 
March  5,  1903.  The  following  children  were  born  to  this  union :  Helen, 
wife  of  Charles  Maddox.  who  Hves  on  part  of  the  old  Newgent  homestead; 
William  \\'arren  is  a  farmer  in  Clinton  township ;  Lizzie  married  John 
Knauer  and  died,  leaving  three  children;  Thomas  H.,  who  works  part  of  his 
father's  farm,  married  Millie  Cricks;  John  lives  at  home  with  his  father 
and  assists  in  operating  the  home  place. 

Mr.  Newgent  is  a  Democrat,  but  has  not  been  an  office  seeker.  He  is  a 
peace  loving,  honest  man,  never  brought  suit  nor  had  one  brought  against 
him.  and  he  was  never  called  to  serve  on  a  jury  except  before  a  justice  of 
the  peace. 


PUTXAM    COUNTY,   IXDIAXA.  38/ 


JOXATHAX  HOUCK. 

Among  the  representative  farmers  of  Putnam  county  is  Jonathan  Houck, 
who  is  the  owner  of  a  fine  landed  estate  in  Washington  township,  and  is 
carrying  on  the  various  departments  of  his  enterprise  with  that  discretion 
and  energA"  which  are  sure  to  find  their  natural  sequence  in  definite  suc- 
cess. ha\nng  always  been  a  hard  worker,  a  good  manager  and  a  man  who 
wouki  quickly  grasp  an  opportunity  when  it  arose,  and  being  fortunately 
situated  in  a  thriving  fanning  community,  it  is  no  wonder  that  he  stands 
today  in  the  front  rank  of  the  agriculturists  and  stockmen  of  this  favored 
locality. 

As  is  noted  elsewhere  in  this  volume,  the  Houck  family  is  and  for  gen- 
erations has  been  one  of  the  leading  and  most  influential  families  of  Putnam 
county  and  owing  to  complete  records  of  David  Houck,  father  of  Jonathan, 
also  Oliver  N.  and  James  E..  brothers  of  Jonathan,  appearing  under  separate 
captions  here,  this  review  will  deal  exclusively  with  the  immediate  subject. 

Jonathan  Houck  was  born  in  Clinton  township,  this  county,  two  miles 
south  of  Clinton  Falls.  ]May  31.  1S52.  and  he  spent  his  boyhood  days  on 
the  home  farm,  remaining  there  until  he  was  twenty-four  years  old.  asso- 
ciated with  his  father.  He  attended  the  home  schools  during  the  winter 
months  and  got  a  fairly  good  education,  to  which  he  has  added  constantly 
by  home  reading  and  contact  with  the  world  at  large.  Early  in  life  he-  de- 
cided to  follow  the  vocation  of  husbandman  and  he  and  his  brothers.  Edward 
and  Henry,  bought  a  farm  of  their  father,  consisting  of  two  hundred  acres, 
— the  land  that  joins  Jonathan  Houck's  present  farm, — and  this  trio  of 
brothers  worked  the  same  very  successively  for  several  years ;  they  also 
farmed  some  in  ^Madison  township  and  dealt  in  live  stock  extensively,  buying 
and  feeding  large  numbers  from  time  to  time.  He  and  his  brother  Edward 
bought  his  present  farm  and  continued  to  work  together  six  or  seven  years. 
Together  thev  bought  the  father's  old  farm,  and  divided  it.  Edward  taking 
the  old  home  part  at  Hamrick  Station  and  Jonathan  the  present  place,  the 
old  Thomas  Gilmore  farm,  his  widow  having  built  the  fine  house  that  still 
adorns  the  place,  some  fifty  years  ago ;  it  stands  on  a  blufif  overlooking  the 
beautiful  vallev  of  \\'alnut  creek  and  is  one  of  the  finest  homes  in  the  town- 
ship. Although  built  a  half  century  ago.  it  is  still  substantial  and  attractive, 
having  all  modern  conveniences  which  Air.  Houck  has  added,  located  near 
the  interurban  line,  seven  miles  southwest  of  Greencastle.  It  is  not  only 
known  as  one  of  the  most  attractive  places  in  the  county,  but  al.so  as  a  place 


388  weik's  history  of 

of  hospitality,  Mr.  Hoiick  and  his  family  being  genial  and  free-hearted  en- 
tertainers to  friends  and  wayfarers  who  by  chance  pass  this  way.  The  farm 
contains  two  hundred  and  six  acres,  one-half  of  which  lies  in  the  bottom. 
It  is  all  under  excellent  improvements  and  has  been  so  skillfully  cultivated 
that  the  richness  of  the  soil  has  in  no  wise  diminished.  Here  Air.  Houck 
carries  on  general  farming  in  a  very  successful  manner,  sometimes  handling 
stock  in  partnership  with  his  brother  Edward,  dealing  in  large  numbers  of 
both  cattle  and  hogs,  often  as  many  as  three  car  loads  of  cattle  and  three 
hundred  hogs  at  a  time;  they  are  widely  known  as  buyers  of  stock  cattle. 
Mr.  Houck  has  in  every  way  improved  his  farm,  by  laying  some  tile,  etc., 
to  make  it  rank  with  the  best  famis  of  the  county,  and  it  is  one  of  the  '"show" 
places  of  his  locality.  He  has  given  it  his  exclusive  attention,  not  caring  to 
lead  a  public  life. 

Jonathan  Houck  married,  on  January  6,  1876,  Alice  Landes,  daughter 
of  Christian  and  Elizabeth  (Hillis)  Landes,  both  now  deceased,  the  family 
home  being  now  owned  by  Christian  Stoner,  who  was  named  for  his  grand- 
father.    For  further  details  of  this  family  see  sketch  of  John  L.   Hillis. 

To  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Houck  two  children  have  been  born,  namely:  Laura, 
died  in  May,  1899,  at  the  age  of  sixteen  years;  Lloyd,  who  is  assisting  his 
father  on  the  home  place,  was  born  October  12,  1885. 


HERBERT  S.  ALLEE. 

Among  the  intelligent,  enterprising  and  successful  agriculturists  of  Put- 
nam countv,  none  stands  higher  in  public  esteem  than  Herbert  S.  Allee.  who 
operates  a  well  cultivated  and  productive  farm  in  Jefiferson  township.  A 
native  of  the  township  in  which  he  lives,  he  has  always  enjoyed  the  confi- 
dence of  all  who  know  him  and  he  justly  merits  representation  in  this  work. 

Mr.  Allee  was  born  in  Jefiferson  township,  this  county,  on  August  22, 
1876.  and  is  a  son  of  Francis  'M.  and  Sarah  E.  (Sandy)  Allee.  who  receive 
specific  mention  elsewhere  in  this  work.  Mr.  Allee  was  reared  under  the 
parental  roof  and  secured  his  education  in  the  public  schools,  being  a  grad- 
uate of  the  high  school  at  Mt.  Meridian.  He  became  a  practical  farmer  under 
the  intelligent  direction  of  his  father  and  he  remained  on  the  home  farm  until 
1903.  when  he  located  on  his  fine  farm  of  two  hundred  and  forty  acres  in 
section  21,  Jefferson  township,  where  he  now  resides.  On  this  place  he 
erected  a  commodious,  well  arranged  and  attractive  residence  and  the  place 


PfTXAM    COUNTY,   INDIANA.  389 

is  othenvise  well  improved  in  e\eiy  respect,  its  general  appearance  indicating 
the  owner  to  be  a  man  of  sound  judgment  and  excellent  discrimination.  He 
is  progressive  in  his  methods  and  keeps  in  close  touch  with  the  most  advanced 
ideas  relating  to  the  science  of  husbandr}'.  being  considered  one  of  the  lead- 
ing fanners  of  the  township. 

On  January  ii.  1897,  Mr.  Allee  was  united  in  marriage  with  Effie  Dor- 
sett,  a  daughter  of  Robert  and  Mary  (Hurst)  Dorsett.  Robert  Dorsett  was 
a  son  of  Abijah  Dorsett  and  a  brother  to  Henry  C.  Dorsett,  both  well  known 
in  this  part  of  the  state.  Mar\-  Hurst  was  a  daughter  of  Mahlon  and  Lucretia 
Hurst,  and  for  detailed  reference  to  the  Hurst  family  the  reader  is  referred 
to  the  Hurst  genealog}'.  which  appears  elsewhere  in  this  work.  To  ]Mr.  and 
^Irs.  Allee  has  been  born  a  son.  Xoble  Franklin  Herbert  Allee.  The  familv 
stand  high  in  the  social  circles  of  the  community,  being  esteemed  bv  all 
because  of  their  genuine  worth. 


OLIVER  HAMPTOX   SMITH. 

To  be  a  successful  news-writer  requires  much  more  innate  ability  and 
stronger  qualities  of  character  than  the  superficial  observer  might  think. 
Journalism  is  a  profession  into  which  many  enter  but  few  remain,  the  re- 
cruits to  its  ranks  dropping  out  before  they  have  made  a  showing  of  any 
consequence  owing  to  their  lack  of  proper  attributes.  One  of  the  Putnam 
county  newspaper  men  who  has  proved  his  mettle  in  this  particular  sphere 
of  endeavor  is  Oliver  Hampton  Smith,  reporter  and  writer  on  the  Green- 
castle  Banner,  who  was  born  June  2,  1830,  near  Harrisburg,  Fayette  county, 
Indiana.  His  parents  were  Mr.  and  Mrs.  John  Smith,  who,  with  a  colony 
of  homeseekers.  came  from  the  state  of  New  York  in  the  early  twenties  of 
the  nineteenth  century  and  settled  in  Fayette  county.  His  father  died  when 
he  was  five  vears  old  and  his  mother  when  he  was  fifteen.  This  left  him 
at  a  tender  age  to  battle  alone  in  life's  struggles.  His  boyhood  education 
Avas  limited,  consisting  only  of  the  meager  three  months'  winter  schooling 
such  as  the  Hoosier  boys  and  girls  received  sixty  and  seventy  years  ago. 
In  these  schools  the  teacher  was  paid  by  subscription  and  "boarded  around." 
The  price  of  tuition  was  seventy-five  cents,  one  dollar  and  one  dollar  and 
fifty  cents  per  "scholar"  according  to  the  age  of  the  pupil. 

When  sixteen  years  old  Mr.  Smith  accompanied  a  relative  to  the  vi- 
cinity of  Indianapolis  and  soon  after  this  was  indentured  as  an  apprentice 


590 


WEIK  S   HISTORY  OF 


to  learn  the  cabinetmaker's  trade  with  Joseph  I.  Stretcher  in  that  city.     At 
that  time,  1846,  the  population  of  our  capital  city  was  only  six  thousand. 

Young  Mr.  Smith  served  his  time  out  and  worked  two  years  at  his  trade. 
About  this  time  he  became  acquainted  with  a  man  who  proved  to  be  the 
best  friend  he  ever  had.  He  was  a  lover  of  young  men,  a  Methodist  preacher 
and  pastor  of  old  Wesley  Chapel,  Methodist  Episcopal  church,  now  Meridian 
Street  church.  Indianapolis.  He  took  occasion  frequently  to  talk  to  his  young 
friend  about  the  future  and  life's  duties.  He  persuaded  him  to  seek  a  better 
education  and  offered  some  inducements  to  go  to  college.  The  result  was  that 
^Ir.  Smith  entered  the  preparatory  department  of  Asbury  University  (now 
DePauw),  at  Greencastle,  Indiana.  This  was  in  185 1  and  from  this  historic 
institution  Mr.  Smith  was  graduated  in  1856  with  the  degree  of  Bachelor 
of  Arts,  and  he  immediately  began  teaching,  and  spent  over  forty  years  in 
that  work  and  the  ministry  in  Indiana,  Arkansas  and  Missouri,  doing  a  great 
amount  of  good  and  becoming  well  known  in  both  lines  of  endeavor.  About 
fifteen  years  ago  he  quit  professional  work,  and  seven  years  ago  he  came  from 
^faiyville,  Missouri,  and  entered  upon  his  present  line  of  work. 

In  December,  1857,  Mr.  Smith  was  married  to  Elvira  Allen,  second 
daughter  of  the  late  'S.h.  and  Mrs.  J.  R.  ^I.  Allen,  of  Greencastle.  To  this 
wedlock  were  born  five  children  and  all  are  living,  namely:  Willis  P.,  com- 
mercial traveler,  wholesale  drugs.  Portland.  Oregon:  Arthur  A.,  editor  and 
proprietor  of  the  Tribune-Times.  Port  Angeles.  Washington:  Harry  M.. 
editor  and  proprietor  of  the  Weekly  and  Daily  Banner,  Greencastle,  Indiana; 
^Irs.  Harrv  E.  Lippmann,  of  Seattle.  Washington;  and  Mrs.  John  M.  Saund- 
ers, of  Kansas  City,  ^lissouri. 

INIr.  and  Mrs.  Smith  celebrated  their  "golden  wedding"  on  December 
27,  1907.  Both  are  in  excellent  health  and  bid  fair  to  add  yet  a  goodly  num- 
ber of  vears  to  their  alreadv  extended  wedded  life. 


JOHN  MILLS  WALKER. 

Few  men  of  past  generations  succeeded  in  impressing  their  personality 
more  forcibly  upon  the  people  of  ^Madison  township,  or  left  behind  them  a 
cleaner  record,  than  the  late  John  Mills  Walker,  noted  among  his  neigh- 
bors and  friends  alike  for  his  hospitality,  industry  and  strict  honesty.  He 
was  born  in  Putnam  county  October  10.  1846,  and  he  spent  his  life  on  his 
native  heath,  from  which  he  passed  to  his  rest  September   15.   1893.  at  the 


PLTXAM    COUNTY,   I.NDIAXA.  39I 

age  of  forty-seven  years.  He  was  tlie  son  of  Hiram  and  Frances  (.Mills) 
Walker,  the  father  born  in  Maysville,  Kentucky,  and  they  grew  to  maturity 
in  that  state,  marrying  at  Bowling  Green.  They  came  to  Putnam  cininty, 
Indiana,  in  an  early  day.  and  located  amid  primitive  surroundings  in  ^Madison 
township,  and  there  their  son.  John  M..  was  born.  He  did  not  have  much 
opportunity  to  attend  school,  but  made  the  best  of  what  he  did  have.  He  as- 
sisted with  the  work  of  developing  the  liome  place  and  remained  there  until 
he  reached  maturity.  On  October  31.  1S88.  he  was  married  to  Lucy  B. 
Stuner.  daughter  of  Joseph  and  Martha  (Hall)  Stoner.  a  neighbor  girl.  He 
became  the  owner  of  three  hundred  and  sixty  acres,  on  which  he  carried 
on  general  farming,  raising  a  great  deal  of  corn  on  the  bottom  lands,  which 
he  fed  to  large  numbers  of  hogs  and  cattle  and  he  became  well-to-do.  When 
twenty-one  years  of  age  he  started  out  for  himself,  earning  his  first  five 
dollars  by  milking  for  his  neighbor.  John  'SI.  was  but  a  lad  when  his  father 
was  killed,  but  he  soon  began  managing  his  mother's  affairs  and  he  remained 
with  her  until  his  marriage,  then  she  made  her  home  witli  him ;  she  did  not 
liiok  to  him  in  vain  for  every  possible  care,  for  it  was  his  chief  delight  to 
minister  to  her  wants.  She  reached  an  advanced  age,  dying  April  i.  1894; 
she  had  lived  to  bury  eight  of  her  ten  children,  having  experienced  a  great 
deal  of  trouble  resulting  from  much  sickness  in  the  family,  but  she  was  a 
woman  with  a  strong  body  and  mind,  kind,  noble  and  good,  and  bore  affliction 
patiently. 

John  M.  Walker  was  not  a  public  man.  yet  he  took  a  delight  in  seeing 
his  county  progress  and  supported  any  legitimate  measiu'e  looking  to  the 
general  good.  He  was  a  Republican  in  politics  and  he  died  in  the  faith  of 
the  Christian  church.  He  was  so  full  of  energy  and  persistency  that  he  in- 
jured his  health  and  for  three  years  prior  to  his  death  was  practically  an 
invalid.  u>n  cl(jse  application  to  farming  depleting  his  energy.  He  assisted  his 
mother  in  the  rearing  of  two  nephews  from  childhood  to  maturity:  thev 
were  John  Young  and  Artie  Call.  All  that  is  mortal  of  this  e.xcellent  char- 
acter is  sleeping  the  eternal  sleep  in  the  Forest  Hill  cemetery  at  Greencastle. 

Two  children  were  born  to  Mr.  and  Mrs.  John  M.  Walker. — James 
Samuel  and  Frances  Olive,  the  latter  the  wife  of  Ivan  Ruark,  of  Stilesville : 
she  graduated  at  the  Greencastle  high  school  where  the  son,  James  S..  was 
alsi)  educate<l,  later  spending  one  \'ear  in  Purdue  Universit\',  at  Lafas'ette. 
taking  the  agricultural  course,  with  a  view  of  making  farming  his  life  work. 

Mrs.  ^\'alker  rents  the  home  farm,  which  _\ields  her  a  good  annua!  in- 
come. She  is  a  woman  of  many  pleasing  traits  of  character  and  has  hosts 
of  friends  here,  as  did  her  worthy  husband. 


WEIK  S    HISTORY    OF 


OLIVER  J.  SHAW. 

Energy,  sound  judgment  and  persistency  of  effort,  properly  applied, 
will  always  win  the  goal  sought  in  the  sphere  of  human  endeavor,  no  matter 
what  the  environment  may  be  or  what  obstacles  are  met  with,  for  they  who 
are  endowed  with  such  characteristics  make  of  their  adversities  stepping- 
stones  to  higher  things.  These  reflections  are  suggested  by  the  career  of 
Oliver  J.  Shaw,  who  has  fought  his  way  to  the  front  ranks  and  stanfis  today 
among  the  representative  citizens  of  Putnam  county.  He  was  born  in  Knox 
county.  Ohio,  in  184J,  the  son  of  Upton  and  Susannah  (Branneman)  Shaw. 
She  was  the  daughter  of  Daniel  and  Magdalene  Branneman.  each  of  Pennsyl- 
vania Dutch  ancestry.  The  former  came  from  Vermont  and  the  latter  from 
Virginia.  Upton  Sliaw  was  born  in  >.Iaryland.  the  son  of  William  Shaw,  a 
native  of  Ireland.  Upton  Shaw  and  wife  were  married  in  Knox  county, 
Ohio,  and  came  to  Indiana  in  1845.  The  log  house  in  which  this  family  spent 
their  first  night  after  arriving  here  is  still  standing  on  the  farm  of  Oliver  J. 
Shaw.  Hardly  a  field  was  cleared  in  this  vicinity  at  that  time — only  a  few 
"patches"  here  and  there.  Upton  Shaw  entered  three  hundred  and  twenty 
acres  from  tlie  government,  in  section  22,  Jefferson  township,  and  there  he 
spent  the  rest  of  his  days,  becoming  fairly  well-to-do.  His  family  consisted 
of  eight  children,  an  equal  number  of  boys  and  girls,  named  as  follows : 
Leonard  :  Lyman  ;  Hesten  .\nn  married  William  Cummings :  Louis ;  Oliver  J. ; 
Adeline,  who  married  John  Butler;  Amelia  married  William  Larkin ;  Mary 
married' Sam  Wright.  The  father  of  these  children  died  about  1874.  the 
mother  surviving  many  years,  making  her  home  with  her  son,  Oliver  J.,  of 
this  review,  until  her  death  about  1892.  The  reader  is  referred  to  the  sketch 
of  John  Branneman  for  a  full  history  of  Mrs.  Upton  Shaw's  ancestry. 

Oliver  J.  Shaw  grew  up  on  the  home  farm  and  remained  on  the  parental 
acres  until  his  marriage,  in  1861,  to  Mahala  .\nn  Runyan,  daughter  of  John 
and  Zaruah  f.\llen)  Runyan.  John  Runyan  came  to  Greencastle  from  \'ir- 
ginia.  It  is  believed  that  his  father's  name  was  James,  who  also  came  to  this 
countv  from  Virginia  in  an  early  day.  Jolin  Runyan  was  a  tanner  and  far- 
mer near  Fillmore  and  in  later  life  he  lived  near  Mt.  Meridian,  where  his  wife 
died  about  1S83,  he  having  survived  her  until  about  1895. 

One  child  was  born  to  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Oliver  J.  Shaw.  Florence,  who  mar- 
ried Albert  Farmer,  a  traveling  salesman,  and  they  had  one  child.  Zella :  Mr. 
b\-inrer  died  in  1896.  and  his  widow  now  makes  her  home  in  Greencastle. 
Her  mother  died  in  .\prii.  1894. 


PL'TXAM     CUL'XTY.    IXDIAXA.  393 

Mr.  Shaw  has  dexoted  his  lite  to  farming  and  stock  raising  and  has  been 
ver\-  successful  in  both  lines,  especially  the  latter.  About  1885  he  began 
keeping  stallions  and  jacks,  and  no\v  has  three  stallions  and  four  jacks  of 
excellent  grades.  He  has  raised  a  great  number  of  each  also  horses,  cattle, 
hogs  and  sheep,  making  a  specialty  of  shorthorn  cattle  and  Poland-China 
hogs,  but  he  gives  most  of  his  attention  to  breeding  horses  and  mules,  and 
enjo\  s  a  wide  reputation  as  breeder  of  fine  stock,  always  finding  a  ready  mar- 
ket for  what  he  raises  owing  to  their  excellent  quality.  A  better  judge  of 
all  kinds  of  live  stock  would  be  hard  to  find.  He  is  one  of  the  model  farmers 
of  his  township,  owning  a  valuable  place  of  two  hundred  and  ninety-seven 
acres  in  Jeflferson  township,  nearly  all  under  cultivation,  all  level  and  could 
be  put  under  the  plow.  It  is  high  grade  soil,  well  kept  and  under  modem 
improvements.  ^Ir.  Shaw  has  one  of  the  largest,  best  and  coziest  houses  in 
this  part  of  the  county  and  the  man}-  warm  friends  of  the  family  frequently 
gather  here,  sharing  their  generous  hospitality.  Their  dwelling  was  erected 
about  1878. 

Mr.  Shaw  married,  in  1896,  Alice  Runyan.  youngest  sister  of  his  first 
A\ife.  and  they  ha\-e  one  son,  Oliver  Upton  Shaw,  now  twelve  years  old,  and 
a  lad  of  much  promise. 

Politically  }i[r.  Shaw  is  a  Democrat,  and  he  is  a  member  of  Cloverdale 
Lodge.  Xo.  132.  Free  and  Accepted  Masons.  He  and  his  wife  are  both  mem 
bers  of  Xew  Providence  Baptist  church.  Mr.  Shaw  is  a  whole-souled,  liberal 
and  genial  man,  of  whom  everybody  speaks  well  who  have  had  occasion  to 
know  him  or  have  dealings  with  him. 


ELDER  OSCAR  F.  LAXE. 

A  gentleman  who  is  too  well  known  to  the  readers  of  this  history  to 
need  formal  introihiction  by  the  biographer  is  Elder  Oscar  F.  Lane,  son  of 
Higgins  and  Angeline  (Thompson)  Lane,  born  in  section  11,  Monroe  town- 
ship. Putnam  county,  Indiana.  May  5,  1848.  There  he  spent  his  early  life 
on  the  home  farm,  attended  the  common  schools  of  his  township  during  the 
winter  until  he  was  twelve  years  old,  then  entered  the  Bainbridge  Academy 
where  he  spent  two  years  and  a  part  of  a  third  year.  Then  for  one  year  he 
took  private  instruction  in  Latin,  Greek  and  mathematics  under  Rev.  E.  C. 
Johnson,  of  Bainbridge.  During  the  spring  of  1867  he  entered  the  freshman 
class  of  the  Xorthwestern  Christian  L'niversity,  now  known  as  Butler  College, 


394  WEIK  S    HISTORY    OF 

of  Indianapolis.  On  account  of  a  physical  break-clown  he  was  not  in  the 
university  during  1868;  entering  again  in  January,  1869.  he  had  completed 
the  regular  course  as  prescribed  and  two  studies  additional,  not  required  in 
this  course,  at  the  close  of  the  fall  term  of  1870.  He  was  graduated  in  June, 
1871.  receiving  the  degree  of  Bachelor  of  Arts.  The  degree  of  Master  of 
Arts  was  conferred  upon  him  by  his  alma  mater  in  1874.  He  is  a  member 
of  the  Sigma  Chi  Greek-letter  fraternity,  being  an  alumnus  of  Rho  Chapter. 
April  19,  1864,  he  united  with  the  Christian  church  at  Bainbridge.  Indiana, 
under  the  ministrations  of  Elder  O.  P.  Badger.  He  soon  began  to  take  part 
in  the  public  worship  and  was  given  a  class  in  the  Sunday  school,  ha\-ing  been 
identified  with  this  department  of  church  work  from  early  childhood.  For  a 
period  of  twenty-two  years  he  ser\'ed  as  a  Sunday  school  teacher  or  super- 
intendent and  he  has  delivered  many  Sunday  school  addresses.  When  only 
sixteen  years  of  age  he  began  preaching,  delivering  his  first  discourse  at  Bain- 
bridge, January  i,  1865.  During  the  fall  of  the  same  year  he  was  licensed 
by  the  Christian  church  at  Bainbridge  to  preach.  In  October.  1869,  he  was 
ordained  in  the  Central  Christian  church  at  Indianapolis  by  Elders  O.  A. 
Burgess,  A\'.  K.  Pendleton  and  Thomas  Munnell  a  regular  minister  of  the 
gospel.  He  preached  regularly  from  the  time  of  his  license  for  churches  in 
Putnam  county  and  adjoining  counties  until  he  entered  college.  During  the 
time  of  his  attendance  at  college  he  preached  for  churches  within  a  short 
distance  of  Indianapolis.  January  i,  1871,  he  was  called  to  the  pastorate  of 
the  Christian  church  of  Shelbyville.  Illinois.  This  work  he  continued  until 
failing  health  compelled  him  to  resign  it.  He  had  over-worked  himself  while 
in  college.  As  a  sample  of  his  work  in  college  during  his  last  two  years  there. 
we  mention  the  fact  that  he  '"carried"  seven  studies,  preached  nearly  every  Sat- 
urday night  and  twice  on  Sunday,  held  one  revival,  read  four  thousand  pages 
of  history,  took  part  each  week  as  a  member  of  a  college  society  and  prepared 
and  delivered  four  literary  addresses.  As  a  result  he  had  a  bad  case  of  in- 
somnia. During  the  spring  of  1872  he  spent  five  weeks  in  evangelistic  work 
in  Kansas  and  Missouri.  Returning  from  this  trip,  he  resumecl  his  work 
at  Shelbyville.  Illinois,  but  in  a  few  days  he  was  stricken  with  cerebro  spinal 
meningitis,  and  he  lingered  between  life  and  death  for  a  period  of  seven 
weeks ;  but  as  soon  as  he  could  stand  in  the  pulpit  by  the  aid  of  a  cane,  he 
renewed  his  work.  In  a  short  time  the  disease  returned,  which  incapacitated 
him  for  work  for  four  months — in  fact,  he  has  never  fully  recoxered  from  its 
effects.  After  resigning  at  Shelbyville  he  received  calls  during  the  close  of 
1872  from  Bloomington.  Springfield  and  Mattoon.  Illinois,  and  from  Terre 
Haute.  Indiana.     But  considering  these  calls  involved  more  than  liis  strength 


PL'TXAM     COUXTV,    IXUIAXA.  3(^5 

would  allow,  he  declined  them.  January  i,  1873,  he  became  pastor  of  the 
Christian  church  at  Greencastle,  Indiana,  serving  it  for  one  year.  January 
I,  1874,  he  accepted  a  call  from  the  Christian  church  at  Laporte.  Indiana, 
which  he  served  ti3r  two  years  and  three  months,  when  failing  health  forced 
him  to  give  up  regular  pastorial  work.  It  was  with  a  struggle  and  much 
regret  that  he  was  thus  forced  to  abandon  the  ambition  of  his  life  at  the  age 
of  twenty-seven  years.  At  the  time  he  left  Laporte  he  had  flattering  calls 
from  four  large  churches.  During  the  fall  of  1876  he  moved  to  the  farm 
where  he  now  lives  and  began  work  as  a  farmer.  After  one  year  of  moderate 
outdoor  exercise  his  health  was  generally  improved,  but  for  three  years  he 
was  able  to  endure  but  little  mental  work.  At  the  close  of  1879  he  took  work 
as  a  minister,  preaching  for  two  and  three  congregations.  This  he  continued 
until  1903.  He  is  now  seldom  seen  in  the  pulpit  with  the  exception  that  he 
conducts  a  large  number  of  funerals.  To  January  i,  1910,  Elder  Lane  hail 
preached  one  thousand  and  fifty-two  funerals,  and  he  had  declined  to  officiate 
at  about  as  many. 

As  a  public  speaker  Mr.  Lane  is  digniiied,  earnest,  argumentative,  logical. 
sometimes  very  impetuous  and  touching  and  always  inspires  thought.  Some 
of  his  best  efforts  have  been  entirely  extemporaneous  and  impromptu,  wholly 
inspired  by  the  occasion.  He  never  memorized  a  sermon  for  delivery  and 
rarely  ever  uses  notes  in  a  public  address.  His  nature  is  positive;  what  he 
believes  he  advocates  with  all  his  might.  His  holds  that  no  man  can  be  true 
and  plead  neutrality  on  moral  issues  or  in  regard  to  any  subject  involving  the 
well-being  of  humanity.  He  believes  in  doing  good  and  being  good ;  first,  at 
home  and  then  abroad.  He  believes  that  no  man  should  endeavor  to  be  more 
genial  and  polite  to  some  other  man's  family  than  he  is  to  his  own.  He  has 
all  his  life  been  an  earnest  advocate  of  temperance  and  has  done  much  both  in 
pulpit  addresses  and  by  personal  effort  to  bring  about  reform.  He  believes 
just  as  sincerely  that  God-fearing  men  and  women  should  not  rest  until  the 
social  evil  is  eradicated,  holding  that  card  parties  never  result  in  good,  and  he 
has  never  given  polic}'  a  [ilace  before  principle  and  believes  that  popularity 
should  not  be  sought  at  the  expense  of  right  doing;  that  nothing  is  worth 
doing  that  will  not  stand  the  test  of  infinite  years. 

Elder  Lane  has  never  taught  school,  but  has  given  private  instructions 
in  the  languages,  and  has  three  times  declined  the  presidency  of  institutions  of 
learning;  however,  he  is  a  warm  friend  of  education  and  is  glad  to  pay  for  the 
support  of  the  public  schools.  He  was  one  of  twenty  persons  to  start  the 
Foreign  Missionary  Societv  of  the  Christian  church  in  1875  ^Y  §'^'in&  one 
hundred  dollars,  and  is  a  life  member  of  the  societv.     During  the  Civil  war 


396  weik's  history  of 

he  twice  offered  his  services  to  his  county  as  a  volunteer,  being  then  fifteen  and 
at  his  last  trial  sixteen  years  of  age,  but  was  not  accepted  on  account  of 
physical  disability.  Politically  he  is  a  Republican.  While  he  has  had  a  con- 
stant interest  in  political  issues,  he  never  had  much  ambition  for  personal  pre- 
ferment or  taste  for  office.  He  has  three  times  declined  nomination  for  office 
when  he  could  have  been  twice  elected.  In  1908  he  yielded  to  the  urgent  call 
of  his  party  to  stand  for  the  state  Legislature  on  the  temperance  issue  and  he 
succeeded  in  reducing  the  majority  of  his  opponent  one  hundred  and  twenty 
votes  from  his  previous  majority. 

Fraternally  Mr.  Lane  is  a  member  of  Bainbridge  Lodge,  No.  75,  Free 
and  Accepted  Masons,  having  been  treasurer  of  the  same  for  the  past  five 
years.  In  1890  he  assisted  in  the  organization  of  the  Farmers  Institute  in 
Putnam  county.  The  first  institute  had  an  attendance  of  fifty,  held  at  Green- 
castle.  The  ne.xt  five  were  held  at  Bainbridge.  Mr.  Lane  was  county  chair- 
man for  three  years  and  during  his  chairmanship  the  attendance  reached  six 
hundred.  For  a  period  of  fourteen  years  he  was  state  lecturer  for  the  insti- 
tute by  appointment  of  Prof.  W.  C.  Latta,  state  superintendent.  During 
these  vears  he  visited  nearly  every  county  in  Indiana,  lecturing  in  some  of 
them  four  different  times. 

Mr.  Lane  owns  the  farm  on  which  he  was  born  and  is  now  successfully 
engaged  in  general  farming  on  his  well  tilled  and  well  improved  place  of  five 
hundred  and  seventy  acres,  which  lies  in  sections  11,  13  and  14,  Monroe  town- 
ship, having  added  four  hundred  and  ten  acres  to  his  inheritance,  proving 
that  he  is  a  good  manager  and  well  grounded  in  modern  agriculture.  Never 
robust  in  health,  he  has  succeeded  as  a  result  of  strong  will  power,  which  has 
enabled  him  to  accomplish  the  work  of  two  men,  during  much  of  his  life. 
He  has  a  beautiful  home  in  which  is  to  be  found  a  well  selected  library  of  the 
world's  best  literature. 

In  November  21,  1872.  Mr.  Lane  was  married  to  Mary  E.  Wendling,  a 
ladv  of  culture  and  refinement,  a  native  of  Shelbyville.  Illinois,  and  the  daugh- 
ter of  Hon.  George  J.  Wendling,  a  prominent  and  influential  citizen  of  that 
place.  Mrs.  Lane  was  born  April  i,  1852.  Her  father  was  born  at  Strass- 
burg,  Gennanv,  and  her  paternal  grandfather  was  a  soldier  under  Napoleon. 
Mrs.  Lane  received  a  liberal  education  and  is  a  gifted  musician,  affable  in  man- 
ners, strong-minded  and  a  favorite  with  a  large  circle  of  friends,  having  been, 
indeed,  a  true  helpmate  in  every  respect.  This  union  has  been  graced  by  the 
birth  of  eight  children,  named  as  follows:  Anna  L.,  Carrie  M.,  Frank  W.. 
Edwin  R..  Oscar  Bruce,  Nellie  Ruth,  Elizabeth  H.  and  Ralph.  Six  of  these 
children  are  living,  Carrie  ]M.  and  Ralph  having  passed  into  the  silent  land. 
Thev  have  seven  grandchildren. 


PLTXAM     COl-XTV.    INDIANA.  397 


SAMUEL  A.  HAZELETT. 


The  gentleman  to  a  review  of  whose  Hfe  and  characteristics  the  reader's 
attention  is  herewith  respectfully  invited,  is  among  the  successful  agriculturists 
and  fruit  growers  of  Putnam  county,  who,  by  energy  and  correct  methods,  has 
not  only  achieved  success  for  himself  but  has  also  contributed  in  a  very  ma- 
terial way  to  the  industrial,  civic  and  moral  advancement  of  his  place  of  resi- 
a  liberally  remunerati\-e  enterprise  and  won  the  good  will  of  his  fellow  men. 

Samuel  A.  Hazelett,  son  of  Richard  'SI.  Hazelett  and  wife,  whose  life 
dence.  In  the  course  of  an  honorable  career  he  has  established  himself  in 
records  are  to  be  found  elsewhere  in  this  work,  was  born  in  Putnam  county, 
October  20,  1849.  He  attended  the  district  schools  and  graduated  from  As- 
bury  (now  DePauw)  University  in  1870,  having  made  a  very  creditable  rec- 
ord in  that  institution.  He  then  turned  his  attention  to  school  teaching, 
which  he  followed  with  gratifying  success  for  a  period  of  two  years,  then 
moved  to  the  state  of  ^Missouri,  where  he  remained  several  years.  Returning 
to  Putnam  county.  Indiana,  in  1882,  he  took  up  farming  and  fruit  growing 
which  he  has  continued  with  gratifying  results,  owning  a  well  improved  farm 
of  two  hundred  twenty  acres  one  and  one-half  mile  southeast  of  Greencastle, 
and  his  suburban  home  of  forty  acres  one  mile  from  Greencastle.  He  has  a 
fine  orchard,  well  kept  and  of  splendid  variety.  He  is  well  versed  in  horti- 
culture, being  regarded  as  an  authority  on  both  horticulture  and  agriculture. 
Ele  has  one  of  the  most  attractive,  modern  and  beautifully  located  homes  in 
Putnam  county,  it  being  e([uipped  with  all  modern  con\-eniences.  such  as  tele- 
phone, electric  light,  city  water  service,  the  latter  being  distributed  through 
house  and  barn,  and  the  interurban  railway  makes  a  stop  close  by  the  house. 

Mr.  Hazelett  married  Ellen  Tuttle,  of  Homer.  Licking  county.  Ohio,  on 
April  26,  1877.  She  is  the  daughter  of  Ephriam  and  Judith  (Channell)  Tut- 
tle. both  deceased,  a  well  known  family  of  Licking  county,  where  she  grew  to 
maturitv  and  received  a  liberal  education.  They  were  married  at  .\lbany. 
Missouri,  where  her  parents  had  moved  and  where  ^Ir.  Hazelett  was  engaged 
in  fanning.  The  following  children  have  graced  this  union:  Xellie.  Richard 
'M.  married  Xellie  Savage,  now  engaged  in  the  grocery  business  in  Green- 
castle; Richard  M.  was  in  the  Spanish- American  war  as  a  member  of  Com- 
pany I.  One  Hundred  Fifty-ninth  Regiment  Indiana  Volunteer  Infantry.  He 
ser\-ed  throughout  the  war  but  did  not  see  active  service  and  received  an  hon- 
orable discharge.    Earl  T..  living  at  Tucson.  Arizona,  has  I)een  engaged  in  the 


398  ■     weik's  history  of 

railroad  business  since  he  was  seventeen  years  of  age,  liaving  filled  many  posi- 
tions of  trust  and  responsibility.  He  has  traveled  around  the  world,  spending 
considerable  time  in  China  and  Japan  where  he  engaged  labor  for  railroad 
construction  work,  also  engaged  in  railroad  construction  in  old  IMexico.  Sam- 
uel Jerome  Hazelett.  who  graduated  from  the  Greencastle  high  school  in  1905, 
is  now  occupying  a  position  in  the  Central  National  Bank  of  Greencastle. 
He  married  Evelyn  Dumas,  a  native  of  the  state  of  Illinois.  Clarence  is  at- 
tending DePauw  University.  Lawrence  is  living  at  home.  Mrs.  Hazelett, 
who  is  a  woman  of  high  education  and  culture,  was  acknowledged  to  be  one 
of  the  most  intellectual  and  charming  women  in  Albany,  Missouri,  at  the  time 
of  her  marriage.  She  is  prominent  in  the  social  and  club  circles  of  her  com- 
munity and  is  an  active  member  of  the  Christian  church.  She  was  one  of  the 
organizers  and  prime  movers  in  the  Domestic  Science  Club  of  Greencastle  and 
is  actively  connected  with  the  Woman's  Au.xiliary  of  the  Farmers  Institute, 
being  frequently  called  to  lecture  before  the  institutes. 

Politically,  !Mr.  Hazelett  is  a  Republican,  but  he  has  never  held  office, 
being  too  busy  with  his  private  affairs  to  take  much  interest  in  politics ;  how- 
ever, his  support  may  be  depended  upon  in  the  promulgation  of  all  worthy  ob- 
jects having  as  their  issue  the  betterment  of  his  county,  state  and  nation.  He 
is  a  gentleman  of  pleasing  manners  and  his  pleasant  home  is  a  place  where 
the  manv  friends  of  the  familv  delight  to  gather. 


MARION  EDGAR  COOPER. 

One  of  the  thrifty  farmers  and  well  known  citizens  of  Warren  township, 
Putnam  county,  is  Marion  Edgar  Cooper,  who  w-as  born  in  this  community. 
May  17,  1868,  the  son  of  Archibald  and  Frances  (Connely)  Cooper.  The 
father,  born  February  25,  1836,  in  this  county,  was  the  son  of  Archibald 
Cooper,  who  was  born  in  Greenbrier  county,  Virginia,  January  15,  1798,  and 
when  quite  voung  moved  to  Tennessee.  When  sixteen  years  old  he  enlisted 
in  the  war  of  181 2  and  ser\'ed  until  its  close.  On  April  6,  1823,  he  married 
Elizabeth  Hodges,  and  in. October,  1834,  he  moved  with  his  family  of  eleven 
children  to  Putnam  county,  Indiana,  settling  in  Putnamville  the  following 
vear.  A  few  years  later  he  moved  to  a  farm  in  section  10,  Warren  township, 
where  he  resided  until  his  death,  which  occurred  on  April  17,  1872.  He  was 
a  blacksmith  by  trade  and  built  the  first  shop  in  Warren  township.     Mrs. 


PTTXAM    COUXTV,    IXDIAXA. 


399 


Cooper  was  l)orn  in  Claiborne  county.  Tennessee.  February  14.  1800.  and  she 
died  January  26,  1868.  her  ashes  now  resting  beside  her  husband's  in  the 
cemeter}-  at  Bethel.  Of  the  ele\'en  chiklren  tiiey  brought  to  this  countv.  two 
of  them  are  now  living — Mrs.  Margaret  Duckworth,  of  Iowa,  and  James  C. 
Cooper,  of  Putnamville.  The  latter  remembers  a  family  tradition  to  the 
effect  that  his  maternal  grandmother  was  scalped  by  the  Indians,  and  although 
a  very  small  boy  at  the  time  the  family  came  to  Indiana,  he  remembers  well 
when  his  mother  placed  him  in  the  \\'agon  preparatory  to  making  the  long 
.  overland  journey  from  Tennessee. 

Archibald  Cooper,  Jr..  was  married  on  December  22.  1S44.  to  Frances  E. 
Connely.  the  daughter  of  Gilmore  and  Jane  Connely.  He  moved  with  his  fam- 
ily from  Kentucky  in  1834  and  settled  on  a  two-hundred-and-seventy-acre  tract 
of  land,  a  part  of  which  was  the  old  Cooper  homestead.  After  t%vo  years' 
residence  in  Floyd  county,  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Cooper  moved  to  Putnam  countv, 
Indiana,  locating  on  one  hundred  and  sixty  acres  in  section  10,  Warren  town- 
ship, purchasing  the  place  at  the  time,  and  he  continued  to  make  his  home 
here  for  forty  years,  or  until  his  death,  February  11,  1904,  his  widow  sur- 
\'iving  until  June  26,  1907.  Mr.  Cooper  was  a  farmer  and  stock  raiser.  He 
was  one  of  the  early  commissioners  of  Putnam  county.  Politically  he  was 
a  Democrat  ai-.d  he  was  one  of  the  highly  respected  men  of  his  township.  He 
and  his  wife  were  members  of  the  local  Methodist  church  and  they  are  buried 
in  the  cemetery  at  Greencastle.  They  were  the  parents  of  four  children.  James 
Walter,  born  July  21,  1865,  received  a  common  school  education  and  on  June 
30.  1S87.  married  Frances  Williams  and  one  child,  Ethel,  was  born  to  them 
on  February  22,  1888;  J.  W.  is  a  farmer  in  this  county,  Amanda  M.  Cooper, 
now  ]\rrs.  Hurst,  wife  of  a  Putnam  county  farmer,  whom  she  married  April 
15,  1888,  is  the  mother  of  two  children,  Bonnie  and  George.  William  Albert 
Cooper  was  born  Xovember  24.  1872.  and  he  has  remained  single. 

Marion  Edgar  Cooper,  of  this  review,  spent  his  boyhood  on  the  home 
farm  and  received  a  common  school  education.  He  was  married  to  Nellie 
Lewis,  daughter  of  W,  Y.  and  Mary  E.  (Clearwater)  Lewis,  December  24, 
1899,  and  they  soon  afterward  moved  to  an  eighty-acre  farm  in  section  10, 
Warren  township,  which  his  father  gave  him.  He  has  prospered  by  close  ap- 
plication to  his  work  and  now  owns  a  fine  farm  of  two  hundred  and  forty- 
three  acres,  having  made  farming  and  stock  raising  his  principal  life  work 
and  has  been  very  successful  in  each.  He  has  a  modern,  attractive  and  well 
located  dwelling  on  the  National  road  and  his  place  ranks  well  with  the  best 
in  the  township  in  every  respect.     He  has  always  had  the  respect  and  con- 


400  WEIK  S    HISTORY    OF 

fidence  of  all  his  neighbors  and  acquaintances.  He  and  his  wife  are  members 
of  the  Methodist  Episcopal  church.  They  are  the  parents  of  four  children, 
namely:  Marion  L.,  born  August  2,  1902;  Mary  Frances,  born  May  27,  1904; 
Ruth,  born  April  3,  1906;  Cathryn,  born  December  26,  1907. 


JAMES  F.  O'BRIEN. 

Great  achievements  always  excite  admiration — men  of  deeds  are  the  men 
whom  the  world  delights  to  honor.  To  attain  success  in  any  specific  line  of 
endeavor,  indicates  on  the  part  of  the  doer  a  well  trained  mind,  mature  judg- 
ment and  the  ability  to  take  advantage  of  circumstances  and  make  them  suit 
his  purposes.  But  occasionally  there  is  found  a  man  with  a  diversity  of 
talents,  which  if  properly  de\-eloped  enable  him  to  achieve  distinction  in  as 
many  callings  as  the  gifts  with  which  he  has  been  endowed — such  a  man  is 
the  honorable  subject  of  this  review,  a  gentleman  who  has  done  much  to 
promote  the  material  growth  and  prosperity  of  his  county  and  state. 

James  F.  O'Brien  is  the  scion  of  an  old  and  well-known  familv,  the 
history  of  which  is' directly  traceable  to  Brian  Boroimhe  (pronounced  Boni). 
the  one  hundred  and  seventy-fifth  monarch  of  Ireland,  who  was  killed  in 
battle  with  the  Danes  at  Clontarf,  in  the  year  A.  D.  1014.  According  to  the 
most  acceptable  data  at  hand,  the  descendants  of  this  early  ancestor  have  been 
subdivided  into  twelve  distinct  and  well  defined  branches,  the  subject  spring- 
ing from  the  O'Briens,  king  of  Thomond,  in  county  Tipperary,  Ireland, 
where  they  ha\e  been  represented  for  nearly  if  not  quite  six  hundred  years, 
and  from  which  they  have  scattered  to  nearly  every  country  of  the  civilized 
world.  It  is  also  a  fact  worthy  of  note  that  for  the  last  two  hundred  vears 
the  eldest  son  has  been  named  in  honor  of  his  grandfather,  the  custom  being 
retained  in  the  family  of  the  subject,  whose  father  and  grandfather,  John 
and  James  O'Brien  respectively,  were  natives  of  county  Tipperar\-,  the  latter 
a  son  of  John  O'Brien  of  the  city  of  Cashel. 

John  O'Brien  was  born  May  27,  1822,  in  Cashel,  of  which  city  his 
brothers.  William.  Edward  and  Thomas,  were  also  natives,  a  fifth  brother, 
James  by  name,  having  been  born  at  a  place  called  "'The  Townsland  of  the 
O'Briens,"  so  named  in  compliment  to  the  family.  Owing  to  the  limited 
opportunities  afforded  a  young  man  in  the  city  of  his  birth,  John  O'Brien  in 
1844  left  Cashel  and  went  to  Dublin,  and  thence  to  Liverpool,  England,  and 
later   started   on   an   extensive   tour,    which    included   nearly  everv   part   of 


;^^g'^^k^^ 


PUTXA.M     COUNTY,    INDIANA.  '  _(^OI 

Europe  and  several  countries  of  Asia.  Desiring  to  see  more  of  the  world, 
he  took  a  vessel  for  America  and  in  November,  1848,  landed  at  Xew  Orleans, 
from  which  city  he  continued  his  travels  imtil,  rambling  over  many  of  the 
states  of  the  Union,  he  finally,  in  1853,  visited  Terre  Haute,  Indiana,  where 
he  met  a  young  lady  with  whom  he  was  pleased  and  he  decided  to  remain 
awhde  at  that  place.  This  acquaintance  ripened  into  love  and  they  were  mar- 
ried. The  bride  was  Anna  Brereton,  a  native  of  Templemore,  county  Tip- 
perary.  Ireland,  where  her  birth  occurred  on  the  26th  of  December,  18-0. 

Shortly  after  their  marriage,  Mr.  and  Mrs.  O'Brien  moved  to  Green- 
castle,  Indiana,  where  their  older  children  were  born,  later  transferring  their 
residence  to  Washington  township,  Putnam  county,  where  Mrs.  O'Brien  de- 
parted this  life  in  May  of  the  year  1867.  John  and  Anna  O'Brien  were  the 
parents  of  six  offsprings,  viz:  James  F.,  the  subject  of  this  sketch;  Edward, 
of  Canon  City,  Colorado;  John,  Jr.,  who  lived  in  Chihuahua,  Mexico;  Mrs.' 
Mary-  A.  Thacker,  of  Terre  Haute;  Sarah  E.,  wife  of  William  H.  Cliff,  of 
Indianapolis,  and  Miss  Jennie  O'Brien,  who  resides  at  Springfield,  Ohio. 

3.1rs.  O'Brien's  father  and  mother,  James  and  Mar>-  (Ryan)  Brereton, 
were  natives  of  county  Tipperary,  Ireland,  where  they  spent  the  greater  part 
of  their  lives.  In  1850  their  sons,  John  and  Ed\wird,  and  two  daughters. 
Annie  and  Kate,  came  to  the  United  States  and  remained  for  awhile  in  Xew 
Jersey,  where  certain  relations  \\ere  then  living.  Anna  subsequently  came  to 
Terre  Haute.  Indiana,  where  she  met  the  gentleman  who  afterwards  became 
her  husband,  as  already  stated.  Some  time  after  her  death  Mr.  O'Brien  mar- 
ried Rachel  E.  Anderson,  by  whom  he  had  four  sons,  all  of  whom  entered 
the  medical  profession  and  are  now  successful  physicians  and  surgeons, 
William  M.  being  located  at  Danville,  Indiana.  Thomas  J.  at  Stilelville,' 
Charles  A.  at  Fillmore  and  Bertram  M.  at  Xew  Winchester. 

James  F.  O'Brien,  whose  name  introduces  this  review,  was  born  at 
Greencastle.  Indiana,  February  i,  1857,  and  when  a  small  boy  removed  with 
his  parents  to  the  northeastern  part  of  Washington  township.  Putnam  countv, 
where  his  father  purchased  a  small  farm,  on  which  the  lad  spent  his  childhood 
and  youth.  Like  the  majority  of  country  boys,  his  early  experiences  in  close 
touch  with  nature  in  the  woods  and  fields  was  without  stirring  incident  or 
tragic  setting,  his  life  from  the  time  of  being  able  to  assume  his  share  of  the 
duties  of  the  farm-  consisting  of  a  round  of  work  during  the  summer  season, 
while  of  the  winter  months  he  attended  the  district  school  of  the  neio-hbor- 
hood.  After  finishing  the  common  branches  he  entered  an  academv  at 
Ladoga  where  he  made  commendalile  progress  in  the  more  advanced  branches 
(26) 


4C2 


WEIK  S    HISTORY    OF 


and  on  leaving  that  institution  took  a  short  course  in  the  State  Xormal  School 
at  Terre  Haute,  where  he  prepared  himself  for  teaching,  which  calling  he 
followed  for  a  number  of  years  in  his  own  county.  While  engaged  in  educa- 
tional work  he  served  two  years  as  principal  of  the  schools  of  Reelsville,  and 
for  two  terms  held  a  similar  position  at  Manhattan,  in  the  meantime  taking 
up  the  study  of  the  higher  branches  of  mathematics,  besides  devoting  much 
of  his  leisure  to  reading  law,  a  profession  for  which  he  had  long  manifested 
a  decided  preference. 

Mr.  O'Brien  became  an  accomplished  mathematician  and  utilized  his 
knowledge  as  such  in  civil  engineering,  at  which  he  also  acquired  great  pro- 
ficiency and  skill.  In  1886  he  was  nominated  by  the  Democracy  of  Putnam 
county  for  county  surveyor,  to  which  office  he  was  duly  elected  that  year, 
and  such  was  his  record  that  he  was  chosen  his  own  successor  by  an  over- 
whelming majority.  He  held  the  position,  by  successive  re-elections,  six 
terms,  a  longer  period  of  service  than  any  other  surveyor  in  the  county  and 
his  official  career  is  above  the  suspicion  of  reproach. 

On  retiring  from  his  office,  Mr.  O'Brien  turned  his  attention  to  engineer- 
ing for  various  kinds  of  public  work,  such  as  turnpike  roads,  macadam  roads 
and  streets,  and  later  engaged  in  contracting  for  the  building  of  such  high- 
ways, over  fifty-five  miles  of  which  he  constructed  in  Owen,  Lawrence,  Rip- 
ley, Putnam  and  other  counties,  besides  doing  a  large  and  successful  business 
in  the  building  of  concrete  bridges  in  various  parts  of  the  state,  the  latter 
kind  of  work  being  something  new  at  the  time  he  took  it  up,  and  he  was 
required  to  give  bond  for  the  solidity  of  the  structure  during  the  first  two 
years.  Although  not  so  extensively  engaged  in  the  above  lines  of  work  as 
formerlv.  he  still  does  a  very  large  and  satisfactory  business,  his  knowledge 
of  the  laws  governing  public  utilities  enabling  him  to  perceive  at  a  glance  the 
advantage  or  disadvantage  of  accepting  or  rejecting  certain  contracts. 

Mr.  O'Brien's  career  as  a  lawyer  dates  from  his  admission  to  the  bar 
in  1897.  since  which  time  he  has  built  up  a  lucrative  clientele  in  Putnam 
countv,  havino-  for  the  past  six  years  held  the  office  of  deputy  prosecuting  at- 
torney for  Cloverdale.  the  duties  of  which  he  has  discharged  with  credit  to 
himself  and  the  satisfaction  of  the  public.  He  is  a  safe  and  reliable  counsellor, 
and  in  the  drawing  of  legal  papers  is  careful  and  an  error  of  sufficient  import 
to  justify  rewriting  is  never  found  in  any  instrument  emanating  from  his 
office. 

.\dditional  to  his  legal  profession  and  'ousiness  enterprise.  Mr.  O'Brien 
has  imp(jrtant  agricultural  interests,  owning  farms  in  Cloverdale  and  Wash- 


PUTNAM     COfXTV.    INDIANA. 


403 


ington  townships,  to  which  he  gives  personal  attention  and   from  which  he 
receives  no  small  share  of  his  income. 

Personally  he  enjoys  great  popularity,  having  been  a  h'fe-long  resident 
of  Putnam  county,  also  for  many  years  a  trusted  official  whose  duties  brought 
him  in  contact  with  the  people,  his  acquaintance  is  very  extensive  and  his 
triends  are  as  the  number  thereof.  Air.  O'Brien  is  a  reader  and  a  thinker,  a 
close  observer  and  possessing  a  sound,  practical  mind  and  well  balanced 
judgment,  his  advice  is  sought  by  many  and  his  counsels  have  never  been 
found  unsafe  or  misleading.  Indeed  his  unsupported  word  has  the  sanctity 
of  a  written  obligation. 

Fraternally  he  holds  membership  with  the  Knights  of  Pythias  and 
Masonic  brotherhoods,  having  risen  to  high  standing  in  the  latter,  being  a 
Knight  Templar,  besides  having  held  from  time  to  time  official  positions"  in 
both  organizations.  For  twenty  years  he  has  been  a  member  of  the  Indiana 
Society  of  Civil  Engineers,  in  the  deliberations  of  which  he  takes  an  active 
and  influential  part. 

Air.  O'Brien  was  married  in  1879  to  Elizabeth  Cline.  daughter  of  Nich- 
olas Cline.  whose  father,  Jacob  Cline.  came  to  America  a  number  of  years 
ago  from  Germany.  Lucinda  Swift,  wife  of  Nicholas  Cline  and  mother  of 
Mrs.  O'Brien,  was  a  daughter  of  Jonathan  Swift,  who  came  from  Virginia 
to  Putnam  county  in  1819  and  was  one  of  the  first  white  men  to  settle  wtthin 
the  present  boundaries  of  Putnam  county,  camping  the  first  night  of  his  ar- 
rival at  the  big  spring  on  what  is  now  Spring  street  in  the  city  of  Green- 
castle,  there  being  no  houses  then  on  the  town  site.  Later  he  moved  to  what 
is  now  Putnamville.  where  he  established  a  home  and  reared  a  large  family, 
his  descendants  being  among  the  substantial  people  of  the  county  at  the  present 
time.  Jonathan  Swift  married  Catherine  Byrd  at  Cumbedain,  Kentucky, 
about  the  year  1810.  The  Swifts  in  this  part  of  the  country  were  lineally  de- 
scended from  a  cousin  of  the  noted  Dean  Swift  and  possessed  many  of  the 
attributes  which  characterized  that  distinguished  but  unique  literary  genius. 
After  marriage  to  Lucinda  Swift,  which  occurred  June  2.  1838.  Nicholas 
Clme  settled  west  of  Cloverdale.  where  their  daughter.  .Mrs.  O'Brien,  was 
born,  she  being  one  of  a  family  of  two  daughters  and  seven  sons,  viz :  James 
Emory,  Joe.  Dr.  L.  C.  Cline.  of  Indianapolis,  Tillman  H..  Daniel  L..  present 
mayor  of  Medford.  Oklahoma,  and  Almira  J.,  who  married  Alonzo  E.  Cham- 
beriain,  of  Cloverdale. 

Mr.  and  Mrs.  O'Brien  have  three  children.  Lela.  the  oldest,  being  a 
student  in  the  junior  year  of  the  State  Normal  School  at  Terre  Haute,  and 
making  a  specialty  of  literature  and  language.     Florence,  the  second  in  order 


404 


WEIK  S    HISTORY    OF 


of  birth,  married  C.  Bruce  0"Connell,  and  lives  at  Gary,  Indiana.  Francis 
E.,  the  youngest  of  the  family,  is  a  telegrapher  in  the  employ  of  the  Union 
Pacific  railroad,  temporarily  stationed  at  Hermosa,  Wyoming.  All  three  are 
graduates  from  first  class  educational  institutions  and  stand  high  in  the  con- 
fidence and  esteem  of  all  who  know  them. 


JA^^IES  EDWARD  OUINN. 

Back  to  the  pioneer  days  in  Putnam  county,  when  but  little  of  the  land 
had  been  reclaimed  from  the  wilderness  through  which  still  roamed  many  a 
wild  beast,  is  traced  the  interesting  life  record  of  James  Edward  Quinn,  who 
has  now  passed  on  to  his  reward  in  the  mystic  beyond,  leaving  behind  him 
a  valuable  estate  to  his  family,  and,  what  is  more  to  be  prized,  an  honored 
name.  His  long  life  was  spent  for  the  most  part  in  the  vicinity  of  Bainbridge, 
where  he  accumulated  a  large  landed  estate  which  he  improved  and  success- 
fully managed  for  years,  becoming  known  as  one  of  the  leading  agricul- 
turists of  that  locality.  He  grew  up  on  the  farm  here  and  was  familiar  with 
agricultural  work  from  his  early  boyhood.  His  birth  occurred  in  Fleming 
county,  Kentucky.  February  9,  1820,  the  son  of  John  and  Sarah  Quinn. 
John  Quinn  was  a  hardy  pioneer  who  moved  to  Indiana  when  James  E.  was 
an  infant  and  settled  in  Union  county,  where  he  began  life  in  true  first-settler 
fashion,  finally  building  a  very  comfortable  home  and  getting  possession  of  a 
good  farm,  which  by  the  hardest  work  imaginable  he  reclaimed  from  the 
woods.     John  Quinn  died  in  Union  county  after  rearing  thirteen  children. 

James  E.  Quinn  had  a  very  limited  opportunity  to  secure  an  education, 
for  in  his  youth  few  schools  were  to  be  found  in  this  locality  and  those  that 
were  established  were  of  the  most  primitive  sort,  and  another  reason  was 
found  in  the  fact  that  as  soon  as  he  became  large  enough  he  was  put  to  work 
on  the  home  farm  and  assisted  in  making  the  living  for  the  family.  He  came 
to  Putnam  county  March  i.  1846.  On  September  19.  1844.  he  married 
Rachael  Keller,  daughter  of  John  and  Sarah  Keller,  also  early  citizens  of 
Union  county.     She  died  May  28,  1879. 

To  this  union  were  born  three  children.  Sarah  B..  wife  of  Lewis  P. 
Leinberger.  an  undertaker  of  Bainbridge.  was  born  October  15.  1846.  They 
have  two  children,  Paul,  a  farmer,  and  Glenn,  postmaster  of  Bainbridge.  John 
W.,  born  March  28,  1850.  died  January  28,  1874.  Mary  Margaret,  who  is 
well  known  to  a  large  circle  of  friends,  is  living  near  Bainbridge ;  she  was  born 


PUTXAM     COUNTY.    INDIANA.  4O5 

June  18,  1845.  ^^'^s  reared  and  educated  in  this  vicinity  and  on  October  3, 
1866.  she  married  Frank  McKee,  who,  after  a  mutually  happy  life  together 
of  six  years,  was  summoned  from  earthly  scenes  on  December  16,  1872. 
Their  son.  James  Lee  McKee.  who  was  born  November  5,  1868,  received  an 
excellent  education,  having  attended  DePauw  University  after  passing  through 
the  common  schools,  and  he  is  a  member  of  the  Phi  Gamma  Deha  society, 
and  is  a  Democrat.  He  is  a  member  of  the  Ancient  Free  and  Accepted 
]\Iasons.  Lodge  Xo.  75.  Bain!:)ridge.  He  is  known  as  a  man  of  excellent  busi- 
ness qualifications  antl  is  very  successfully  managing  the  estate  left  bv  his 
father,  a  part  of  which  original  estate  is  now  within  the  limits  of  the  village 
of  Bainbridge. 

James  Edward  Quinn.  after  a  long  and  eventful  life,  replete  with  honor 
and  success,  was  called  to  his  reward  on  September  i,  1905.  All  who  knew 
him.  and  that  included  everyone  in  this  part  of  the  county,  admired  him  for 
his  kindness,  pleasing  address  to  both  stranger  and  old  acquaintance,  but  most 
of  all  for  his  clean,  upright  and  strictly  honest  life  which  he  sought  to  make 
a  blessing  to  others  while  gaining  material  success  for  himself,  and  thus,  for 
his  many  little  acts  of  kindness  and  for  the  splendid  example  he  set  the  youth 
of  this  vicinity,  he  will  long  be  remembered,  for  those  who  Avere  accustomed 
to  liehold  his  benign,  patriarchial  face  and  his  silvery  hair  frosted  by  over 
fourscore  winters,  will  readily  forget  him.  for  he  was  indeed  a  grand  old  man. 


RICHARD  THO^ISOX  COLLIVER.  M.  D. 

The  Collivers  were  an  old  Kentucky  family,  which  ramified  in  various 
directions  until  it  had  representatives  in  many  states.  They  gave  a  good  ac- 
count of  themselves  wherever  they  were  found  as  they  possessed  the  sturdy 
qualities  which  assure  success.  Perhaps  the  connection  boasted  no  stronger 
man  than  Samuel  Colli ver.  who  during  his  lifetime  was  engaged  in  active 
affairs  and  exercised  a  wide  influence  over  his  fellows.  He  was  born  May 
TO,  1818.  and  in  the  prime  of  life  came  to  Putnam  county,  settling  in  Russell 
township.  He  was  elected  to  the  Legislature  in  1864  and  took  an  active  and 
influential  part  in  its  proceedings.  He  early  saw  the  necessity  of  good  high- 
ways, was  one  of  the  first  to  organize  a  company  to  construct  gravel  roads 
in  this  part  of  Indiana,  and  was  secretary  of  the  Greencastle  and  Crawfords- 
ville  Gravel  Road  Company.  He  held  several  prominent  positions  and  was 
justly  regarded  as  "a  grand  old  man."     His  death  occurred  March  29.  1901, 


4o6  weik's  history  of 

and  the  universal  remark  was  that  Putnam  county  had  lost  one  of  its  best 
citizens.  His  widow  died  August  29.  1909.  He  married  Susan  E.  Thomson, 
member  of  one  of  the  best  Kentucky  families,  by  whom  he  had  six  children, 
one  dying  in  infancy.  The  others  are  Nancy  F.,  now  Mrs.  Dan  G.  Darnall ; 
Richard  T..  of  Bainbridge;  Samuel  J.,  born  July  16.  1850,  died  August  28. 
1872:  Presly  O.,  born  May  11,  1852,  now  judge  of  the  thirteenth  judicial  dis- 
trict and  a  resident  of  Terre  Haute;  \V.  D..  a  farmer  residing  at  Lafayette. 

Richard  Thomson  Colliver.  second  of  the  children,  was  born  in  Mont- 
gomery county.  Kentucky.  .-Vugust  24,  1848.  He  obtained  the  usual  primary  ed- 
ucation and  entered  old  Asbury  University,  now  DePauw,  where  he  acquired 
a  collegiate  finishing.  Having  early  formed  a  resolve  to  become  a  physician, 
he  did  more  or  less  preliminary  reading  in  that  line  and  eventually  became  a 
student  at  the  Cincinnati  Eclectic  Medical  College,  from  which  he  was  gradu- 
ated in  1882.  Immediately  afterwards  he  opened  an  office  at  Greenup,  Illinois, 
where  he  practiced  till  1890.  when  he  removed  to  Roachdale  where  he 
practiced  ten  years.  In  1902  he  came  to  Bainbridge  and  has  practiced  his 
profession  assiduously  up  to  the  present  time.  He  has  been  a  successful  prac- 
titioner and  ranks  high  in  his  profession.  He  is  a  Mason,  being  a  member 
of  Roachdale  Lodge.  Xo.  602,  Free  and  Accepted  Masons.  He  also  belongs 
to  the  Tribe  of  Ben  Hur  and  is  a  Democrat  in  politics. 

September  14,  1886,  Doctor  Colliver  married  Leona  Parker,  daughter  of 
Ephraim  J.  and  Narcissa  (Harget)  Parker.  She  was  born  at  Bainbridge. 
To  this  union  have  been  born  five  children:  Presley,  Frances,  Clare.  Mildred 
and  Jesse. 

The  Colliver  family  is  of  Scotch  descent.  Richard  Colliver  came  to 
America  from  Scotland  soon  after  the  Revolutionary  war,  settling  in  Virginia 
and  later  removing  to  Kentucky.  He  married  Mary  Hollingshead,  and  they 
had  two  sons.  Richard  and  Elijah.  Richard  settled  in  Montgomery  county, 
Kentuckv.  He  married  Mary  McCray.  by  whom  he  had  ten  children.  Sam- 
uel, the  eighth  of  these,  was  the  father  of  Doctor  Colliver.  of  this  review. 
Xo  other  faniilv  ])v  the  name  of  Colliver  is  known  in  Putnam  countv. 


WILLIAM  BOSWELL. 

Holding  worthv  prestige  as  a  citizen  and  standing  in  the  front  rank  of 
Putnam  county's  successful  agriculturists,  the  subject  of  this  review  is  de- 
serving of  mention  among  the  representative  men  of  his  township  and  it  is 


PLTXAM     COLXTY,    IXDIAXA. 


407 


with  nuicli  satisfaction  that  the  following  Ijrief  outline  of  his  career  is  here- 
with presented. 

The  Bdsweil  family  in  this  conntry  were  among  the  earlv  colonists  of 
Virginia  and  in  various  parts  of  the  Old  Dominoin  state  the  name  is  still  a 
familiar  one.  John  Boswell.  the  subject's  grandfather,  a  Virginian  bv  birth, 
was  reared  in  the  county  of  Botetourt  and  there  married  Catherine  Pefifley. 
whose  antecedents  were  also  old  residents  and  well-to-do  planters.  Some  time 
in  the  early  forties  this  couple  moved  to  Clark  county.  Ohi(X  and  later  came 
to  Putnam  county,  settling  on  the  west  fork  of  Walnut  creek  in  Aladison  town- 
ship where  Mr.  Boswell  built  a  .saw-mill  which  received  its  motive  power  from 
the  creek.  His  sons.  Jacob.  Daniel.  John  and  Samuel,  came  about  the  same 
time  and  settled  near  by.  also  a  daughter,  Mrs.  William  Richardson,  all  of 
whom  became  well  known  residents  and  were  greatly  esteemed  bv  their  neio-h- 
])ors  and  friends. 

Jiihn  Boswell.  seni(ir.  developed  a  good  farm  and  spent  the  remainder  of 
his  life  in  Putnam  county,  losing  his  sight  and  living  with  his  son  John  for 
S(;me  years  previous  to  his  death,  which  occurred  in  his  eighty-first  vear.  his 
wife  preceding  him  to  the  grave. 

Jacob  Boswell  was  born  in  Clark  county.  Ohio.  Januarv  27.  18 18.  anil 
was  a  y(3ung  man  when  his  parents  moved  to  huliana.  He  earlv  turned  his 
attention  to  agricultural  pursuits  and  in  tlue  time  located  on  a  farm  in  Wash- 
ington township,  where  he  remained  a  few  years,  removing  thence  to  Clinton 
township,  where  he  lived  until  some  time  in  the  fifties,  when  he  purchased 
the  farm  in  Madison  t<jwnship  on  which  the  remainder  of  his  days  were 
spent,  dying  there  on  the  uth  of  August,  1886,  at  the  age  of  sixtv-eight.  In 
connectiiMi  with  tilling  the  soil  he  did  considerable  carpentrv  work  in  his  neigh- 
borhood and  was  esteemed  a  very  proficient  mechanic.  He  was  an  enterpris- 
ing, industrious  man  and  an  excellent  citizen,  devout  Christian,  having  long 
been  a  member  of  the  church  of  Brethren  near  his  place  of  residence.  Sarah 
Darting,  whom  Jacob  Boswell  married  in  Clay  county,  Indiana,  departed  this 
life  at  the  liome  farm  in  Madison  township  on  the  5th  day  of  May,  1895.  She 
bore  her  husband  ten  children,  namely:  George  W..  a  carpenter,  who  was 
murdered  some  years  ago  in  Madison  township;  Catherine  married  William 
Moss,  and  moved  to  Illinois,  her  husband  dying  later  in  the  state  of  Arkansas. 
She  subsequently  returned  to  Indiana,  where  her  death  afterwards  occurred. 
John  Henry,  the  third  of  the  family,  moved  to  Illinois  in  1869,  thence  to  Mis- 
souri and  Arkansas  and  is  now  living  in  Texas.  David,  the  fourth  of  the 
family,  is  a  prosperous  farmer  of  Madison  township.  William,  the  subject 
of  this  sketch,  is  the  next  younger.     Zimiri  lives  in  Madison  town.ship.  also 


4c8  weik's  history  of 

Marv,  now  Mrs.  Samuel  Wells.  Elizabeth  married  Robert  Gardner,  a  Madi- 
son township  farmer.  Susannah  is  the  wife  of  Newton  Harlan,  who  died  in 
young  womanhood,  sometime  after  becoming  the  wife  of  Robert  Gardner,  who 
after  her  death  married  her  older  sister  Elizabeth,  as  stated  above. 

William  Boswell,  of  this  review,  was  born  June  4,  1853,  on  the  family 
homestead  in  ^fadison  township  and  remained  under  the  parental  roof  until 
about  twenty-three  vears  of  age,  receiving  in  the  meantime  a  fair  education  in 
the  public  schools.  On  August  23,  1876,  he  entered  the  marriage  relation  with 
Nica  Jane  \^'e!ls.  daughter  of  Peter  Wells,  of  Putnam  county,  and  immediately 
thereafter  began  farming  for  himself  on  the  old  Boswell  homestead,  where  he 
lived  until  the  death  of  his  wife,  four  years  later.  Mrs.  Boswell  was  only 
twentv-one  vears  old  when  summoned  to  the  Great  Beyond,  anfl  her  loss  was 
greatlv  deplored  by  all  who  knew  her.  She  left  beside  her  husband  one  son, 
Ora  A.,  a  railway  employe  at  Greencastle,  a  daughter,  Minnie  May,  dying  in 
infanc}'. 

]\Ir.  Boswell's  second  marriage  was  solemnized  on  September  23,  1881, 
with  Lucy  Wells,  daughter  of  Joseph  and  Delilah  (Love)  Wells  and  a  half 
sister  of  Peter  Wells,  the  father  of  his  first  wife.  Joseph  Wells  was  a  native 
of  North  Carolina,  where  he  married  in  young  manhood  a  Miss  Stoner,  whose 
death  occurred  some  years  later  at  Crab  Orchard,  Kentucky.  Subsequently 
Mr.  Wells  moved  to  Putnam  county,  Indiana,  and  purchased  a  tract  of  land 
which  in  due  time  he  cleared  and  converted  into  a  fine  farm.  He  \vas  quite 
a  successful  man,  owning  at  one  time  three  hundred  sixty  acres  of  valuable 
land,  two  hundred  and  forty  in  his  home  farm  and  one  hundred  and  twenty  in 
the  same  locality,  which  he  subsequently  sold.  He  died  in  March,  1884.  at  the 
advanced  age  of  ninety-one  years,  being  the  oldest  member  of  the  Christian 
Chapel  church  when  called  to  his  reward.  Mr.  Wells  was  one  of  the  influ- 
ential men  of  the  community  and  stood  high  in  the  confidence  of  his  fellow 
citizens,  both  locally  and  throughout  the  county.  He  gave  unyielding  sup- 
port to  the  Democratic  party  and  was  tenacious  in  the  support  of  his  opinions. 
A  sincere  Christian,  he  exemplified  his  faith  in  his  every-day  life  and  as  a  pro- 
found student  of  the  Bible  he  was  long  an  authority  on  scriptural  subjects, 
also  on  cliurch  history  and  general  religious  matters,  concerning  which  he 
was  frequentlv  consulted.  ^Ir.  BoswelFs  third  wife  was  Delilah  Wells,  to 
which  union  were  born  two  children,  the  first  being  Mar}',  who  married  David 
Bennett  and  spent  her  entire  life  on  her  father's  farm,  dying  there  September 
29,  1900.  leaving  two  sons  and  one  daughter,  Joseph.  Gerald  and  Alta.  now 
Mrs.  Charles  W.  Kevt,  of  Clinton  township.  The  second  child  being  Lucy, 
wife  of  William  Boswell,  subject  of  this  sketch. 


PfTXAM    COUNTY,    INDIANA.  4O9 

Mr.  Boswell  now  resides  in  Madison  township  and  has  given  his  entire 
attention  to  agriculture  and  stock  raising,  in  both  of  which  his  success  has  been 
very  gratifxing.  His  home  farm  of  one  hundred  and  twenty  acres  is  under 
a  high  state  of  cultivation  and  otherwise  well  improved,  in  addition  to  which 
he  owns  another  farm  of  one  hundred  and  sixty  acres,  a  half  mile  distant,  the 
latter  also  being  successfully  tilled  and  containing  good  buildings  and  other 
improvements.  Mr.  Boswell  operates  both  farms  and  tills  the  soil  on  quite 
an  extensive  scale.  He  also  breeds  and  raises  high-grade  stock,  his  cattle, 
horses  and  hogs  being  among  the  best  in  his  section  of  the  country.  In  poli- 
tics he  is  a  Democrat ;  he  keeps  in  touch  with  the  times  on  all  matters  of  pub- 
lic interest,  lends  his  influence  to  all  laudable  enterprises  and  stands  high  in 
the  community.  Although  connected  with  no  religious  organization,  he  is 
strictly  moral  and  upright  in  his  dealings  and  a  regular  attendant  of  and  liberal 
contrilnitor  to  the  Brethren  church,  with  which  his    wife  holds  membership. 

!\Ir.  and  ^[rs.  Boswell  have  six  children,  namely:  Alva  T.,  who  lives  with 
her  parents:  Anna  ^I..  wife  of  F.  H.  Alspaugh.  of  Oklahoma;  Mary  D.,  who 
married  Wallace  Morris,  of  Greencastle :  Herbert  D.,  Homer  Vilas  and  J-  Lee, 
the  last  three  still  at  home. 


AVELLMAX  D.  CONX.  M.  D. 

Professional  success  results  from  merit.  Frequently  in  commercial  life 
one  may  come  into  possession  of  a  lucrative  business  through  inheritance  or 
gift,  but  in  what  are  known  as  the  learned  professions  advancement  is  gained 
only  through  painstaking  and  long  continued  effort.  Prestige  in  the  healing 
art  is  the  outcome  of  strong  mentality,  close  application,  thorough  mastery  of 
its  great  underlying  principles  and  the  ability  to  apply  theory  to  practice  in 
the  treatment  of  diseases.  These  qualities  seem  to  be  possessed  by  Wellman 
D.  Conn,  one  of  the  best  known  physicians  in  Putnam  county,  who,  for  many 
years,  has  maintained  his  ofifice  at  Bainbridge,  Monroe  township. 

Doctor  Conn  comes  of  an  excellent  pioneer  ancestry,  the  types  that  have 
made  the  great  Hoosier  commonwealth  what  she  is  today,  one  of  the  bright- 
est states  in  the  Union's  great  constellation.  His  birth  occurred  in  Wabash 
county.  Indiana.  Februar\^  9,  1861.  the  son  of  Thomas  P.  and  Harriet  K. 
(Julian)  Conn,  who  were  long  known  as  substantial  farmers  of  Wabash 
county. 

The  Doctor  attended  school  in  Cass  county,  this  state,  later  taking  a 
course  at  \"alparaiso  College,  from  which  institution  he  was  graduated  with 


4IO  WEIK  S    HISTORY    OF 

honors  in  1883.  He  began  life  as  a  school  teacher  and  prosecnted  this  line 
of  work  with  much  success  for  a  period  of  eight  years  in  Cass  county,  his 
services  being  in  great  demand,  and  he  bid  fair  to  become  one  of  the  noted 
educators  of  the  state  when  he  abandoned  this  line  of  work  and  took  up  the 
study  of  medicine,  which  had  been  a  desire  of  long  standing  with  him — in  fact, 
since  early  boyhood  he  had  been  ambitious  to  enter  the  medical  profession. 
With  this  end  in  view  he  entered  the  Louisville  Medical  College,  from  which 
he  was  graduated  in  the  year  1893.  Thus  well  equipped  for  his  work  he  be- 
gan practice  in  Clark  county,  Indiana,  practicing  there  for  a  period  of  five 
years.  He  was  very  successful  from  the  first  and  enjoyed  a  liberal  patronage, 
but,  seeking  a  broader  field  for  the  exercise  of  his  talents,  in  1898  he  moved 
to  Bainbridge,  Putnam  county,  where  he  has  since  remained,  building  up  a 
large  and  growing  practice  and  establishing  a  lasting  reputation  not  only  as 
a  conscientious  and  skilled  physician,  but  also  as  a  man  of  genuine  worth  and 
integrity. 

Fraternally  he  is  a  member  of  Lodge  No.  75,  Free  and  Accepted  Masons, 
the  Bainbridge  Lodge  of  Modern  Woodmen  of  America,  the  Knights  of 
Pythias,  Jennings  Lodge,  No.  418,  Tribe  of  Ben  Hur.  He  also  belongs  to 
the  Clark  County  and  Indiana  State  Medical  Societies.  He  takes  an  abiding 
interest  in  all  these  organizations  and  his  influence  is  felt  for  good  in  all  of 
them.  Politicallv  he  is  a  Democrat,  but  he  is  too  busy  with  professional 
duties  to  take  much  part  in  party  afifairs ;  however,  his  support  can  always  be 
depended  upon  in  the  furtherance  of  any  movement  looking  to  the  general 
good  of  the  county. 

Doctor  Conn  was  married  on  May  26,  1895,  to  Nora  Inez  Enloe,  a  native 
of  Clark  county,  Indiana,  where  she  was  reared  and  educated  and  where  her 
people  were  long  well  and  favorably  known.  One  child  was  born  to  this 
union,  Jesse  Enloe.  his  birth  occurring  on  i\Iay  11.  1900.  and  death  claimed 
him  on  December  30,  1904. 


EDWARD  McG.  WALLS. 

Few  of  the  earlv  pioneers  reached  Putnam  county  before  Clinton  Walls, 
who  removed  from  his  native  town  of  Mt.  Sterling,  Kentucky,  and  arrived  in 
Indiana  in  1826.  He  was  born  July  15,  1806,  learned  the  carpenter's  trade  in 
early  life  and  followed  it  for  many  years,  his  death  occurring  at  Greencastle 
in  1880.  He  first  married  Cynthia  Burton  and  after  her  death  espoused 
Elizabeth  Rrown.  of  K'entuckv.  by  whom  he  had  eight  children  :  Sanmel  Scott. 


PLTXAM    COUNTY,    INDIANA.  4I  I 

of  Parsons.  Kansas :  Ransom  H..  deceased :  Jeanette  C,  wife  of  W.  J.  Jolm- 
son,  of  Miram  Park.  Minnesota:  Maggie  B.,  wife  of  Albert  Torn,  of  Joplin, 
Missouri:  Orlando  M..  deceased:  Melvin  M.,  of  Jefferson  Barracks.  St.  Louis: 
B.  F..  of  Parsons.  Kansas. 

Edward  McG.  Walls,  second  of  the  family,  was  Ijorn  at  Limeclale,  Put- 
nam county,  Indiana,  January  19,  1S55,  He  remained  on  his  father's  farm 
until  si.xteen  years  old.  when  he  secured  employment  in  the  olifice  of  the  rail- 
road station  and  continued  in  this  line  of  work  until  1899.  Part  of  the  time 
he  was  with  the  Monon  railroad  at  Limedale  and  after  leaving  the  railroad 
service  he  became  bookkeeper  for  the  Central  National  Bank,  of  Greencastle, 
remaining  with  that  institution  for  five  years.  In  1904  he  was  elected  county 
treasurer  on  the  Democratic  ticket  and  made  such  a  good  record  that  he  was 
re-elected  in  1906,  Since  retiring  from  this  office  he  has  become  assistant 
cashier  of  the  First  National  Bank  of  Greencastle.  of  which  he  is  a  stock- 
holder. He  is  a  grandson  of  John  Walls,  a  native  of  Winchester.  Virginia, 
who  enlisted  as  a  soldier  in  the  Revolutii:)nar\-  war.  and  served  throughout  the 
seven  years  of  that  immortal  struggle  in  such  a  way  as  to  leave  a  record  of 
which  his  descendants  are  justly  proud.  After  the  close  of  hostilities  he  came 
west  and  died  at  Greencastle  in  1836.  His  son  Clinton  was  a  worthy  descend- 
ant of  this  Revolutionary  sire  and  his  popularity  is  attested  by  the  fact  that 
the  people  elected  him  county  recorder,  in  which  ofifice  he  served  for  eight  years. 
He  and  his  wife  were  members  of  the  Christian  church. 

On  June  r.  1880.  Edward  McG.  Walls  was  married  to  Martha  E.  Staley, 
a  nati\e  of  Frederick.  Manidand.  They  have  had  three  children:  Eliza- 
beth v..  Lela  E..  and  Edna  S.,  deceased.  Mr.  Walls  belongs  to  the  Christian 
church,  his  wife  is  an  Episcopalian  and  the  daughters  are  Presbyterians.  Mr. 
Walls  is  a  deacon  and  trustee  of  his  church  and  is  a  member  of  the  [Masonic 
or<Ier.  in  which  he  is  a  Knight  Teni|)Iar,  and  U>  the  Red  Men.  He  is  a  good 
business  man  and  enjoys  general  public  confidence. 


CHARLES  T.  PECK. 


Indiana  was  little  more  than  a  wilderness  when  William  Baker  Peck 
joined  the  adventurous  band  that  was  seeking  homes  in  the  Northwest  Terri- 
tory. Born  in  Fleming  county,  Kentucky,  in  January,  1801,  he  crossed  the 
Ohio  in  the  early  twenties  and  made  his  way  to  Putnam  county.  Indiana,  in 
which  he  was  auKjng  the  first  arrivals.     He  entered  wild  land  and  spent  his 


412  WEIK  S    HISTORY    OF 

early  manhood  in  the  hard  task  of  clearing  and  getting  it  in  shape  for  agri- 
cultural purposes.  He  married  Margarette  Stevenson,  a  member  of  one  of 
the  pioneer  families,  whose  scions  became  quite  prominent  and  influential  in 
the  early  development  of  Putnam  county.  Doctor  Stevenson,  one  of  her 
brothers,  was  noted  as  a  physician  throughout  western  Indiana  and  Benjamin 
Stevenson,  another  brother,  was  a  well  known  minister.  William  Baker  and 
Margarette  (Stevenson)  Peck  had  ten  children  and  the  father  survived  until 
July,  1886.  Thomas  Virgil  Peck,  one  of  his  elder  sons,  was  bom  December 
16.  1S33.  in  Greencastle  township.  Putnam  county,  Indiana,  and  died  April 
4,  190S.  He  was  a  farmer  and  most  of  his  life  followed  that  occupation, 
although  in  his  early  manhood  he  was  engaged  in  merchandising  at  Green- 
castle under  the  firm  name  of  Stevenson  &  Peck.  He  married  Mary  Ruth 
Osborn,  who  was  born  in  Bowling  Green,  Clay  county,  Indiana,  October  15, 
1846,  and  is  still  living.  Thomas  Virgil  and  Mary  Ruth  (Oslx)m)  Peck 
had  four  children ;  Frank  Everett,  the  eldest,  who  lives  on  the  home  farm,  was 
born  April  3,  1867;  Emily,  the  third  child,  was  bom  October  24,  1872,  mar- 
ried Ed.  Bicknell,  a  hardware  merchant  of  Greencastle,  and  has  three  children : 
William  Baker,  who  was  born  October  25,  1876,  is  a  resident  of  Greencastle, 
and  is  engaged  in  the  real  estate  business. 

Charles  Thaddeus  Peck,  second  of  the  above  list  of  children,  was  born 
in  Greencastle  township,  Putnam  county,  Indiana,  December  16,  1868.  He 
grew  to  manhood  on  the  paternal  farm  with  the  usual  experiences  that  fell  to 
country  bovs  of  his  period,  and  remained  with  the  home  folk  until  he  had 
completed  his  twenty-first  year.  The  farm  was  close  to  Greencastle  and  he 
had  the  benefit  of  the  city  schools.  Later  he  entered  DePauw  University 
and  went  through  the  sophomore  year,  after  which  he  taught  school  for  three 
years  and  having  for  some  time  made  up  his  mind  to  become  a  lawyer  he 
availed  himself  of  the  first  opportunity  to  begin  his  studies.  For  this  pur- 
pose he  entered  the  office  of  Hon.  Silas  A.  Hays,  where  he  spent  four  years  in 
diligent  application  to  the  intricacies  of  this  learned  profession,  after  which 
he  felt  prepared  to  face  the  difficulties  involved  in  the  active  practice.  In 
November,  1897,  he  opened  an  office  in  Greencastle  with  Francis  M.  Lyon, 
which  partnership  has  since  continued.  Mr.  Peck  has  achieved  success  both  in 
law  and  politics,  besides  establishing  himself  as  one  of  the  leading  citizens  of 
Putnam  countv.  Having  been  an  active  Republican  from  his  early  manhood, 
he  has  been  honored  by  his  party  as  a  leader  and  wise  counselor.  For  some 
time  he  served  as  chairman  of  the  Republican  county  central  committee,  was 
elected  citv  attornev  and  held  that  office  for  six  years  or  more.     Mr.  Peck  is 


PL'TXAM     COUNTY,    IXDIAXA.  4I3 

treasurer  and  trustee  of  the  Greencastle  Orphans'  Home,  of  which  Mary  L. 
AlHson,  now  Hving  in  her  ninety-third  year,  was  the  founder  and  hberal  en- 
dower.  Mr.  Peck  is  a  member  of  the  Knights  of  Pythias  and  Gentlemen's 
Literary  Club  and  quite  popular  in  the  social  circles  of  the  city. 

On  June  12.  1902.  Mr.  Peck  married  Stella,  daughter  of  Edward  Per- 
kins, a  farmer  of  Putnam  county.  She  is  a  native  of  the  county  and  descended 
from  one  of  the  first  families  who  settled  in  this  part  of  the  state.  Her  an- 
cestors came  here  about  1830  and  their  descendants  have  occupied  places  of 
influence  in  all  the  walks  of  life,  being  important  factors  in  the  development, 
growth  and  progress  of  the  fine  agricultural  section  of  which  Putnam  county  is 
a  part.  Mrs.  Peck  was  a  graduate  of  DePauw  University,  class  of  1895.  and 
a  member  of  the  Kappa  Kappa  Gamma  fraternity. 


ALFRED  HIRT. 


The  general  public  has  ever  taken  pleasure  in  tracing  the  history  of  a 
man  who,  starting  upon  life's  career  handicapped  in  many  ways,  has  pushed 
forward,  regardless  of  obstacles,  and  finally  reached  the  goal  of  success  set 
before  him.  The  career  of  the  widely  known  citizen  whose  name  appears 
above  affords  an  impressive  example  of  what  energy,  directed  and  controlled 
by  correct  principles,  can  accomplish  in  overcoming  an  unfavorable  environ- 
ment and  lifting  its  possessor  from  a  comparatively  humble  origin  to  a  posi- 
tion of  usefulness  and  affluence.  Mr.  Hirt  is  too  well  known  in  Greencastle 
and  throughout  Putnam  county  to  need  an  elaborate  formal  introduction  to 
the  people  of  either  city  or  county.  Eminently  a  self-made  man,  honestiv 
earning  every  dollar  in  his  possession,  he  ranks  with  the  most  enterprising 
and  successful  of  his  compeers  anrl  has  won  a  place  among  the  representative 
men  of  his  county. 

.Alfred  Hirt  was  born  in  Biel,  canton  Berne.  Switzerland,  and  is  a  son 
of  Louis  F.  and  Margaret  Hirt.  The  latter  died  in  Switzerland  in  1843  ^"d 
Mr.  Hirt  again  married  and  emigrated  to  the  L'nited  States  when  the  subject 
of  this  sketch  was  eleven  vears  old.  They  located  at  Brazil.  Trumbull  count\', 
Ohio,  where  the  father  was  employed  as  a  farm  hand.  Owing  to  the  straitened 
financial  circumstances  of  the  family,  young  Alfred  was  not  enabled  to  attend 
the  public  schools,  but  took  employment  as  a  waterboy  on  a  railroad,  at  which 
employment  he  remained  a  year.     At  the  end  of  that  time  he  went  to  Canal 


414 


W'EIK  S    HISTORY    OF 


Dover,  Ohio,  and  during  the  following  six  years  he  was  employed  by  various 
men  as  a  farm  hand,  for  which  work  he  received  ten  dollars  per  month.  While 
so  employed  he  was  taken  seriously  ill  and.  his  parents  being  too  poor  to  give 
him  proper  attention,  he  was  compelled  to  go  to  the  county  poor  house,  where 
he  remained  until  he  had  recovered.  He  was  ambitious  to  improve  his  con- 
dition as  a  wage  earner  and  to  this  end  determined  to  learn  a  trade,  becoming 
a  carpenter's  apprentice.  He  was  engaged  at  this  work  two  years,  receiving 
the  first  year  the  magnificent  salary  of  twenty-five  dollars,  and  the  second  year 
thirty-five  dollars. 

Though  not  a  native  of  this  country.  Mr.  Hirt's  patriotic  sentiment  was 
aroused  at  the  outbreak  of  the  Southern  rebellion  and  on  November  17,  1861, 
he  enlisted  in  the  Fifty-first  Regiment  Ohio  Volunteer  Infantry,  and  at  once 
proceeded  to  the  scene  of  conflict.  The  regiment  first  went  to  W'ellsville, 
thence  down  the  Ohio  river  to  Cincinnati,  where  they  joined  the  Northern 
armv.  Mr.  Hirt  saw  three  and  a  half  years  of  hard  and  unremitting  service 
in  the  defense  of  his  adopted  country-  and  took  part  in  a  number  of  the  most 
hotly  contested  battles  of  the  war.  including,  among  others.  Lookout  Mountain, 
Missionary  Ridge.  Chickamauga  and  Resaca.  besides  many  skirmishes. 
Though  exposed  many  times  to  the  galling  fire  of  the  enemy  Mr.  Hirt  escaped 
without  injury,  and  his  faithful  service  was  recognized  and  rewarded  by  his 
promotion  to  the  rank  of  corporal. 

After  receiving  an  honorable  discharge  from  the  military  servdce.  Air. 
Hirt  went  to  Clay  county.  Indiana,  where  his  parents  had  located,  and  there 
followed  his  trade  as  a  carpenter.  About  the  same  time  he  commenced  trad- 
ing in  staves,  in  which  line  of  effort  he  soon  met  with  success.  Buying  the 
lumber,  he  himself  hewed  out  the  staves,  which  he  sold  by  contract  to  John 
PufT,  a  manufacturer  of  staves.  This  arrangement  continued  until  1876, 
when  Mr.  Hirt  acquired  control  of  the  stave  business  there,  which  he  there- 
after conducted  under  his  own  name.  Under  his  direction  and  shrewd  man- 
agement the  business  rapidly  assumed  large  proportions,  the  factory  employ- 
ing between  fiftv  and  one  hundred  hands.  The  business  increased  rapidly  and 
e\entnallv  Mr.  Hirt  became  the  principal  source  of  supply  for  the  Eastern 
sta\e  market  and  even  as  far  west  as  Omaha.  He  also  commanded  a  large 
export  business,  sending  his  products  to  the  markets  of  Germany.  France. 
Switzerland.  England.  Scotland  and  Belgium,  he  eventually  becoming  known 
as  the  largest  dealer  in  staves  in  this  country.  His  product  was  always  in  de- 
mand particularly  l>ecause  of  its  superior  quality  and  among  the  noted  con- 
tracts filled  bv  him  was  in  1886.  when  he  made  the  staves  for  the  largest  cask 


PUTNAM     COUNTV.    INDIANA.  41" 

e\er  made,  the  completed  cost  of  wliich  was  si.xty  thousand  dollars.  The 
staves  were  made  from  Mississippi  white  oak.  were  thirty  feet  in  length  and 
cost  twenty-five  dollars  each,  the  entire  shipment  amounting  to  seven  carloads. 
The  completed  cask  was  from  twenty-eight  to  thirty-three  feet  in  diameter 
and  was  made  for  .Vdolph  Fruensholz  &  Company,  of  Xancy.  France.  The 
cask  was  on  exhibition  at  the  Paris  Exposition  and  it  is  stated  that  one  hun- 
<ired  and  fort\'  men,  of  whom  Mr.  Hirt  was  one.  dinetl  at  one  time  inside  it. 

In  1877  Mr.  Hirt  came  to  Putnam  county  and  bought  land  in  Madison 
townsliip.  still  continuing  the  stave  business,  in  which  he  had  met  with  such 
pronounced  success.  Shortly  afterwards  he  was  elected  president  of  the 
Central  National  Bank  of  Greencastle.  which  position  he  retained  during  the 
following  three  years,  at  the  end  of  which  time  he  retired  from  his  hank  to 
continue  the  stave  business  until  1903,  when  he  accepted  the  presidencv  of  the 
First  National  Bank  of  Greencastle,  of  which  he  has  since  remained  the  execu- 
tive head  and  in  the  stock  of  which  he  has  acquired  a  controlling  interest.  In 
1903  Mr.  Hirt  disposed  of  his  interests  in  the  stave  business  and  has  since 
devoted  his  attention  to  his  banking  and  landed  interests.  The  latter  holdings 
are  extensive,  comprising  two  hundred  and  forty  acres  of  Indiana  farm  land, 
over  two  thousand  acres  of  timber  land  in  the  Yazoo  district,  Mississippi,  and 
heavy  interests  in  Mexican  mines.  The  First  National  Bank  of  Greencastle 
is  numbered  among  the  solid  and  influential  monetary  institutions  of  central 
Indiana,  much  of  its  success  being  ascribed  to  the  sound,  conservative  and  ju- 
dicious management  of  its  president. 

Politically.  Mr.  Hirt  is  a  stanch  advocate  of  Republican  principles,  and  he 
has  taken  an  intelligent  interest  in  public  affairs,  but  he  has  never  been  in  any 
sense  an  office  seeker.  Fraternally  he  is  a  member  of  the  Masonic  order, 
having  taken  all  the  degrees  of  the  York  rite  and  those  of  the  Scottish  rite 
up  to  and  including  the  thirty-second,  also  belonging  to  the  .\ncient  Arabic 
Order  of  Nobles  of  the  Mystic  Shrine.  He  has  also  l)een  a  member  of  the  In- 
dependent Order  of  Odd  Fellows  for  forty-si.x  years  and  has  held  all  the  chairs 
in  the  subordinate  lodge.  He  is  also  a  member  of  Lodge  No.  1077,  Bene\o- 
lent  and  Protective  Order  of  Elks.  His  religious  creed  is  that  of  the  Presby- 
terian church,  (jf  which  he  is  an  earnest  and  liberal  supporter,  belonging  to 
the  society  at  Greencastle. 

In  the  largest  sense  of  the  word,  Mr.  Hirt  has  been  successful,  having 
not  only  gained  pecuniary  independence,  but.  what  is  of  greater  value,  the  con- 
fidence and  esteem  of  the  community  in  which  he  lives.  He  has  at  all  times 
given  his  support  to  everv  movement  ha\-ing  for  its  object  the  upbuilding  and 


41 6  weik's  history  of 

development  of  the  city  and  county  and  his  advice  is  sought  frequently  in 
business  circles.  Many  young  men  are  indebted  to  Air.  Hirt  for  good  advice 
in  their  private  and  business  affairs  and  not  a  few  have  been  materially  assisted 
in  getting  a  start.  A  man  of  genial  disposition  and  easily  approached,  Air. 
Hirt  enjoys  a  large  acquaintance,  among  whom  are  many  warm  personal 
friends. 


JOHN  C.  BROWNING. 

Specific  mention  is  made  of  many  of  the  worthy  citizens  of  Putnam 
county  within  the  pages  of  this  book,  citizens  who  have  figured  in  the  growth 
and  development  of  this  favored  section  of  the  great  Hoosier  commonwealth, 
and  whose  interests  are  identified  with  its  every  phase  of  progress,  each 
contributing  in  his  sphere  of  action  to  the  well  being  of  the  community  in 
which  he  resides  and  to  the  advancement  of  its  normal  and  legitimate  growth. 
Among  this  number  is  John  C.  Browning,  well-known  contractor  and  business 
man,  peculiar  interest  attaching  to  his  career  from  the  fact  that  his  entire 
useful  and  busv  life  has  been  spent  within  the  borders  of  this  county,  whose 
interests  he  has  ever  had  at  heart  and  sought  to  foster  while  laboring  to 
advance  his  own.     He  is  therefore  held  in  high  regard  by  all  classes. 

Mr.  Browning  was  born  within  one  mile  of  Greencastle.  October  i6, 
1856.  His  father,  Isaac  Browning,  born  in  Kentucky,  was  one  of  the  early 
settlers  here,  having  come  from  the  Blue  Grass  state  when  he  was  twelve  years 
of  age,  and  located  on  a  farm  near  Greencastle,  where  he  dex'eloped  a  good 
place  and  lived  the  remainder  of  his  life,  dying  September  18,  1907.  He 
devoted  his  life  to  fanning  arid  was  ver\-  successful.  He  came  here  with  his 
mother,  his  father  having  died  in  Kentucky.  The  mother  was  known  in  her 
maidenhood  as  Amanda  Steers,  and  she  was  a  native  of  Putnam  county.  In- 
diana. Her  death  occurred  thirty  years  ago.  There  were  seven  children  in 
this  family,  namely:  Hannah,  who  married  F.  .\.  Hays,  is  deceased;  Harriet 
died  when  nineteen  years  of  age;  William  A.  lives  in  Kansas:  John  C..  of  this 
review ;  George  F.  lives  on  the  old  homestead ;  Scott  lives  near  Greencastle ; 
Sarah  Belle  died  when  twenty  years  of  age.  The  Browning  family  lived  in 
Kentuckv  for  several  generations  and  were  leaders  in  various  walks  of  life 
there.  The  maternal  great-grandmother  came  to  America  from  Ireland, 
where  she  was  born. 

lohn  C.  Browning  was  born  on  the  parental  farm,  where  he  lived  until 


JOHN  C.   BROWNING 


PUTXAM     COUNTY,    IXDIAXA.  4I7 

seventeen  years  of  age.  He  was  educated  in  the  public  schools  and  at  DePauw 
University.  He  was  ambitious  to  launch  out  in  the  business  world,  and  at  the 
age  nientioned  abo\e  he  came  to  Greencastle  and  began  learning  the  mercan- 
tile business,  clerking  in  a  store  for  a  short  time,  then,  about  1880,  engaged 
in  the  general  mercantile  business  with  F.  A.  Hays.'  This  partnership  existed 
for  four  or  five  years,  then  !Mr.  Browning  bought  the  entire  stock  and  man- 
aged the  business  alone  for  two  years.  He  was  building  up  an  excellent 
patronage  and  making  money  when,  owing  to  ill  health,  he  sold  out  and 
engaged  in  the  butcher  business  for  a  period  of  five  years.  This  business  was 
not  new  to  him,  for  he  had  maintained  a  butcher  shop  all  the  time  he  was  in 
the  mercantile  business.  Mr.  Browning  next  turned  his  attention  to  general 
contracting  and  building,  which  he  has  followed  with  his  usual  success  for  a 
number  of  years,  from  time  to  time,  and  during  the  past  two  years  he  has 
followed  fanning  and  contracting  exclusively.  He  has  erected  many  sub- 
stantial and  attractive  buildings  as  a  monument  to  his  skill  and  desire  to  please 
his  patrons,  even  trying  to  do  more  than  he  agrees  to  at  the  outset,  conse- 
c[uently  he  has  become  one  of  the  most  popular  contractors  in  Greencastle. 
He  takes  particular  pains  to  see  that  e\ery  detail  of  his  work  is  correctly 
perfomied,  the  best  material  used  and  the  most  skilled  workmen  employed. 
He  l)uilt  the  Locust  street  church,  the  school  house  at  Putnamville  and  many 
fine  residences. 

Mr.  Browning  was  married  first  on  September  22,  1880,  to  Mary  O. 
Hays,  who  was  born  in  Woostertown,  Scott  county.  Indiana.  Her  death 
occurred  in  1895,  the  union  being  without  issue.  Mr.  Browning's  second 
marriage  was  to  Mary  Ina  Moore,  on  August  i.  1898.  a  \\oman  of  pleasing 
personality  and  the  daughter  of  an  excellent  family.  To  this  union  two 
children  were  born,  the  first  dying  in  infancy.  Isaac  M.  was  born  on  April 
17,   1900. 

ilr.  Browning  is  a  stockholder  and  the  president  of  the  Greencastle 
Wood  Manufacturing  Company.  He  also  owns  a  fine  farm  in  Greencastle 
township.  He  has  been  very  successful  from  a  financial  standpoint  and  is 
one  of  the  substantial  men  of  the  county.  Politically  he  is  a  Republican, 
and  was  at  one  time  councilman  from  the  third  ward  for  a  period  of  four 
}'ears.  during  which  time  he  rendered  very  faithful  and  praiseworthy  sennce 
to  his  constituents.  Fraternally  he  is  a  member  of  Putnam  Lodge,  Xo.  4^, 
Independent  Order  of  Odd  Fellows,  and  he  and  Mrs.  Browning  are  members 
of  the  Methodist  church.  They  have  a  beautiful  and  nicely  furnished  home 
which  is  freciuentl}-  tlie  gathering  place  for  their  numerous  friends. 


4i8  weik's  history  of 


MAJOR  HIGGINS  LANE. 

The  eminently  worthy  career  of  such  a  man  as  Major  Hig-gins  Lane  is 
worthy  of  conspicuous  mention  in  such  a  work  as  the  one  at  hand,  for  many 
valuable  lessons  could  be  gleaned  therefrom  by  the  youth  whose  destinies  are 
yet  matters  for  the  future  to  determine.  He  was  Ixjrn  in  Montgomery  county, 
Kentucky,  July  9,  181 2,  the  youngest  son  of  Col.  James  H.  and  Mary  (Hig- 
gins)  Lane.  His  parents  on  both  sides  were  of  English  descent,  the  first 
Lanes  who  came  to  this  country  having  settled  in  Loudoun  county,  Virginia, 
and  the  Higgins  family  in  Fairfax  county.  Virginia,  at  the  beginning  of  the 
eighteenth  century.  The  land  on  which  the  Lanes  located  was  the  arena  of 
the  battle  of  Bull  Run.  At  the  close  of  the  eighteenth  century  Col.  James  H. 
Lane  moved  to  Kentucky  and  erected  the  first  log  cabin  constructed  in  Mont- 
gomerv  countv.  As  a  pioneer  he  had  many  encounters  with  the  Indians.  It 
was  in  this  humble  cabin  that  his  son  Higgins  first- saw  the  light  of  day,  and 
it  was  from  there,  among  the  green  hiiis  of  his  childhood,  that  he  received 
the  simple  rudiments  of  education,  common  to  this  early  day.  In  the  spring  of 
1837  he  came  to  Putnam  county,  Indiana,  and,  pioneer  fashion,  began  estab- 
lishing a  home  on  unimproved  land,  having  purchased  one  hundred  and  sixty 
acres  in  section  11,  Monroe  township.  Returning  to  Kentucky,  he  was  mar- 
ried on  August  8,  1837,  to  Angeline  L.  Thompson,  second  daughter  of  Lloyd 
and  Elizabeth  (Jameson)  Thompson.  Mrs.  Lane  was  a  lineal  descendant 
with  George  Washington,  her  great-grandmother  on  her  mother's  side  being 
Judith  Ball,  first  cousin  to  Mary  Ball,  Washington's  mother.  Mrs.  Lane  was 
a  woman  of  strong  character  and  unusual  mental  poise,  considerate,  affection- 
ate and  kind-hearted.  Her  death  occurred  at  her  home  in  Bainbridge,  October 
3,  1881,  in  her  sixty-fourth  year.  To  these  parents  were  born  ten  children, 
four  in  Kentuck-y  and  six  in  Indiana;  three  died  in  infancy  and  two  in  early 
childhood,  three  after  reaching  the  age  of  maturity,  namely:  Mary  E..  who 
was  born  in  Kentucky  on  December  13,  1841,  died  November  i,  1870;  Carrie 
L.,  who  married  Eld.  J.  H.  Banserman,  was  born  in  Kentucky  on  February 
5,  1844,  married  September  8,  1867,  died  May  i,  1877.  The  only  remaining 
children  are  Elder  Oscar  F.  Lane,  of  Bainbridge,  born  May  5,  184S  (a  full 
sketch  of  whom  appears  elsewhere  in  this  work),  and  Elder  Edwin  T.  Lane, 
of  Oklahoma  City.  Oklahoma,  who  was  born  February  7,  185 1. 

The  bitterly  hard  times  caused  by  the  low  tariff  bill  of  1837  and  the  re- 
peal of  the  United  States  banking  law  caused  the  Lane  family  to  postpone 
coming-  to  their  land  in  Indiana  until  the  spring  of  1844.     In  order  to  make  a 


PUTXAM    COUNTY.    IXDIAXA.  4I9 

second  payment  on  his  land.  Mr.  Lane  borrowed  money  at  sixteen  and  two- 
thirds  per  cent,  interest.  Three  years  after  purchasing  his  Indiana  land  he 
could  have  bought  the  same  kind  of  land  for  four  dollars  and  fifty  cents  per 
acre,  just  one-half  the  price  paid  for  it  in  1837,  land  values  having  greatly 
depreciated  in  the  meantime.  Their  first  dwelling  in  Putnam  county  was  a 
log  house,  costmg  ten  dollars,  including  the  clearing  of  two  acres  of  ground. 
When  Higgins  Lane  located  here  he  became  actively  identified  with  the  civil, 
religious  and  educational  interests  of  the  state  of  his  adoption,  and  he  never 
lost  an  opportunity  to  further  the  interests  of  Putnam  county.  He  identified 
himself  with  the  Somerset  Church  of  Christ,  in  Montgomery  county,  Ken- 
tucky, in  April,  1837.  Convinced  under  the  preaching  of  Alexander  Campbell, 
that  Jesus  is  the  Christ.  Mr.  Lane  was  immersed  on  confession 
of  his  faith  by  Elder  John  Smith.  As  soon  as  he  established 
his  home  in  Indiana  he  identified  himself  with  the  Somerset 
church,  four  miles  from  his  home,  and  he  was  soon  made  an  elder 
of  that  congregation,  serving  in  this  capacity  for  fifteen  years.  In  i860, 
securing  the  help  of  Elder  John  Smith,  of  Kentucky,  and  Elder  O.  P.  Badger, 
of  Greencastle.  a  Church  of  Christ  was  established  at  Bainbridge.  The  pres- 
ent house  of  worship  of  this  congregation  was  the  result  of  his  gifts  of  time 
and  means,  all  the  lumber  used  in  its  construction  coming  from  his  farm. 
He  served  this  congregation  as  elder  for  a  period  of  over  fifteen  years.  The 
confidence  of  his  brethren  in  his  judgment  and  sense  of  right  was  such  that 
he  was  often  called  upon  to  adjust  church  difificulties  in  Putnam  and  adjoin- 
ing counties.  He  was  liberal  almo.-^t  to  a  fault :  he  not  only  freely  responded 
to  all  calls  at  home,  but  for  missionary  work  abroad  as  well,  having  been  a 
life  member  of  the  American  Home  Missionary  Society  of  the  Christian 
church.  He  was  an  earnest  advocate  of  education,  and  among  the  many  good 
acts  of  his  useful  life  may  be  mentioned  the  aid  he  rendered  in  securing  the 
charter  for  the  Northwestern  Christian  (now  Butler)  University,  at  Indi- 
anapolis, through  the  Legislature  of  1849  and  1850.  of  which  he  was  a  mem- 
ber. This  university  was  the  first  in  Indiana  to  open  its  doors  for  the  co- 
education of  the  sexes.  Mr.  Lane  was  a  member  of  its  board  of  directors  for 
twenty  years  and  he  assisted  very  liberally  in  its  endowment.  He  was  one  of 
the  organizers  of  the  First  National  Bank  of  Greencastle.  In  1872,  in  con- 
nection with  D.  T.  Thornton.  D.  S.  Ward.  Thomas  Bayne  and  John  Wilkin- 
son, he  organized  the  Bainbridge  Bank  and  was  made  its  president. 

During  the  Mexican  war,  Mr.  Lane  was  elected  major  of  a  militia  regi- 
ment organized  in  Putnam  county,  of  which  George  Piercy  was  colonel  and 
James  Fisk  lieutenant-colonel.     Politically  he  was  first  a  Whig,  as  were  his 


420 


WEIK  S    HISTORY    OF 


father  and  grandfather,  and  he  was  an  emancipationist,  having  always  had 
o-reat  sympathy  for  the  oppressed.  He  alhed  himself  with  the  Republican 
party  upon  its  organization  and  maintained  his  allegiance  to  it  until  his  death. 
He  was  a  nephew  of  Daniel  Lane,  the  first  secrgtary  of  state  of  Indiana, 
and  he  was  a  second  cousin  of  Gen.  Joseph  Lane,  who  commanded  the  Indiana 
troops  during  the  Mexican  war  and  who  was  made  first  governor  of  Oregon 
and  then  United  States  senator,  and  who,  in  i860,  was  a  candidate  for  the 
vice-presidency.  Major  Higgins  Lane  was  a  third  cousin  to  Gen.  James  H. 
Lane,  lieutenant-governor  of  Indiana  from  1849  to  1853.  then  leader  in  the 
struggle  of  the  Kansas  settlers  against  the  Missouri  slave  holders,  and  he 
was  the  first  United  States  senator  from  Kansas.  He  was  a  brother  of 
Henry  S.  Lane,  one  of  the  organizers  of  the  Republican  party  and  chairman 
of  its  first  national  convention  held  in  Philadelphia  in  1856,  that  nominated 
Gen.  John  C.  Fremont  for  President.  He  was  the  first  Republican  governor 
of  Indiana  and  the  state's  first  Republican  United  States  senator,  and  he  was 
recognized  as  one  of  the  foremost  political  orators  of  his  day.  At  all  times 
Higgins  took  an  active  interest  in  political  issues,  but  he  had  no  ambition  for 
personal  preferment  or  political  office,  yet,  as  a  sense  of  duty,  he  yielded  to 
the  unanimous  call  of  his  party  and  was  three  times  a  representative  of  Put- 
nam county  in  our  state  Assembly,  each  time  overcoming  a  majority  against 
him.  As  a  speaker  he  made  no  attempts  at  rhetorical  flights  or  ornateness, 
but  he  possessed  rare  native  ability,  was  logical,  argumentative,  practical,  im- 
petuous and  intensely  earnest.  He  rarely  ever  failed  to  carry  his  point.  He 
despised  sham  and  hypocrisy,  and  held  tenaciously  to  what  he  believed  to  be 
ri<'-ht.  His  life  Avas  clean  and  open,  and  those  who  came  into  contact  with  him 
at  once  had  confidence  and  faith  in  him.  He  was  an  uncompromising  tem- 
perance man.  having  taken  the  temperance  pledge  at  the  age  of  fifteen  years, 
which  he  kept  until  his  death.  He  was  not  only  an  ardent  temperance  advo- 
cate, but  he  did  what  he  could  to  abolish  the  liquor  traffic.  His  views  against 
the  use  of  tobacco  were  as  radical  as  were  those  against  the  use  of  intoxicants. 
His  nature  was  positive ;  he  was  born  to  be  a  leader  of  men ;  he  could  not  be 
neutral  on  anv  subject  involving  the  interests  of  his  fellow  men.  His  heart 
was  tender  towards  those  deserving  sympathy  and  his  hand  was  ever  open  to 
help  the  distressed  and  needy.  In  social  circles  he  displayed  rare  qualities, 
both  agreeable  and  instructive,  but  he  never  indulged  in  jest  or  foolish  things. 
The  memorv  of  such  men— good  and  true— is  humanity's  best  heritage. 

The  summons  came  to  this  worthy  character,  public-spirited  citizen,  gen- 
erous neighbor  and  Christian  gentleman  at  his  home  in  Bainbridge,  March  4, 
1877.  and  his  body  is  sleeping  the  sleep  of  the  just  in  the  family  cemeter}'  on 
the  farm  where  he  lived  for  twenty-eight  years. 


PUTXAM     COUNTY,    IXDIAXA.  42 1 


LEVI  SHELBY  MOLER. 

One  of  Clinton  township"s  most  progressive  citizens  is  Levi  Shelby 
^Toler.  born  June  28,  1865,  in  Putnam  county.  He  remained  at  home,  lead- 
ing the  usual  life  of  the  farmer  boy  until  he  was  twenty-four  years  of  age.  when 
he  married.  August  21.  18S9.  Cuma  Brothers,  daughter  of  Robert  and  Cvrena 
(Vermillion)  Brothers.  She  was  born  August  7,  1869.  the  day  of  the  great 
eclipse  of  the  sun.  her  birth  occurring  on  the  farm  on  which  she  is  now  re- 
siding. Robert  Brothers  was  born  in  Montgomerv-  county.  Kentucky.  March 
2.  1S06.  and  died  January  12.  1883.  He  came  to  Indiana  when  a  young  man, 
accompanied  by  his  mother,  and  entered  land  from  the  government,  in  Mon- 
roe township.  In  1852  he  came  to  his  present  farm.  Cyrena  Vermillion  was 
the  daughter  of  Elder  Isaiah  Vermillion,  a  minister  in  the  Predestinarian 
Baptist  church,  who  settletl  in  Monroe  township.  The  present  home  of  Mr.  and 
Mrs.  Moler  consists  of  one  himdred  and  ninety  acres,  formerly  the  home  of 
Levi  ^^■right.  The  patent  for  the  same  was  issued  first  in  1826  and  secondly 
in  1S27  by  President  John  Ouincy  Adams,  now  held  by  !Mrs.  Moler.  Robert 
Brothers  died  January  12.  1883.  In  1861  he  built  a  house  on  the  center  of 
the  place.  The  present  neat  home  of  his  widow,  Airs.  Brothers,  was  erected 
in  1900.  Robert  Brothers  was  twice  married,  first  to  Julia  Ann  Hensley, 
which  resulted  in  the  birth  of  the  following  children :  Louisa  is  the  widow  of 
James  R.  M.  Hamrick  and  lives  in  Greencastle ;  Mary  Ann  is  the  widow  of 
Frederick  Leatherman,  of  Greencastle ;  Rebecca  Brothers  married  Mason  Ver- 
million, lived  in  Clinton  township  and  died  when  over  seventy  years  of  age; 
Alartha  Ann  married  Henr}-  Woolery  and  died  in  Illinois;  Henry  died  when 
fifty-si.x  years  old;  he  was  the  father  of  Thomas  Brothers,  of  Greencastle; 
Julia  Ann  married  Lewis  Xewgent  and  died  when  twenty-eight  years  old.  The 
second  marriage  of  Robert  Brothers  resulted  in  the  birth  of  the  following 
children  :  Melissa  married  William  Tucker,  of  Princeton,  Kentucky  ;  William  is 
a  liverA-man  in  Greencastle :  Alice  married  George  W.  W'right,  of  Greencastle ; 
Cuma,  wife  of  Levi  S.  Moler,  of  this  review.  Two  children  have  been  born 
to  Mr.  and  Airs.  Moler,  May,  now  seventeen  years  old,  who  is  attending  high 
school  in  Clinton  township:  Rae,  another  daughter,  is  now  six  years  old. 

At  his  marriage.  Air.  Aloler  came  to  the  Brothers  homestead;  he  has 
since  bought  out  all  the  heirs  of  the  place,  he  and  his  wife  now  owning  the  en- 
tire farm,  her  mother  making  her  home  with  them. 

Air.  Aloler  was  a  Democrat  and  was  a  candidate  before  the  primaries 
January  10.  1910,  for  county  clerk.     He  is  an  excellent  fanner  and  has  been 


422  WEIK  S    HISTORY    OF 

very  successful  in  all  his  affairs,  keeping  his  place  in  an  attractive  and  pro- 
ductive condition,  always  producing  abundant  harvests  under  his  able  man- 
agement. Mr.  Moler  is  a  member  of  Morton  Lodge,  No.  469,  Free  and 
Accepted  Masons,  and  has  filled  all  the  chairs,  having  been  worshipful  master 
for  four  years. 


JOHN  COOK. 


The  family  of  this  name  in  Putnam  county  is  of  German  origin.  John 
and  Wilhelmina  Cook  emigrated  to  America  about  1849  ^"d  settled  in  the 
state  of  Ohio.  John  Cook,  their  son.  was  born  at  Marietta.  Ohio.  March  4, 
1858,  and  was  but  two  years  old  when  he  lost  his  father  by  death.  In  early 
manhood  he  came  to  Putnam  county,  located  at  Greencastle  in  1884  and  has 
since  been  prominently  identified  with  the  commercial  affairs  of  the  city.  He 
first  engaged  in  hardware  on  rather  a  small  scale,  but  under  his  energetic 
management  the  business  has  steadily  grown  until  he  is  now  recognized  as  one 
of  the  leading  merchants.  He  occupies  a  large  store  on  the  Renick  building 
corner,  which  is  splendidly  stocked  with  everything  in  the  hardware  line. 
Besides  the  usual  contents  of  such  a  store,  he  carries  the  usual  number  of 
specialties,  in  which  he  enjoys  a  lucartive  trade.  Among  these  are  the  Stude- 
baker  wagons,  of  which  Mr.  Cook  is  sales  agent  in  Greencastle.  He  also 
handles  the  Syracuse  and  Zanesville  plows,  which  are  very  popular  with  the 
Indiana  farmers.  Other  taking  articles  are  the  Majestic  ranges.  Jewell  and 
Garland  heaters,  to  say  nothing  of  an  endless  assortment  of  every  tool  made 
out  of  iron  and  steel.  Mr.  Cook,  who  has  been  in  business  at  Greencastle  for 
twentv-six  vears.  is  very  popular  with  the  public  who  trade  in  his  line  as  he 
is  always  affable  and  square  in  his  dealings.  He  is  a  member  of  the  Independ- 
ent Order  of  Otld  Fellows,  of  which  he  is  one  of  the  trustees,  and  he  has  held 
a  number  of  offices  in  the  lodge.  He  also  belongs  to  the  Improved  Order  of 
Red  Men  of  America.  He  is  a  stanch  Republican  and  was  nominated  by  his 
party  in  1909  as  a  candidate  for  councilman  at  large  and  elected  at  the  ensuing 
election.  However,  he  has  never  sought  office,  preferring  to  give  all  his  time 
to  his  business.  He  is  a  Methodist  in  religion  and  altogether  a  model  citizen 
who  discharges  everv  obligation  placed  upon  him  by  the  law  or  social  customs. 
Mr.  Cook  married  Clara  B.  Furlough  of  Nebraska,  by  whom  he  has  had 
eleven  children,  ten  living.  The  list  follows:  William  A.,  John  D..  Paul  F., 
Fred  D..  Nina,  Maria.  Forest.  Glenn,  Henry  and  Gertrude.  The  family  re- 
side in  a  commodious  dwelling  situated  at  No.  316  Hill  street. 


PUTNAM     COUNTY,    INDIANA.  423 


HENRY  BICKNELL. 


One  of  the  most  progressive  citizens  of  Putnam  county  is  Henry  Bick- 
nell,  who  is  carrying-  on  the  various  departments  of  his  enterprise  in  Green- 
castle  with  that  discretion  and  energy-  which  are  sure  to  find  their  natural 
sequence  in  definite  success,  having  by  his  own  efforts  succeeded  in  establish- 
ing a  reputation  as  a  hardware  merchant  that  is  second  to  none  in  this  locality, 
and  in  such  a  man  there  is  particular  satisfaction  in  offering  in  their  life 
historic  justification  for  the  compilation  of  works  of  this  character,  because 
they  honor  the  community  where  they  reside  by  their  wholesome  lives  and 
their  support  of  all  that  tends  to  improve  the  community. 

Mr.  Bicknell  was  born  in  Greencastle.  October  21,  1866,  and.  unlike  many 
of  his  contemporaries  who  sought  uncertain  fortune  in  other  fields,  he  has  re- 
mained at  home,  believing  that  better  or  at  least  just  as  good  opportunities 
existed  right  at  his  own  door  than  those  to  be  sought  elsewhere.  His  father. 
George  Bicknell,  was  born  in  Philadelphia  county,  in  what  is  now  known  as 
Germantown.  Pennsylvania.  February  18.  1828.  When  he  was  quite  young 
his  parents  moved  to  Ohio  near  Sidney,  living  there  two  years.  When  eleven 
years  of  age  he  came  to  Brunerstown.  Putnam  county.  Indiana,  with  his  par- 
ents, living  on  a  farm  and  attending  school  in  the  winter  months.  Desiring 
to  follow  some  pursuit  other  than  agriculture,  he  came  to  Greencastle  in  1852 
and  engaged  in  the  wagon-making  business,  which  he  followed  with  increas- 
ing success  for  a  period  of  about  thirty  years,  becoming  widely  known  in  tiiis 
line  of  endeavor.  He  then  went  into  the  hardware  and  implement  business, 
which  he  conducted  until  his  death  in  March.  1907.  He  was  a  successful 
business  man  and  was  admired  by  all  who  knew  him  for  his  exemplary  life. 
He  married  Louesa  Sheldmyer,  who  was  bom  in  Johnson  county.  Indiana. 
in  1844  and  who  proved  to  be  a  very  faithful  and  kind  helpmate.  Her  death 
occurred  in  Februan.-.  1905.  To  Mr.  and  Mrs.  George  Bicknell  six  children 
were  born,  named  as  follows :  Susana  is  living  in  Greencastle :  Emma  is  the 
wife  of  Edgar  Dick,  a  hardware  merchant  in  Terre  Haute:  George  E.  is  en- 
gaged in  the  hardware  business  in  Greencastle;  he  married  Emily  Peck,  a 
native  of  Putnam  county,  and  three  daughters  have  been  born  to  them.  Ruth 
Louise.  Mary  Lenora  and  Edna;  Henry,  of  this  review,  was  the  fourth  child 
in  order  of  birth;  Mary  is  the  wife  of  Prof.  Ernest  Roller,  of  East  I.ansing. 
Michigan,  where  he  is  an  instructor  in  the  college,  and  they  are  the  parents 
of  two  sons.  George  Philip  and  Ernest  B. ;  Agnes,  the  youngest  child,  is  the 
wife  of  John  E.  Dunlavy.  a  druggist  of  Greencastle;  one  son.  Elwood  B..  has 
been  born  to  them. 


424  WEIK  S    HISTORY    OF 

Henrv  Bicknell  received  a  very'  serviceable  education  in  the  common 
schools  of  Greencastle,  graduating  from  the  high  school  in  1884.  He  spent 
one  year  in  DePauw  University,  then  entered  the  hardware  business  with  his 
father  as  a  member  of  the  firm  and  he  has  since  continued  this  line  of  busi- 
ness with  increasing  success,  he  and  his  brother  George  E.  succeeding  their 
father  at  his  death,  and  they  have  built  up  quite  a  lucrative  patronage  with 
the  town  and  surrounding  country,  always  keeping  a  full,  up-to-date  and  care- 
fully selected  stock  in  a  neat  and  well-kept  building,  and  the  courteous  and 
fair  treatment  always  accorded  customers  insures  holding  their  patronage. 
In  this  they  follow  the  examples  set  by  their  worthy  father,  who  was  one  of 
the  early  business  men  of  Greencastle.  an  active  meml)er  of  the  Christian 
church,  being  on  the  official  I)oanI  for  a  number  of  years,  and  he  took  a  lead- 
ing part  in  erecting  the  present  church  edifice. 

Henrv  Bicknell  married,  on  May  10.  1S93.  Willie  \'aughn.  of  Lady  Lake, 
Florida.  She  was  the  daughter  of  C.  P.  and  Ellen  Ora  Vaughn,  formerly 
of  Georgia:  she  was  born  in  Sanoy,  that  state,  in  1872.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Bick- 
nell's  beautiful  home  has  been  graced  by  the  birth  of  the  following  children: 
George  Henry,  born  February  19,  1894;  Christine,  born  in  February,  1896; 
Jessie  Lillian,  born  in  May,  1898:  Margaret  Wilella,  born  in  October,  1900; 
Blanche  Louise,  born  in  October.  1905. 

^Ir.  and  Mrs.  Bicknell  are  members  of  the  Christian  church,  in  which 
their  three  oldest  children  also  hold  membership.  Courteous,  genial  and 
easily  of  approach.  Mr.  Bicknell  commands  the  respect  of  all  with  whom  he 
comes  into  contact,  and  his  friends  are  numerous  wherever  he  is  known. 


MATTHL\S  ^L-VSTEX. 

One  of  Cloverdale  township's  progressive  farmers  is  Matthias  ^fasten, 
who  was  bora  August  30.  1842.  the  son  of  Reuben  Masten.  a  native  of  North 
Carolina.  The  latter's  father  was  a  native  of  England  who  came  to  America 
prior  to  the  Revolutionary  war.  in  which  he  served  as  a  soldier.  Reuben 
Masten  was  numbered  in  the  early  settlement  of  Hendricks  county.  Indiana, 
whither  he  came  from  the  old  Tar  state:  entering  a  tract  of  land  and  building 
a  log  cabin  on  the  same,  he  began  clearing  and  raising  corn.  He  married 
Margaret  Garrison,  the  daughter  of  John  Garrison,  and  to  this  union  ten 
children  were  Ijorn  namely:  Hesekiah.  Darius.  ?\latthias.  Hariy,  John.  Jesse. 
Mahala.  Marv.  Anna  and  Emma.      Four  of  these  are  still  living.  Tesse.  Mrs. 


PTTXAM     COrNTV.    INDIANA.  4-5 

:vlan-  Roberts,  Emma  and  Matthias.  The  father  of  these  cliildren  was  a 
member  of  the  Quaker  church  and  was  known  for  his  sterhng  quahties.  bemg 
an  outspoken  advocate  of  morahty  and  honesty  in  every  form  and  a  devoted 
Christian.  He  was  kind  to  his  family  and  always  looked  to  their  interests. 
He  reached  the  ver>-  ripe  age  of  ninety-three  years.  His  wife  died  about 
1 89;  and  thev  are  buried  in  the  family  cemetery  in  Hendricks  county. 

"[Matthias  Masten  spent  his  boyhood  days  on  the  home  farm  and  attended 
the  public  schools  of  his  day,  his  teachers  being  paid  by  subscription,  holding 
their  sessions  in  the  proverbial  log  cabin,  equipped  with  rude  furnisliings. 
When  a  voung  man  he  volunteered  his  services  to  the  Union  and  entered 
the  armv.'  enlisting  in  Company  H,  Fifty-fifth  Regiment  Indiana  Volunteer 
Infantr)'.  later  serving  in  the  One  Hundred  and  Seventeenth  Regiment,  under 
Colonel  Brady.  After  one  year's  service  he  was  honorably  discharged,  Feb- 
ruan,'  15,  1864. 

Mr.  Masten  was  married  on  February  15.  1S65,  to  Xancy  Elmore,  a 
native  of  Putnam  county,  daughter  of  Willis  Elmore,  also  a  native  of  this 
count V.  Thev  began  their  married  life  in  Hendricks  county  on  a  rented 
farm;  he  was  assisted  by  his  father,  and  in  a  short  time  removed  to  this 
county  and  bought  a  farm  of  eighty  acres,  which  he  disposed  of  in  time  and 
bought  and  sold  a  number  of  places,  finally  locating  in  Goverdale  township, 
where  he  has  since  made  his  home  and  has  been  rewarded  by  a  reasonable 
measure  of  success. 

:\Ir.  Masten  is  an  ordained  minister  of  the  old-school  Baptist  church, 
and  he  has  devoted  a  portion  of  his  time  to  this  calling  for  many  years,  doing 
a  great  deal  of  good  in  various  ways.  He  is  a  quiet,  unassuming  man  and 
he  has  the  confidence  and  respect  of  all.  Politically  he  is  a  Republican,  but 
not  necessarily  a  partisan,  always  desiring  to  see  the  best  man  .possible  in 
public  office. 

To  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Masten  eight  children  have  been  born,  named  as  fol- 
lows :  Ida.  now  ^Irs.  Scott  Allee.  was  born  March  30,  1866.  and  they  are 
tlie  parents  of  three  children,  Laura.  Raymond  and  Nannie,  the  last  named 
being  deceased:  this  familv  lives  in  Putnam  county.  Alfred  Masten  was 
born  August  6.  1871.  and  died  .\ugust  15.  1872.  Oscar,  born  October  6. 
1873.  married  Cora  Sears,  and  they  have  one  child.  Mary  Louise,  and  are 
living  in  this  countv;  Reuben  W..  born  March  26.  1880.  married  Minnie  But- 
ler, and  thev  have  four  children.  Zella.  Ruth.  Reba  and  Walter  Monroe;  they 
reside  in  this  countv.  Emma,  born  December  14.  1881.  married  Thomas 
Tern-,  and  thev  have  two  children.  Gladys  Marie  and  Ella  V. ;  they  live  m 
this  count^•.     Everett,  born  August  6.   1884.  married  Iva  Lewis,   who  has 


426  weik's  history  of 

borne  him  three  children,  Lee,  Thelma  Earnestine  and  Lucille,  the  latter 
being  deceased.  Ella,  born  August  19,  1889,  received  a  common  school  edu- 
cation and  is  living  at  home.  Fred  B.,  born  July  17,  1869,  married  Mollie 
Mathews,  and  they  are  the  parents  of  seven  children.  Jewel,  Mamie,  Hallie, 
Frank  T.,  Kenneth,  Piercv  and  Robert  \V. 


RUSSELL  E.  MARTL\. 

This  enterprising  farmer  and  public  spirited  citizen  is  a  native  of  Put- 
nam countv,  Indiana,  and  a  representative  of  one  of  the  oldest  and  best  known 
families  of  south  central  Indiana.  Ethelred  Martin,  his  grandfather,  the  son 
of  a  Methodist  minister,  was  bom  in  the  eastern  part  of  North  Carolina,  but 
in  an  early  dav  moved  to  Putnam  county,  Indiana,  settling  about  1826  near 
the  present  site  of  Cloverdale.  where  he  spent  the  remainder  of  his  life.  He 
reared  a  family  of  ten  children,  of  whom  Benjamin,  father  of  the  subject  of 
this  review,  was  the  ninth  in  order  of  birth. 

Benjamin  Martin  first  saw  the  light  of  day  in  North  Carolina  in  18 12, 
and  was  about  fourteen  years  old  when  he  accompanied  his  parents  to  the 
wilds  of  what  is  now  one  of  the  best  developed  and  most  prosperous  districts 
of  the  Hoosier  state.  He  assisted  his  father  in  clearing  the  home  farm  m 
Cloverdale  township  and  on  the  27th  day  of  March,  1834,  was  united  in  mar- 
riage with  Miranda  A.  Teal,  eldest  child  of  John  and  Rebecca  (Helms)  Teal. 
This  union  resulted  in  the  birth  of  ten  children,  whose  names  are  as  follows: 
Rebecca  Elizabeth,  whose  first  husband  was  a  'Sir.  Inge,  by  whom  she  had 
two  sons  and  one  daughter;  after  the  death  of  ^Ir.  Inge  she  became  the  wife 
of  Vincent  Dent  and  moved  near  Mill  Grove,  Owen  county,  where  she  after- 
wards died,  leaving  a  son  by  the  name  of  James  Dent.  Henry  Martin,  the 
second  in  order  of  birth,  moved  to  Iowa  a  number  of  years  ago  and  is  still 
living  near  Bedford,  that  state.  Mary  Jane,  the  third  of  the  family,  mar- 
ried John  Van  Horn,  who  died  while  serving  the  country  as  color  bearer  in 
the  late  Civil  war;  some  time  afterwards  she  married  Abraham  Haddon, 
with  whom  she  still  lives  near  Mound  City,  Missouri ;  Hancy  N.  Alartin, 
widow  of  Alonzo  Sackett,  lives  southeast  of  Cloverdale,  where  her  husband's 
death  occurred  in  the  year  1905;  she  has  three  daughters  and  one  son,  the 
latter,  William  Sackett.  a  well  known  business  man  of  Greencastle.  John  R. 
Martin,  the  next  in  succession,  served  three  years  in  the  late  war  and  was 
killed  in  battle  only  a  short  time  before  the  expiration  of  his  period  of  enlist- 


PLT.VAM     COUNTY.    IXDIAXA.  427 

meat;  he  was  a  young  man  of  high  standing,  a  favorite  with  his  comrades 
and  friends  and  his  untimely  death  was  lamented  by  all  who  knew  him. 
Emily,  the  sixth  in  order  of  birth,  married  John  Mercer  and  lives  in  De- 
fiance. Ohio.  Aradena,  wife  of  William  H.  Duncan,  departed  this  life  in 
Putnam  county,  leaving  a  husband  and  nine  children  to  mourn  her  loss. 
Russell  E.,  the  subject  of  this  sketch,  is  the  ninth  of  the  family,  the  youngest 
being  Minerva,  who  died  when  but  sixteen  months  old.  Benjamin  Martin, 
the  father  of  this  large  and  interesting  family,  died  in  the  year  1855,  and 
subsecjuently,  March  7.  1867.  his  widow  became  the  wife  of  Henry  DeVore. 
Shortly  after  the  latter  year,  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Devore  moved  to  Owen  county, 
near  ^lill  Grove,  where  the  husband  departed  this  life  on  the  i6th  day  of 
January,  1885.  following  which  his  widow  returned  to  Cloverdale.  where  she 
still  resides.  Although  ninety-four  years  old,  Mrs.  DeVore  is  still  quite 
active  and  for  one  of  such  advanced  age  retains  to  a  marked  degree  her  men- 
tal faculties.  She  possessed  a  keen,  retentive  memory,  recalls  many  scenes 
and  incidents  of  her  long  and  strenuous  life  and  nothing  afYords  her  greater 
pleasure  than  recounting  her  experiences  during  the  early  times  in  the  set- 
tlement of  Putnam  county.  Born  on  the  site  of  Knoxville.  Tennessee,  in 
18 1 5.  she  was  brought  to  Indiana  by  her  parents  three  years  later  and  spent 
her  childhood  and  youth  at  the  Lower  Falls  in  the  northern  part  of  Owen 
county,  where  her  father,  John  Teal,  entered  land  and  improved  a  farm. 
The  Teals  were  among  the  earliest  families  to  settle  on  Eel  river  and  they 
figured  conspicuously  in  the  development  of  the  section  of  country  in  which 
they  located.  Two  of  the  children  of  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Teal  were  born  in  Ten- 
nessee, and  after  moving  to  Indiana  they  had  two  others,  all  of  whom  grew  to 
maturity  on  the  home  farm  in  Owen  county,  the  father  dying  there  in  the  year 
1824.  Mrs.  DeVore  states  that  for  a  number  of  years  their  nearest  neigh- 
bors were  Indians,  between  whom  and  the  family  cordial  relations  alwavs  pre- 
vailed. The  dense  forests  near  the  cabin  were  infested  with  bear,  wolves 
and  panthers  and  other  animals,  while  deer  were  so  numerous  that  little  diffi- 
culty was  experienced  in  keeping  the  larder  well  supplied  with  the  choicest 
meat.  Settlers  were  few  and  far  between,  the  nearest  white  neighbor  at  the 
time  of  Mr.  Teal's  death  being  seven  miles  distant. 

When  eleven  years  old  Miranda  Teal  (Mrs.  DeVore)  started  to  school 
in  Greencastle.  between  which  place  and  her  home,  a  distance  of  several  miles, 
she  passed  but  two  cabins,  the  present  flourishing  city  at  that  time  being  a 
mere  backwoods  hamlet  of  from  twelve  to  fourteen  small  houses.  The 
school  which  she  attended  was  taught  in  a  primitive  structure  made  of  round 
logs,   containing   a   Iiuge   fireplace,    the    windows   being   fitted    with    greased 


428  weik's  history  of 

paper  in  lieu  of  glass,  while  the  seats  and  desks  were  made  of  unplaned 
boards  and  were  rough  and  uncomfortable  in  all  the  term  implies.  Mrs. 
Devore  further  states  that  while  attending  this  school  she  assisted  her  mother 
of  morning  and  evenings  with  the  work  of  the  household  and  studied  lessons 
at  night  bv  the  light  from  the  fireplace,  there  being  no  lamp  in  the  home  and 
the  few  tallow  candles  being  reserved  for  more  important  occasions.  Her 
teacher  the  first  year  was  Hiram  B.  Slavin  and  during  the  other  two  years 
that  she  was  enabled  to  attend  school  she  was  taught  by  one  William  Shields, 
whom  she  holds  in  grateful  remembrance  still.  There  being  no  churches  in 
the  countr\-  at  that  time,  public  worship  was  held  at  intervals  in  the  settlers' 
cabins  by  pioneer  ministers  of  different  churches  who  happened  to  be  passing 
through  the  country.  Among  these  early  preachers  of  the  gospel  was  the 
noted  and  eccentric  Lorenzo  Dow,  whom  Mrs.  Devore  remembers  hearing 
preach  and  whom  her  father  entertained  at  his  home  on  more  than  one  occa- 
sion. Airs.  Devore  has  long  been  a  member  of  the  Methodist  Episcopal 
church,  the  teachings  of  which  have  in  a  large  measure  been  the  controlling 
motives  in  her  long  and  useful  Christian  life. 

After  their  marriage  Mr.  and  iMrs.  Martin  set  up  their  domestic  estab- 
lishment on  eighty  acres  of  wild  land,  three  miles  southeast  of  Cloverdale, 
purchased  with  mone}-  inherited  from  her  father.  In  due  time  the 
land  was  cleared  and  otherwise -improved  and  in  the  course  of  a  few  years 
the  young  couple  had  a  comfortable  home  where  they  reared  their  fam- 
ily and  lived  a  long  and  happy  married  life.  The  fann  is  still  in  the  family 
name,  being  now  owned  and  occupied  by  Russell  E.  Martin,  the  subject  of 
this  sketch. 

Russell  E.  Martin,  to  a  brief  review  of  whose  career  the  residue  of  this 
article  is  devoted,  was  born  in  Putnam  county,  Indiana,  in  the  year  1851, 
having  first  seen  the  light  of  day  on  the  family  homestead  in  the  southern 
part  of  Cloverdale  township  which  his  father  redeemed  from  the  wilderness 
when  the  country  was  new.  Here  he  spent  his  childhood  and  at  the  proper 
age  took  his  place  in  the  fields  where  he  became  familiar  with  the  rugged 
duties  of  farm  life  and  learned  to  place  a  correct  value  upon  the  dignity  of 
honest  toil.  His  father  dying  when  Russell  was  fourteen  years  old,  and  his 
mother  subsequently  remarn.nng,  he  moved  with  the  family  to  Owen  county 
where  he  grew  to  manhood  near  the  village  of  Mill  Grove,  the  meanwhile 
obtaining  a  fair  education  in  the  district  schools.  On  leaving  home,  he  ac- 
cepted the  position  of  brakeman  on  the  railroad  running  from  Indianapolis 
to  Cincinnati,  now  a  part  of  the  Big  Four  or  New  York  Central  system,  in 
which  capacitv  he  continued  for  a  period  of  three  years,  when  he  resigned 


PUTNAM    COUNTY,    INDIANA.  429 

m  order  to  engage  in  agricultural  pursuits.  Before  engaging  with  the  road 
he  had  purchased  forty-six  acres  of  land  which  he  paid  for  out  of  his  wages 
as  brakeman,  in  addition  to  which  he  also  inherited  a  part  of  his  father's 
estate,  the  two  tracts  combined  making  a  fair  sized  farm  and  giving  him  ail 
he  cared  to  do  in  looking  after  its  cultivation.  For  a  time  he  kept  "bachelor's 
hall,"  but  this  not  being  to  his  taste  he  subsequently  took  a  life  partner  in 
the  person  of  ]\Iarv-  F.  Kinney,  to  whom  he  was  united  in  marriage  on  the 
14th  day  of  January.  1878.  Mrs.  Martin's  father,  Lazarus  Kinney,  was  a 
country  merchant  and  her  mother,  Maria  Kinney  (nee  Jackson),  was  closely 
related  to  the  family  from  which  Gen.  Andrew  Jackson,  the  hero  of  Xew 
Orleans  and  the  seventh  President  of  the  United  States,  sprang.  :\[rs.  Mar- 
tm's  paternal  great-grandfather,  Abraham  Kinney,  a  native  of  Ireland,  came 
to  America  when  a  boy  with  his  parents  and  settled  in  Xew  Jersey,  thence  re- 
moved to  Virginia,  where  he  grew  to  manhood  and  married.  He  served  with 
distinction  in  the  war  of  the  Revolution  and  lived  to  see  his  adopted  country 
grow  strong  and  prosperous,  having  reached  the  remarkable  age  of  one  hun- 
dred and  four  years  when  called  to  his  reward.  John  Kinney,  son  of  Abra- 
ham and  grandfather  of  Mrs.  Martin,  was  a  soldier  in  the  war  of  1812  and 
also  served  against  the  Indians  in  Kentucky,  Indiana,  and  elsewhere  on  the 
frontier,  having  been  a  bold  and  fearless  fighter  and  a  true  type  of  the  rugged 
pioneer  of  the  early  times.  Mrs.  ^ilartin's  maternal  ancestors,  the  Jacksons, 
were  also  from  Ireland  and  settled  originally  in  Xorth  Carolina.  Her  im- 
mediate antecedents  came  to  Indiana  Territory-  as  early  as  1800  and  settled 
at  Vincennes  when  the  country  from  the  Great  lakes  to  the  Ohio  river  was  a 
dense  wilderness,  whose  only  inhabitants  were  a  few  predatory  tribes  of  In- 
dians. The  Jacksons  figured  prominently  in  the  history  of  Vincennes  and 
the  lower  Wabash  valley  and  for  many  years  were  actively  identified  with 
the  varied  interests  of  the  state,  doing  much  towards  laying  the  foundation 
of  its  subsequent  prosperity  and  greatness. 

Mrs.  Martin  was  born  in  Mooresville,  :\rorgan  county,  where  her  par- 
ents had  a  verj-  good  home  and  stood  high  in  the  confidence  and  esteem  of  the 
people.  Her  brother,  Horace  Kinney,  a  prominent  business  man  of  Indian- 
apolis, was  for  a  number  of  years  president  of  the  Board  of  Trade  of  that  citv 
and  at  one  time  was  appointed  by  Goxernor  Mount  a  member  of  the  Trans- 
Mississippi  Commission,  in  which  capacity  he  rendered  signallv  useful  and 
brilliant  service  to  the  state  and  nation. 

After  their  marriage  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Martin  began  life  in  a  modest  wav 
on  the  former's  little  fami,  living  for  some  years  in  a  small  loo-  cabin  and 
doing  much  of  the  hard  work  to  get  a  start  in  the  world.     Later  additional 


430 


WEIK  S    HISTORY    OF 


land  was  purchased  and  a  much  better  house  of  four  rooms  answered  the 
purposes  of  a  dwelling.  In  this  edifice  they  lived  and  prospered  until  about 
the  year  1907,  when  Mr.  Martin  erected  the  present  beautiful  and  comfort-  . 
able  residence  which  all  who  see  it  concede  to  be  one  of  the  most  attractive 
and  desirable  rural  homes  in  the  count}'  of  Putnam.  By  industry  and  ju- 
dicious management  Mr.  Martin  succeeded  in  amassing  a  competency  and 
with  his  good  wife  is  now  enjoying  the  reward  of  their  many  years  of  toil  and 
self  denial,  owning  at  this  time  four  hundred  and  eight  acres  in  various  parts 
of  the  county  and  nearly  all  under  cultivation  and  highly  improved.  As  a 
farmer  he  ranks  among  the  most  successful  in  his  part  of  the  state. 

Mr.  and  Mrs.  Martin  have  had  three  children,  Julius  Edgar,  who  died 
at  the  age  of  two  and  one-half  years ;  Guy  Kinney  and  Bessie.  Guy  married 
Nellie  Sandy,  daughter  of  James  Sandy,  and  lives  near  the  home  place,  in 
the  cultivation  of  which  he  has  an  interest.  They  have  two  children,  Russell 
Sandv  and  Mary  Catharine.  Bessie,  the  youngest  of  the  subject's  children, 
is  the  wife  of  Forest  Steel,  living  on  a  farm  in  Owen  county. 

Fraternally  Mr.  Martin  is  a  member  of  the  Independent  Order  of  Odd 
Fellows  of  Cloverdale.  and  Mrs.  Martin  belongs  to  the  Christian  church. 
Their  home  is  the  abode  of  a  genuine  hospitality  which  the  host  and  hostess 
know  how  to  dispense  and  all  who  cross  their  threshold  are  assured  of  an 
old-fashioned  Hoosier  welcome.  Both  husband  and  wife  move  in  the  best 
social  circles  of  the  community  and  are  highly  esteemed  by  all  with  whom 
thev  come  into  contact. 


•     JOHN  H.  HAMILTON. 

The  careers  of  such  men  as  J.  H.  Hamilton  may  not  necessarily  be  such 
as  to  gain  them  wide  reputation  or  the  admiring  plaudits  of  men.  but  they 
are  nevertheless  influential  and  deserving  of  a  place  in  their  locality's  history, 
because  thev  have  been  true  to  whatever  trusts  that  have  been  reposed  in  them, 
and  have  shown  such  attributes  of  character  as  entitled  them  to  the  regard 
of  all  and  have  been  useful  in  their  respective  spheres  of  action.  Mr.  Hamil- 
ton seems  to  have  won  and  retained  the  universal  esteem  of  all  with  whom  he 
has  come  into  contact  as  a  result  of  his  industrious  and  upright  career,  being 
well  known  throughout  Putnam  county.  His  birth  occurred  in  Adams 
county,  Ohio.  March  19.  1849.  His  father  was  Christian  C.  Hamilton,  who 
was  also  bom  in  Adams  county,  Ohio,  where  he  grew  to  manhood  and  was 
educated.     In  the  earlv  fifties  he  migrated  to  Coles  county,  Illinois,  stopping 


PUTXAM    COUNTY,    INDIANA.  43I 

one  year  in  Montgomery  county,  Indiana,  and  there  his  son  J.  H.,  of  this  re- 
view, attended  his  first  school,  at  Sugar  Grove,  just  over  the  Hne  in  Tippe- 
canoe county.  C.  C.  Hamihon  devoted  his  Hfe  to  farming  and  he  was  suc- 
cessful wherever  he  went.  In  1869  he  moved  to  Kansas,  where  the  family 
lived  for  about  twenty  years.  In  1888  he  and  his  son  came  to  Greencastle, 
Indiana,  locating  soon  afterwards  on  a  farm  northeast  of  town.  There  the 
father  died  in  1895.  He  was  a  highly  respected  man  and  always  honest. 
He  married  Julia  Wilson,  of  Adams  county,  Ohio,  where  her  people  still 
reside,  the  family  being  an  old  and  well  established  one  there.  Mrs.  Hamil- 
ton passed  to  her  rest  in  1S61.  There  were  nine  children  in  Mr.  and  Mrs.  C. 
C.  Hamilton's  family,  five  of  them  living  at  this  writing,  namely:  Mrs.  Sarah 
Jones  lives  in  .\dams  county,  Ohio;  Lewis,  who  now  lives  in  Oklahoma,  was 
a  soldier  in  the  Sixtieth  Regiment  Illinois  Volunteer  Infantr\-  during  the 
Civil  war:  J.  H..  of  this  review;  Mrs.  Eliza  Pine  lives  in  Oklahoma,  as  does 
also  the  youngest  child,  Mrs.  Nancy  Little.  J.  W.,  the  eldest,  died  in  1902. 
He  was  a  soldier  in  the  Fifteenth  Indiana  Volunteer  Infantry. 

John  H.  Hamilton  was  educated  in  the  common  schools  of  Illinois  and 
Kansas.  When  twenty  years  of  age  he  went  west  with  his  parents  and  from 
1S69  to  1882  herded  cattle,  living  the  life  of  a  cowboy  in  the  Indian  Terri- 
ton.-.  where  he  laid  up  a  good  stock  of  health  and  strength,  which  has  stood 
him  in  "good  hand"  during  his  later  life.  He  had  many  thrilling  experiences 
during  that  epoch  in  his  history.  In  1882  he  moved  to  Hunnewell,  Kansas, 
and  successfully  conducted  a  general  store  there  until  1888.  He  was  influ- 
ential in  all  the  afYairs  of  that  place  and  very  ably  served  as  mayor  for  three 
terms,  the  last  time  having  been  elected  unanimously,  receiving  every  vote 
cast.  This  is  certainly  evidence  of  his  high  standing  in  that  place  and  of  his 
former  record  as  a  public  servant — clean,  praiseworthy  and  entirely  satis- 
facton,-.  In  1888  Mr.  Hamilton  returned  to  Greencastle.  Indiana,  soon  after- 
wards locating  on  a  farm  near  here,  where  he  remained  until  four  years  ago, 
his  fine  farm  lying  about  ten  miles  northeast  of  town.  In  1905  he  moved  to 
Greencastle  and  engaged  in  the  liardware  business,  buying  the  stock  of  Theo- 
dore Lane. 

Mr.  Hamilton  was  married  in  1886  to  Jessie  Crow,  who  was  bom  and 
reared  in  Putnam  county,  three  miles  northeast  of  Greencastle.  She  was  the 
daughter  of  Edward  and  Desiah  (Waterhouse)  Crow,  early  settlers  of  Put- 
nam county.  Her  father  was  a  native  of  Kentucky,  from  which  state  he 
came  to  Putnam  county,  Indiana,  when  a  boy.  ^Irs.  Crow  is  a  native  of 
IMaine.  being  a  descendant  of  a  distinguished  familv. 


4P 


VVEIK  S    HISTORY    OF 


V'erv  little  is  known  of  the  early  history  of  the  Hamilton  family.  Three 
brothers  left  South  Carolina  in  the  early  days,  one  of  them  settling  in  Ken- 
tucky, one  in  Ohio  and  one  in  Indiana.  The  immediate  family  of  which  we 
now  write  descended  from  the  gentleman  who  settled  in  Ohio.  James  Hamil- 
ton, a  deceased  brother  of  J.  H.,  was  at  one  time  state  treasurer  of  Kansas; 
he  was  in  the  Fifteenth  Regiment  Indiana  Volunteer  Infantry. 

To  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Hamilton  three  children  have  been  born,  named  as 
follows:  Desiah  is  a  senior  in  DePauw  University,  and  will  graduate  with 
the  class  of  1910;  Robert  is  an  employe  of  Belnap  Hardware  Company  of 
Louisville.  Kentucky ;  Julia  is  attending  the  public  schools. 

Mr.  and  Mrs.  Hamilton  and  their  two  oldest  children  are  members  of  the 
College  Avenue  Methodist  Episcopal  church.  Fraternally  Mr.  Hamilton  is 
a  Mason,  holding  membership  in  the  blue  lodge  at  Fillmore,  Putnam  county. 
He  also  belongs  to  the  Easte'rn  Star.  Politically  he  is  a  Republican  and  never 
loses  a  chance  to  a.ssist  in  furthering  the  interest  of  his  party. 


OSCAR  WESLEY  ELLIS. 

It  is  not  onlv  pleasant  but  profitable  as  well  to  study  the  life  history  of 
such  a  worthy  gentleman  as  he  whose  name  forms  the  heading  of  this  review, 
for  in  it  we  find  evidence  of  traits  of  character  that  can  not  help  but  make  for 
success  in  the  life  of  any  one  who  directs  his  efforts,  as  he  has  done,  along 
proper  paths  with  persistency  and  untiring  zeal,  toward  a  worthy  goal,  and, 
having  had  as  his  close  companion  through  life  upright  principles,  these 
worthv  traits  of  character  have  resulted,  as  we  shall  see.  in  ultimate  triumph. 

Oscar  Weslev  Ellis  hails  from  the  Old  Dominion,  but  the  major  part 
of  his  long,  active  and  useful  life  has  been  spent  within  the  borders  of  Put- 
nam countv.  He  was  born  in  Alexandria  county.  Virginia.  June  16.  183 1.  the 
son  of  John  Wesley  and  Sarah  E.'  (Ching)  Ellis,  the  father  the  son  of  John 
Wesley  Ellis  and  he  was  born  in  Culpeper  county.  Virginia,  of  parents  who 
emigrated  from  England,  being  English  on  his  patemal  side  and  Scotch  on 
his  maternal  side.  He  devoted  his  life  to  farming  and  both  he  and  his  wife 
died  about  1838.  The  father  of  the  subject  was  born  November  15.  1801, 
spent  his  earlv  years  on  the  home  farm  with  his  parents,  receiving  a  meager 
education  in  the  pioneer  schools,  and  when  he  reached  maturity  he  married 
Mary  E.  Ching,  daughter  of  Thomas  and  Grace  Ching.  who  came  from 
England  to  America  in   1828.  settling  in  Virginia.     Thomas  Ching  died  in 


PUTNAM    COUNTY,    INDIANA.  433 

October,  1S38,  his  widow  surviving  until  March  7,  1856,  dying  in  Baltimore, 
Maryland. 

The  father  of  the  subject  married  in  1828  and  spent  the  first  foui 
years  of  his  married  life  in  his  native  locality,  coming,  in  1832.  to  Carlisle, 
Hadden  township,  Sullivan  county,  Indiana,  arriving  there  with  practically 
nothing,  only  a  few  household  goods  and  nine  dollars  in  monev,  having 
made  the  long,  tiresome  journey  overland  in  an  old-tashioned  wagon,  the 
wheels  of  which  he  was  compelled  to  lock  in  crossing  the  declines  of  the 
mountains.  But  he  was  a  hardy  son  of  the  soil  and  not  being  of  a  nature  that 
gives  in  under  hardships  he  set  to  work  with  a  will  and  soon  had  a  foothold 
sisting  of  thirteen  children,  nine  of  whom  are  still  living,  namely:  Oscar  \V., 
of  this  review;  Mary,  wife  of  Frank  Jean,  of  Los  Angeles,  California:  F. 
in  the  new  country,  developing  a  good  farm  and  rearing  a  large  family,  con- 
Orlando,  of  Sullivan  county;  Anna  ]\I.,  wife  of  George  Riggs  of  Nebraska: 
Virginia,  wife  of  Robert  McCormick,  of  Missouri;  Robert  lives  in  California; 
Eldridge  R.  lives  in  Coatsville,  Indiana:  ^lelvin  lives  in  Carlisle,  Indiana; 
Olivia  is  the  wife  of  George  Warner,  of  Carlisle,  Indiana. 

The  father  of  these  children  was  a  Democrat  politically,  and  he  took  con- 
siderable interest  in  party  affairs,  having  been  one  of  the  first  county  oft'icers 
of  Sullivan  county,  having  been  overseer  of  the  poor  and  township  trustee 
for  years.  He  was  an  influential  man  in  his  community  and  highly  re- 
spected by  all  who  knew  him.  His  death  occurred  in  1870  and  his  was  the 
largest  funeral  e\er  held  in  Sullivan  county,  for  all  classes  sought  to  reverence 
his  memory  and  do  him  proper  honor,  for  he  had  done  much  for  his  locality 
in  many  ways,  hax'ing  been  a  very  liberal  man  and  kind  to  all.  Religiously 
he  was  a  Methodist  and  faithful  in  his  church  duties.  His  estate  was  valued 
at  twenty  thousand  dollars ;  considering  the  fact  that  he  started  with  nothing 
and  also  that  the  conditions  in  Sullivan  county  were  none  too  encouraging  for 
the  accumulation  of  wealth  during  his  life  time,  his  success  was  remarkable. 
^Irs.  J.  W.  Ellis  died  November  15,  1852:  she.  too,  was  a  most  excellent 
character. 

Oscar  W.  Ellis  was  reared  on  the  home  farm  in  Sullivan  county,  and  re- 
ceived a  fairlv  good  education  in  the  common  schools.  He  removed  to  Put- 
nam county.  January-  11.  1S61.  and  started  a  dairy  east  of  Greencastle.  which 
business  he  conducted  successfully  for  a  period  of  seven  years:  he  then  bought 
eightv  acres  of  excellent  land,  in  186S.  and  has  operated  the  same  ever  since, 
making  it  yieUl  alnmdant  crops  from  year  to  year,  and  here  he  has  a  cozy 
home. 

(28) 


434 


WEIK  S    HISTORY    OF 


;Mr.  Ellis  is  a  Democrat,  but  does  not  take  any  great  interest  in  political 
matters.  He  was  converted  to  the  Christian  religion  at  a  camp  meeting  near 
Lebanon,  this  state,  in  1844.  and  his  lite  has  been  an  exemplary  one. 

On  January  7.  1858.  Air.  Ellis  married  Sarah  E.  Buck,  daughter  of 
William  and  Pharzina  Buck.  Her  father  was  born  in  England.  February  4, 
1S08.  and  he  came  to  America  early  in  lite  and  was  married  in  1831  to 
Pharzina  Ruttman.  They  came  to  Vigo  county,  Indiana,  in  1836.  and  later 
moved  to  Greene  county.  William  Buck  died  October  3,  1899.  his  wife  having 
preceded  him  to  the  grave  on  September  19.  1888.  They  were  members  of 
the  Methodist  church,  and  Mr.  Buck  was  a  Republican.  Si.x  children  were 
born  to  them,  all  of  whom  grew  to  maturity,  namely:  Pharzina.  wife  of 
0.scar  \\".  Ellis  of  this  review;  Mary,  wife  of  Robert  Crawford,  of  Nebraska; 
TdIui  W.  is  a  retired  Methodist  minister  and  lives  at  Linton.  Indiana;  Susan 
is  the  wife  of  Ephraim  Herrald.  of  Wortliington.  Indiana:  the  other  two  were 
Isaac  \'..  deceased,  who  lived  at  Sullivan.  Indiana,  and  Easter  .Ann.  decea.sed. 
who  was  the  wife  of  David  L.  Osborn,  of  Linton.  Indiana. 

Mr.  antl  Mrs.  Ellis  reared  five  children  to  maturity,  namely:  Pharzina  is 
the  wife  of  lohn  Kellar,  of  Greencastle;  William  is  now  living  on  a  farm  in 
Mill  Creek  township,  this  county;  Mary  is  the  wife  of  Albert  Landes,  of 
Greencastle;  Edward  is  now  in  the  West:  the  other  child  was  Hattie,  deceased, 
who  married  Weslev  Oliver,  a  farmer,  of  Putnam  county.  Orlando  and 
David  died  in  childhood. 


JOHX  H.  COLLIXGS. 

Among  the  well-remembered  citizens  of  Putnam  count}-  who  have  fin- 
ished their  labors  and  gone  to  their  reward,  the  name  of  John  H.  Collings. 
late  of  Clinton  township,  is  deserving  of  especial  notice.  He  was  one  of  those 
sterling  veomen.  whose  labors  and  self-sacrifice  made  possible  the  advanced 
state  of  civilization  and  enlightenment  for  which  this  section  of  the  great 
commonwealth  of  Indiana  is  noted.  His  birth  occurred  May  7.  1840.  three- 
fourths  of  a  inile  from  his  late  home  in  Clinton  township,  this  county,  and 
after  a  useful  and  honorable  career  he  was  called  to  his  reward  Xo\-ember  15. 
1903.  He  was  the  son  of  James  and  Sally  (Newgent)  Collings.  the  latter 
the  daughter  of  Thomas  Xewgent.  whose  sketch  in  full  appears  elsewhere 
in  this  book.  The  X'ewgents  have  long  been  a  well-known  family  in  this 
countv.  lames  Collings  was  born  in  Shelby  county.  Kentucky,  and  he  and 
his  bride  were  married  in    1837  in  the  home  of  Edward  Xewgent.  who  had 


PUTNAM    COUNTY.    INDIANA.  435 

built  the  home  in  1830.  and  with  whom  she  was  hving.  Edward  lived  for  a 
time  in  Parke  county.  Indiana,  remaining  on  the  fann  until  he  was  about 
thirteen  years  old.  James  Collings.  who  built  the  present  home  of  the  Col- 
lingses.  died  SepteniJjer  2.  1S58.  He  was  born  Xovember  2.  18 15.  He  and 
his  wife  were  the  parents  of  four  children. 

In  the  Collings  family  there  were  the  following  children  :  John  H..  of  this 
re\iew ;  William  Thomas  married  and  went  to  Illinois  in  the  seventies  and 
died  in  X'ermillion  county,  that  state,  at  the  age  of  thirty-eight  years.  Xancy 
married  John  M.  Turner  and  lived  in  Parke  county.  Indiana;  she  was  born 
December  25,  1845.  ^^'^s  married  December  28.  1867.  and  died  December 
27,  [889.  Edna  was  the  }-oungest  child.  She  has  passed  her  life  on  the  place 
wliere  she  was  born  and  in  which  vicinity  she  is  well  known  and  has  a  host 
of  warm  pers(inal  friends. 

John  H.  Collings  spent  his  life  on  the  home  farm,  which  he  began  work- 
ing when  a  mere  lad.  attending  the  common  schools  during  the  winter  months. 
He  was  an  excellent  student  and  a  great  reader  all  his  life,  keeping  well 
abreast  of  the  times  in  every  way.  He  was  quick  to  adapt  himself  to  anv  line 
of  work  and  was  fairly  successful  at  whatever  he  undertook.  His  views  on 
religious  matters  were  in  accord  with  those  promulgated  by  the  "Hard  Shell" 
Baptists.  Politically  he  was  a  Democrat,  but  was  no  politician.  He  de- 
lighted in  perusing  the  best  literature  of  the  world  and  was  an  instructive  and 
entertaining  conversationalist.  He  had  a  well  selected  and  valuable  library 
where  he  spent  a  great  deal  of  his  time.  He  was  a  pleasant  man  to  meet,  gen- 
tlemanly, forceful,  kind  and  a  man  who  at  once  impressed  the  stranger  with 
his  weight  of  character  and  his  mental  endowments,  yet  he  was  plain  and  un- 
assuming. 


DRS.  GEORCE  \V.  .\XD  M.\RY  J.  T.WLOR. 

Dr.  George  \\'ashingt(Mi  Taylor,  a  homeopathic  physician,  his  wife, 
Mary  Jane  Lynn  Taylor,  and  their  daughter.  Minnetta  Theodora  Taylor, 
came  to  Greencastle  from  Crawfordsville,  Indiana,  September  5,  1879.  They 
had  Ijeen  only  a  short  time  in  Crawfordsville.  having  removed  there  from 
their  home  in  Rosetta.  Illinois,  where  they  had  resided  since  the  close  of 
the  Civil  war.  The  parents  joined  their  sons,  who  were  physicians  at 
Crawfordsville:  but  thev  found  that  Greencastle  would  be  more  satisfactory 
for  the  education  of  their  daughter  and  they  removed  thither,  intending 
to  remain  only  a  few  years.     They  grew  so  much  attached  to  the  place  that 


436 


WEIK  S    HISTORY    OF 


thev  made  it  a  permanent  residence  and  built  their  home  on  West  Walnut 
street  in  1884.  The  family  were  all  born  in  Virginia  except  the  daughter, 
who  was  born  in  Illinois.  They  were  residents  of  Lexington,  in  the  valley 
of  Virginia,  noted  for  Washington  and  Lee  University,  which  now  contains 
the  tomb  of  Robert  E.  Lee,  and  for  the  Virginia  Militaiy  Institute.  At  one 
time  during  their  residence  in  Lexington,  "Stonewall"  Jackson  was  profes- 
sor of  military  science  in  the  institute,  and  taught  in  the  Presbyterian  Sun- 
day school.  White  Sulphur  Springs,  the  famous  watering  place,  was  not 
far  away  and  attracted  most  of  the  eminent  people  of  that  and  the  preceding 
generation,  among  them  Jerome  Bonaparte,  afterward  King  of  Westphalia, 
who  left  many  interesting  souvenirs  of  Napoleon. 

Dr.  George  W.  Taylor  was  born  in  Lewisburg,  Greenbrier  county,  Vir- 
o-inia,  May  ^.  1821.  His  family  was  English  on  both  sides  and  had  been 
in  Virginia  since  1635.  The  head  of  the  English  family  was  the  Norman 
Baron  Taillefer  (meaning  sharp  sword),  who  came  over  with  William  the 
Conqueror  and  was  one  of  the  commanders  at  the  battle  of  Hastings.  The 
Saxons  spelled  the  name  Taelesfer,  and  some  of  the  English  relatives  are 
now  named  Telfair  instead  of  Taylor,  following  the  spelling  of  the  name 
rather  than  the  sound.  The  family  coat  of  arms  is  conspicuous  for  its 
stars ;  the  motto  is  "Consequitur  quo  petit,"  "He  achieves  because  he  strives." 
The  crest  was  a  mailed  arm  brandishing  a  sword.  The  founder  of  the 
Virginia  family.  James  Taylor,  left  Kent  in  1635,  at  the  age  of  twenty,  on 
account  of  the  religious  persecutions  beginning  under  Charles  I.  He  opposed 
his  family,  including  the  Earl  of  Pennington,  in  criticising  the  king;  and  he 
souo-ht  a  freer  country,  retaining,  however,  the  low  church  form  of  the 
Episcopalian  creed.  He  settled  in  Caroline  county.  Virginia.  Here  he  mar- 
ried Frances  Washington,  of  an  English  family  of  similar  standing  and  relig- 
ious belief  to  his  own,  ancestors  of  George  Washington.  Among  the  prom- 
inent descendants  of  the  Taylors  were:  On  the  distaff  side,  President  James 
^ladison;  George  Tavlor,  who  had  ten  sons  in  the  Revolutionary  war,  includ- 
ino-  the  famous  Col.  Richard  Taylor,  who  conquered  and  dispersed  the  Chero- 
kees,  who  were  hired  by  the  British  to  kill  and  scalp  the  families  along  the 
Virginia  highland  frontier:  Zachary  Taylor,  who  married  Elizabeth  Lee.  of 
Ditchley.  daughter  of  Col.  Richard  Henry  Lee,  of  Revolutionary  fame, 
ancestor  of  most  of  the  Virginia  Lees  and  cousin  of  Light  Horse  Harn.-,  the 
father  of  Robert  E.  Lee;  Elizabeth  Taylor,  who  married  the  uncle  of  the 
Duke  of  Argyll  and  was  a  noted  philanthropist  both  in  this  country  and  Scot- 
land, achieving  many  reforms  in  the  housing  and  general  condition  of  the 
Scotch  crofters:  Rear  Admiral  Samuel  Taylor,  of  the  war  of  1812;  Zachary 


PUTNAM    COUNTY.    INDIANA.  437 

Taylor,  famous  Indian  fighter,  commander-in-chief  in  our  war  against  Mex- 
ico and  President  of  the  United  States;  Gen.  Richard  Taylor,  commanding 
tne  army  of  the  Department  of  Alabama  during  the  Civil  war;  many  other 
Confederate  officers;  Father  Taylor,  as  he  was  called,  the  noted  preacher  in 
the  Seamen's  church  in  Boston.  Dr.  George  Washington  Taylor's  parents 
were  James  Taylor  and  Susannah  Burwell.  His  paternal  grandparents  were 
Augustine  Taylor  and  Mary  Martha  Washington,  another  Washington  inter- 
marriage. 

As  a  boy.  Doctor  Taylor  was  veiy  fond  of  hearing  of  Indian  fights, 
particularly  of  the  exploits  of  a  relative,  Louis  Wetzel.  At  the  age  of  nine 
he  resolved  to  fight  Indians  too,  and  set  out  along  the  road  west  of  his  father's 
house.  When  two  or  three  miles  away,  he  met  with  unexpected  success  in 
discovering  his  antagonists.  A  party  of  Indians  going  to  interview  the 
Great  Father  at  Washington  were  riding  along  under  the  command  of  a 
most  terrible  looking  chief.  They  stopped  the  child,  the  chief  remarking, 
"Boy  make  good  Indian."  The  chief  asked  his  name  and  where  he  lived. 
On  hearing  the  name,  he  scowled  and  said  "Louis  Wetzel  ?*"  The  boy  nodded 
and  the  chief  made  a  motion  as  if  he  would  scalp  him,  but  finally  had  him 
put  on  a  pony  which  was  led  until  they  came  in  sight  of  his  father's  house. 
Here  after  consiflerable  argument  among  themsehes  they  put  him  down  in 
the  road  and  left  him,  George  resoh'ing  to  consult  his  father  before  he 
went  out  to  fight  Indians  again. 

After  attending  the  common  schools  of  the  time  and  studying  with  a 
tutor.  ^Ir.  Taylor  studied  medicine  in  the  University  of  Virginia  and  put 
in  his  spare  time  reading  the  works  of  Thomas  Jefferson.  Debating  clubs 
were  popular,  but  it  was  \ery  hard  to  get  any  one  to  take  the  side  of  the 
English  party  on  any  political  question,  the  French  party  commanding  the 
gratitude  of  the  American  patriots  and  the  exercises  generally  began  with 
the  Marseillaise.  Many  of  the  students  were  descendants  of  the  French 
Huguenots,  and  these,  too,  added  to  the  enthusiasm  for  France.  The  science 
of  medicine,  though  very  imperfect  at  that  time,  interested  the  student 
deeply  and  he  made  many  experiments  in  chemistry.  He  left  the  university 
just  before  obtaining  his  degree,  in  order  to  be  married.  On  a  visit  to  Staun- 
ton, some  three  months  before,  he  heard  a  particularly  sweet  voice  singing 
from  the  back  of  a  long  pink  silk  poke  bonnet.  This  made  him  curious  to 
see  the  face :  and  he  presently  decided  to  settle  in  Lexington  without  waiting 
to  complete  the  universitv  course,  a  thing  which  a  physician  could  do  under 
the  medical  laws  of  the  time.  He  married  ^lary  Jane  Lynn,  April  7,  1842, 
and  their  married  life  lasted  sixtv-four  vears. 


438 


WEIK  S    HISTORY    OF 


At  Lexington,  his  three  sons,  Henry  William  Taylor,  Howard  Single- 
ton Taylor  and  John  Newton  Taylor  were  born.  The  approach  of  the  Civil 
war  began  greatly  to  disturb  the  South  and  after  a  while  the  tempest  broke. 
Doctor  Taylor  was  for  a  time  a  surgeon  with  the  army  of  Northern  Vir- 
ginia, but  following  an  attack  of  gastritis  from  the  bad  food,  he  was  com- 
pletely invalided  and  unable  to  return  to  the  field.  When  able  to  sit  up.  he 
followed  his  profession  as  best  he  could;  but  much  of  the  time  he  was  an 
entirely  helpless  sick  man.  Sheridan's  troops  burned  the  valley  and  com- 
pletelv  devastated  it.  and  after  the  surrender  of  the  Southern  army  hope 
was  gone  and  there  remained  only  the  sadness  of  homes  destroyed  anfl  rela- 
tives killed  on  the  battle  fields  or  dying  of  broken  hearts.  Doctor  and  Mrs. 
Taylor  decided  to  go  West.  Traveling  was  difficult.  They  were  in  two 
steamer  accidents  during  their  journey  on  the  Mississippi  river.  One  steamer 
struck  a  snag  at  night  and  went  down,  leaving  them  barely  time  to  save  them- 
selves. Another  was  in  a  race  and  piling  on  great  cpiantities  of  resinous  pines 
in  order  to  beat  the  other  boat,  when  the  boilers  exploded,  killing  and  maim- 
ing many  persons.  Finally  the  family  reached  Rosetta,  Illinois,  and  in  a 
year  or  so  Doctor  Taylor  recovered  his  health  and  resumed  the  practice  of 
medicine,  in  which  he  was  very  successful.  He  Iniilt  a  house  in  Rosetta,  and 
his  daughter.  Minnetta,  was  born  there. 

Two  sons  settled  as  physicians  in  Crawfordsville.  Indiana,  and  a  third 
became  a  lawver  in  Chicago.  Doctor  Taylor  came  to  Indiana  to  be  nearer 
them  and  chose  Greencastle  for  a  home.  His  practice  grew  and  extended 
over  Putnam  and  neighboring  counties.  He  had  preferred  the  homeopathic 
practice  for  some  time  and  was  an  ardent  reader  oi  its  books  and  follower 
of  its  practice.  He  proved  rumex  crispus  and  added  it  to  the  list  of  remedies. 
He  never  lost  a  case  of  typhoid  fever,  though  it  has  always  been  a  prevalent 
disease  in  this  state.  He  had  a  large  charity  list  of  patients  and  a  still 
larger  list  of  honest  poor  who  paid  such  fees  as  the\-  could  easily  spare.  He 
never  refused  to  go 'to  .see  the  sick  because  they  were  poor.  He  was  much 
interested  in  temperance  work  and  was  for  five  years  president  of  the  blue 
ribbon  movement  in  Greencastle,  securing  .several  hundred  memliers.  He  did 
not  become  a  church  member  in  Greencastle.  partly  because  the  Episcopal 
church  had  no  regular  services  and  partly  because  Sunday  was  generally  as 
busv  a  day  with  him  as  any  other.  In  Lexington  he  was  a  member  of  the 
Episcopal  church,  though  he  frecpiently  attended  the  Presbyterian  church 
with  his  wife.  His  principal  characteristics  were  kindness,  dignity,  absolute 
truthfulness  and  honesty.  He  was  greatly  beloved  by  his  family  and  friends. 
He   was   a   tall,   large   man,   l)uilt   much   like   George   Washington.      Doctor 


PUTXAM     COUXTY.    IXDIANA. 


439 


George  Washington  Taylor  died  at  his  home  in  Greencastle.  June  29.  1906, 
of  old  age.     He  was  in  his  eighty-sixth  rear. 

Mary  Jane  L\'nn  was  born  in  Staunton.  Augusta  county,  Virginia,  June 
23,  1S28.  Her  family  was  English  i:)n  the  father's  side  and  Scotch  and 
French  on  the  mother's.  Her  paternal  grandparents  came  from  Yorkshire 
in  1740.  her  grandfather  being  a  Lynn  of  Lynncourt,  and  her  grandmother  a 
Leigh.  Her  maternal  ancestors  had  been  in  Virginia  since  1637,  the  Mc- 
Cunes  coming  direct  from  Edinburgh  to  Augusta  county  during  the  persecu- 
tion of  the  Covenanters  and  the  DeCourcys  and  D'.Aubignes  coming  after  the 
revocation  of  the  Etiict  oi  Xantes  tolerating  the  Huguenots  in  France.  Many 
Scotch  were  still  coming  to  .\merica  in  Mary  Lynn's  childhood  and  her  first 
remembrances  were  of  clan  tartans,  the  pipes,  the  harper,  in  his  plaid  and 
cairngorm  brooch,  the  arms  of  the  Manjuis  of  Montrose  and  the  Presbv- 
terian  church  and  Sunilay.  Seven  McCunes  were  in  the  Lee  Legion  in  the 
Revolutionary  war  and  their  uniforms  and  equipments  were  also  a  source  of 
interest.  She  was  educated  in  the  same  ladies'  school  afterward  conducted 
by  Mrs.  J.  E.  E.  Stuart,  widow  of  the  Confederate  cavaln-  general;  and  on 
completing  the  course  there,  had  a  tutor  in  Latin  and  French  on  the  home 
plantation.  She  married  Dr.  (jeorge  W.  Taylor,  a  physician,  and  thev 
residetl  in  Lexington,  \'irginia,  where  their  sons  were  b(3rn.  Mrs.  Taylor's 
powerful  mind  was  always  full  of  keen  interest  in  all  sorts  of  knowledge  and 
readily  tO(jk  hold  of  medicine.  She  studied  it  with  her  husband  and  reached 
out  l;ey(jnd  the  medical  Ixjoks  of  the  day  into  foreign  essays  and  theories  of 
her  (;w  n.  Most  of  the  last  were  afterwards  confirmed,  for  her  judgment 
was  as  sound  as  her  perception  was  keen.  .\t  this  time  she  was  chiefiv  known 
for  her  loxely  lyric  S(.>prano  voice,  full,  clear  and  ringing,  of  high  range  and 
natural  as  well  as  cidtixated  phrasing.  She  was  first  soprano  in  the  Presby- 
terian clurrches  uf  se'.eral  Southern  towns  and  sang  solos  on  great  occasions 
in  Richmond.  She  retained  much  of  the  splendor  of  her  \'oice  up  to  old 
age  and  her  patients  wnuld  l;eg  her  to  sing.  sa_\'ing  that  soothetl  the  pain 
as  well  as  n;edicine.  She  was  a  fine  converser.  ahva\-s  interesting  her  audience 
and  using  almost  perfect  English. 

After  the  Civil  war.  the  fanuly  remi»\ed  from  the  desolated  South  to 
Rosetta,  Illinois.  Mrs.  Taylor  had  written  poems  of  acknowledged  merit, 
became  a  successful  author  and  wrote  in  (|uick  succession  nine  of  the  most 
popular  no\els  of  the  time  besides  stories  and  poems.  The  no\e!s  were: 
"Casey  Drane,"  "Dixided  Life."  "Looking  Out  Into  the  Xight."  "The  A'ital 
Principle."  "Xiverette,"  "Ochus  the  Idumaean."  "Hole  in  the  Day."  "The 
Master  oi  the  Ri\er."  and  "The  .\ns\ver."  1  he  first  appeared  as  serials  in 
the  X'ew  York  Herald .  the  Xew  \'ork  Lcdijcr.  Leslie's  Chiiuiiev  Corner,  the 


440  WEIK  S    HISTORY    OF 

Philadelphia  Da\-Book.  what  is  now  the  Chicago  Intcr-Ocean,  and  the  St. 
Louis  Republic.  One  of  the  novels  was  reprinted  in  London  in  1882.  Some 
of  the  stories  were  of  the  war,  not  a  popular  subject  at  the  time,  but  the 
dramatic  strength,  power  of  depicting  character,  originality  and  poetic  quality 
of  the  books  carried  them  over  all  obstacles.  The  JVesteni  Magazine  offered 
two  prizes,  one  for  the  best  story  and  the  other  for  the  best  poem.  Mrs. 
Taylor  won  both  prizes.  She  had  letters  of  praise  from  Edgar  Allan  Poe, 
J.  G.  Holland,  the  elder  James  Gordon  Bennett,  Robert  Bonner,  Frank  Les- 
lie. Dr.  Van  Evrie  and  Horace  Greeley,  'Sir.  Greeley's  letters  in  his  famous 
nearly  undecipherable  handwriting.  Mr.  Bonner  was  her  most  generous 
patron,  alwavs  paving  more  than  she  asked  for  her  stories,  in  one  instance, 
twice  as  much. 

The  sons  settled  in  Indiana  and  Doctor  and  Mrs.  Taylor  and  their  little 
daughter  followed.  From  Crawfordsville,  Doctor  and  Sirs.  Taylor  went 
to  Greencastle  to  educate  their  daughter.  Mrs.  Taylor,  who  had  practiced 
medicine  with  her  husband  for  many  years,  was  graduated  from  Pulte  Home- 
opathic College  at  Cincinnati,  and  entered  actively  into  the  life  of  a  physician. 
She  had  a  \erv  large  practice,  extending  from  Putnam  into  Parke,  Hen- 
dricks. Vigo,  Morgan  and  Owen  counties,  besides  calls  to  Indianapolis,  Cin- 
cinnati and  St.  Louis.  She  kept  up  all  her  work  actively  and  with  great  suc- 
cess for  twenty-five  vears  riding  at  any  time  of  the  day  or  night  alone  any 
distance.  Much  of  the  country  was  comparatively  wild  at  first.  Sometimes 
a  fox  pattered  across  her  road  or  a  wolf  slunk  off  in  the  brush.  More  often 
the  thick  woods  reeled  around  her  from  a  storm  and  wind  and  lightning  piled 
the  road  with  giants  of  the  forest ;  or  she  had  a  farmer  ride  horseback  to  find 
the  ford  for  her  in  a  swollen  stream  filled  with  floating  drift  and  running 
over  with  quicksand:  or  she  went  up  and  down  the  corduroy  steps  of  the 
highest  hills  of  Owen :  or  she  laid  down  fences  and  drove  through  fields 
to  avoid  being  mired  in  wholly  impassai^le  roads.  She  ne\'er  turned  back 
and  never  had  a  serious  accident,  though  once  she  was  obliged  to  fish  for  an 
hour  in  a  spring  flood  for  her  medicine  case  before  she  could  go  to  the  rescue 
of  a  patient.  Her  svmpathy  with  the  sick,  her  cheerful  disposition  and  love 
of  nature  helped  her  to  endure  the  monotony  of  life  among  the  ailing  of  town 
and  the  hardships  of  country  practice.  She  rememl^ered  faces  and  names 
wonderfullv  and  knew  the  count}-  genealogies  through  and  through,  includ- 
ing the  familv  characteristics.  For  this  reason  she  had  much  influence  in 
choosing  persons  for  public  service.  Her  information  about  them  was  known 
to  l)e  full  and  accurate,  her  judgment  good  and  her  public  spirit  without 
allov:  so  her  candidates  were  often  indor.sed  by  parties  and  people.  Her 
couraw  was  absolute  and  rather  scornful.     Sometimes  her  friends  would  beg 


puT^^\^[  county,  ixdiaxa.  44^ 

her  to  carry  a  weapon  on  her  long  night  trips.  "For  an  ordinary  criminal?" 
she  would  answer,  "I  should  be  ashamed  of  myself  if  I  could  not  outwit 
three  or  four  of  them."  In  personal  appearance  the  Doctor  was  a  little 
woman,  with  fine,  white  skin,  little  hands,  clean-cut  features  and  eyes  of  a 
most  unusual  clear  light  green,  brilliant  with  decision.  She  was  an  earnest 
Christian,  rather  in  deeds  than  in  \vords.  though  seldom  an  hour  alone 
without  praying.  Her  people  had  always  been  Scottish  Covenanters  and  she 
had  held  her  fir.st  membership  in  the  Tinkling  Spring  Presbyterian  church  in 
the  Shenandoah  valley.  In  Greencastle  she  was  a  mem])er  of  the  Presbyterian 
church  till  the  exactions  of  her  profession  made  it  impossible  for  her  to 
attend. 

Some  years  ago  Dr.  George  \\'.  Taylor  and  she  attended  a  number  of 
patients  through  an  epidemic  of  typhoid  fever  which  attacked  a  country 
neighborhood.  Both  physicians  had  the  distinction  of  having  never  lost  a 
typhoid  fever  case:  and  though  analyses  of  water,  milk  and  food  failed  to 
show  the  cause  of  the  fever,  which  was  uncommonly  virulent,  they  labored 
faithfully  with  it  and  cured  all  the  patients.  Then  both  took  the  fever  at 
the  same  time  and  on  account  of  their  age  it  was  thought  they  could  not 
recover.  After  some  weeks  both  were  up  again,  but  they  were  never  strong 
afterward.  They  kept  up  their  othce  practice,  however,  and  were  busy  send- 
ing away  medicine  until  shortly  before  their  death.  Dr.  Mary  Taylor  died 
December  i8,  1909.  She  is  survived  by  two  sons  and  a  daughter:  Hon. 
Howard  S.  Taylor,  of  Chicago;  Dr.  John  X.  Taylor,  of  Crawfordsville ; 
Miss  Minnetta  T.  Taylor,  of  Greencastle.  Dr.  George  W.  Taylor,  her  hus- 
band, died  June  29,  1906.     Dr.  H.  A\'.  Taylor  died  January  7,   1902. 

>.Iiss  :\[innetta  Taylor  is  the  joint  author  of  six  Spanish-English  text 
books,  her  associate  being  Senor  \'iragua.  of  Xew  York.  She  is  also  a 
regular  contributor  to  the  McClure  syndicate.  She  spent  seven  years  on  the 
lecture  platform,  on  literary  and  sociological  subjects.  She  speaks  forty-five 
languages  and  is  either  an  active  or  honorary  member  of  thirty  clubs,  sev- 
eral of  these  being  foreign  clubs.  She  has  been  president  of  the  State  Federa- 
tion of  Clubs  and  a  member  of  the  literary  committee  i-^f  the  General  Fed- 
eration of  Clubs. 


GEORGE  B.  COFFMAX. 

The  familv  which  the  subject  of  this  sketch  has  the  honor  to  represent 
is  an  old  and  esteemed  one  and  since  the  pioneer  period  has  been  closely 
identified  with  the  historv  of  Putnam  county.     According  to  the  most  reliable 


442 


WEIK  S    HISTORY    OF 


data  olnainable.  William  Coffman.  the  subject's  grandfather,  a  nati-.e  of 
western  Tennessee,  appears  to  have  migrated  to  Indiana  prior  to  1830  and 
entered  land  in  Clay  county.  His  son.  David,  accompanied  him  and  shortly 
after  his  arrival  married  Charlotte  Coltharp,  who,  with  her  widowed  mother, 
two  brothers  and  one  sister,  also  from  eastern  Tennessee,  came  ab.ont  the 
same  time  or  perhaps  a  little  earlier  and  settled  in  northern  Owen  county, 
the  husband  and  father  having  died  while  serving  his  country  in  the  war  of 
1S12.  He  entered  the  army  at  the  beginning  of  that  struggle,  was  with  Gen- 
eral Jackson  at  the  battle  of  Xew  Orleans  and  his  death  a  little  later  occurred 
shortly  before  the  birth  of  his  youngest  daughter,  who  became  the  wife  of 
David  Coffman. 

David  Coffman  was  born  near  the  present  site  of  Knoxville,  Tennessee, 
on  the  2 1  St  of  March,  1809.  and  was  about  twenty-one  years  old  when  he 
accompanied  his  parents  to  Indiana.  Mrs.  Coffman,  whose  birth  occurred 
on  Octoi)er  31,  1814,  came  from  the  same  neighborhood  in  which  her  hus- 
band was  reared  and  was  a  young  lady  in  her  teens  when  the  family  sought 
a  new  home  in  the  wilds  of  Owen  county,  .\fter  their  marriage  ]\Ir.  and 
Mrs.  Coffman  settled  on  a  tract  of  land  in  Owen  county,  which  the  former 
purchased  from  the  government,  but  after  a  brief  residence  and  finding  that 
the  localitv  was  inimical  to  his  heahh  Mr.  Coffman  sold  the  land  and  entered 
two  hundred  and  forty  acres  in  the  western  part  of  what  is  now  Cloverdale 
township  in  the  county  of  Putnam.  Moving  to  the  latter,  he  at  once  ad- 
dressed himself  to  the  task  of  its  impro\-ement  and  in  due  time  his  labors 
were  re\\'arded,  the  farm  Avhich  he  cleared  and  developed  being  among  the 
best  and  most  valuable  in  that  locality.  David  Coft'man  was  not  only  a  man 
of  great  industry  and  energy,  but  possessed  more  than  ordinary  intelligence 
and  business  abilitv.  Bv  well  directerl  and  judicious  management  he  suc- 
ceeded in  adding  to  his  holdings  until  at  one  time  he  was  among  the  largest 
land  owners  of  his  township  as  well  as  one  of  the  most  enterprising  farmers 
and  highly  esteemed  citizens. 

When  David  Coffman  mo\ed  to  Putnam  county  there  was  but  one  family 
living  between  his  place  and  Putnamville,  while  the  population  of  Clover- 
dale  and  the  imme<liate  vicinity  consisted  of  only  four  householders.  He 
assisted  in  the  contraction  of  the  old  National  road  through  this  part  of  the 
state  and  with  the  money  thus  earned  was  enabled  to  meet  the  payments  on 
his  land  when  thev  became  due.  He  always  manifested  a  lively  interest  in 
the  settlement  of  the  county  and  the  development  of  its  resources  and  used 
his  influence  to  further  all  laudable  means  for  the  material  and  moral  ad- 
vancement of  the  community.     His  religious  belief,  which  was  one  of  the 


PCTNAM     COUNTY,    IXDIANA.  443 

controlling  influences  of  his  long  and  useful  life,  was  based  upon  the  creed 
of  the  Primitive  Baptist  church,  to  which  both  himself  and  wife  belonged, 
and  in  the  faith  of  which  they  passed  to  the  unseen  world,  the  former  Feb- 
ruan.-  i6.  1888,  the  latter  on  ^^larch  4.  1SS3.  The  children  of  this  worthy 
couple  were  eight  in  number.  e([ually  divided  between  the  sexes,  the  oldest. 
John  W.  Coffman.  dying  in  1905.  leaving  ten  children,  namely:  Sarah  C, 
^lary  ]..  Irene.  Elizabeth.  Eliza  A..  Margaret  Ellen.  Andrew  ]..  Albert  E., 
Ada  B..  Ida  Belle  and  Lilv  A.  Zilpha  C.  the  second  in  order  of  birth,  with 
Mary  A.  and  Elizabeth,  the  third  and  fifth  respectively,  live  on  the  old  home- 
stead, with  their  brother  George,  who  is  the  youngest  member  of  the  family. 
James  S..  the  fourth,  is  a  leading  agriculturist  and  representative  citizen, 
owns  a  beautiful  farm  about  two  miles  southeast  of  Clox^erdale  and  is  one  of 
the  popular  men  of  his  community.  He  married  ^Martha  E.  ^lorrison  and 
is  the  father  of  two  sons  and  four  daugliters.  Henry  X..  Lee  Otis.  Minnie  F.. 
Effie  M.  and  Gilbert  C.  Joseph  L..  the  next  in  succession,  departed  tliis  life 
August  7.  1908.  leaving  a  widow.  Ann  E.  (nee  Swartz).  and  one  child. 
Ollie  M..  to  mourn  their  loss.  Xanc\-  M..  who  married  Evan  Cline  and  lives 
near  the  family  homestead  is  the  fourth  in  order  of  birth.  (  See  sketch  of 
Evan  Cline.) 

George  B.  Cotfman.  the  eigluh  and  youngest  of  the  above  children,  was 
born  October  jo.  i8;6.  in  the  western  part  of  Cloverdale  township,  Putnam 
county.  Indiana,  and  grew  to  maturity  in  cluse  touch  with  nature  on  the 
farm  of  his  father  redeemed  from  the  wilderness.  He  was  reared  to  habits 
of  industrv  and  earlv  bore  his  share  in  the  planting  and  cultivating  i^f  the 
crops,  in  the  meantime  attending  school  during  the  fall  and  winter  months 
until  acquiring  a  practical  education.  Selecting  the  honorable  vocation  of 
agriculture  for  his  life  work,  he  became  familiar  with  the  same  while  still 
with  his  parents  and  since  reaching  the  years  of  manhood  has  devoted  himself 
\\ith  gratif\ing  results  to  his  chosen  calling. 

Emma  .\.  Turner,  to  whom  Mr.  Coffman  was  united  in  the  bonds  of 
wedlock  i-jn  Octoljer  7.  1876,  was  b(jrn  in  Owen  county.  Indiana,  where  her 
parents.  Abram  ami  Eliza  (  Hubbard )  Turner,  natives  of  Kentucky,  settled 
a  number  of  years  agu.  In  the  fall  of  1893  Mr,  Coffman  went  to  Kansas, 
where  he  followed  farming  for  one  year,  but  a  disastrous  fire  in  which  he 
lost  much  of  his  property,  together  with  ill  health,  induced  him  to  dispose 
of  his  interests  in  that  state,  at  the  expiration  of  which  period  he  returned 
to  Indiana,  from  which  time  until  190J  he  lived  in  his  native  township,  near 
the  family  homestead.  In  the  early  part  ot  the  above  mentioned  year  he 
moved  to  Sullivan  countv.  tlu's  state,  where  he  remained  until  the  death  of 


444 


VVEIK  S    HISTORY    OF 


his  wife,  on  the  8th  of  August  ensuing,  when  he  returned  to  Putnam  county 
and  took  charge  of  the  home  farm,  which  he  has  since  managed. 

'Mv.  Coffman  devotes  considerable  attention  to  agriculture  and  stock 
raising  and,  being  a  man  of  progressive  ideas  and  employing  advanced 
methods  in  his  labors,  he  is  fully  up-to-date  and,  as  already  indicated,  ranks 
among  the  successful  men  of  his  vocation  in  the  township  honored  by  his 
citizenship.  In  the  spring  of  1909  he  was  elected  assessor  of  Cloverdale 
township  for  a  term  of  four  years,  a  position  for  which  his  sound  judgment 
and  knowledge  of  values  especially  fit  him,  although  he  has  never  aspired 
to  official  honors  nor  sought  any  kind  of  public  distinction.  In  his  relations 
with  his  fellows  he  has  always  been  governed  by  a  high  sense  of  justice  and 
as  a  consistent  member  of  the  Primitive  Baptist  church  he  exemplifies  in  his 
dailv  walk  the  sincerity  of  his  religious  profession  and  the  beauty  and  worth 
of  Christianity  as  practically  applied  to  the  affairs  of  men. 

Nine  children  blessed  the  marriage  of  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Coffman,  three  of 
whom  died  in  infancy,  those  living  being  as  follows:  Homer  D.,  Otto  E., 
Wilbur  R.,  William  W.,  Jesse  I.  and  Lola  M.  Homer  is  homesteading  in 
Oklahoma,  and  has  before  him  a  bright  and  promising  future.  Otto  has  a 
claim  in  North  Dakota  and  is  doing  well,  likewise  Wilbur,  who  has  taken 
land  in  South  Dakota,  the  other  children  being  still  under  the  parental  roof. 


SAMUEL  DARXALL. 

In  any  comprehensive  history  of  Putnam  county,  the  biographical 
memoir  of  Samuel  Darnall,  one  of  the  best  remembered  of  her  pioneers, 
should  not  be  omitted.  He  was  born  in  Montgomen,^  county,  Kentucky,  De- 
cember 9,  1S04.  a  descendant  of  a  long  line  of  sterling  ancestry  in  America, 
the  representative  of  this  family  in  America  being  a  member  of  Lord  Balti- 
more's colony  which  settled  in  Charles  county,  Maryland,  in  1634.  Daniel 
Darnall,  father  of  Samuel,  was  born  in  Maryland,  in  1775,  from  which  state 
he  moved  with  his  father,  Isaac  Darnall,  when  he  was  ten  years  of  age,  the 
Blue  Grass  state  being  at  that  time  covered  with  primeval  woods.  Daniel 
Darnall  married  Nancy  Turpin,  the  daughter  of  another  pioneer,  also  from 
Maryland.  They  established  a  home  in  Montgomery  county,  where,  after 
the  usual  hard  struggle,  they  became  well  established,  rearing  a  family  of  five 
sons  and  one  daughter,  the  latter  named  Emilia,  late  of  Bainbridge.  Samuel, 
of  this  re\-iew,  was  the  fourth  child  in  order  of  birth.     When  twenty-five 


PUTNAM    COUNTY,    INDIANA.  445 

years  of  age  he  married  Maria,  daughter  of  Joshua  Yeates,  her  father  being 
of  English  descent,  his  people  settling  in  eastern  Virginia  early  in  the  eight- 
eenth century,  and  in  Loudoun  county,  that  state,  he  was  born  in  1773,  and 
emigrated  to  Kentucky  with  his  father  in  1790.  He  was  there  married  to 
Nancy  Higgins,  and  to  this  union  seven  daughters  and  one  son  were  born, 
the  latter  being  the  late  Dr.  Larkin  Yeates,  of  Winchester,  Kentucky.  The 
youngest  of  the  daughters  married  Samuel  Darnall.  They  lived  in  Kentucky 
five  years  after  their  marriage,  and  then  in  order  to  get  cheaper  land,  moved 
to  the  then  new  state  of  Indiana.  In  the  fall  of  1S35  ^'""^X  came  to  Putnam 
county,  stopping  at  the  home  of  Johnson  Darnall.  who  had  preceded  them 
b}-  two  years.  They  established  their  rude  home  in  the  woods  here  and  began 
life  in  true  pioneer  fashion,  and  in  time  were  the  operators  of  a  large  farm, 
'Sir.  Darnall  becoming  one  of  the  leading  farmers  of  the  county.-  He  was  one 
of  the  first  to  introduce  blue  grass  into  Putnam  county. 

Mr.  Darnall  and  his  wife  followed  in  the  footsteps  of  their  ancestors 
in  religious  matters,  being  adherents  to  the  Calvinistic  or  predestinarian  Bap- 
tist church.  Politically  Mr.  Darnall  was  first  a  Whig  and  an  admirer  of 
Henry  Clay,  but  when  the  Republican  party  was  organized  he  joined  its 
ranks,  and  when,  on  the  death  of  his  father,  he  inherited  five  slaves,  he  desired 
to  free  them  at  once,  l)ut  was  forbidden  ;  he  allowed  them  to  choose  their  own 
master  and  finally  sold  them  at  a  very  low  figure.  He  was  no  office  seeker, 
but  always  outspoken  in  his  political  views.  He  was  at  one  time,  back  in 
the  forties,  solicited  by  a  special  committee  to  make  the  race  for  the  Legis- 
lature as  a  Whig,  but  declined  the  honor.  In  Kentucky  he  served  as  lieu- 
tenant of  militia,  filling  that  position  until  his  removal  to  Indiana.  Under 
the  military  law  of  the  state  he  was  quartermaster  on  the  staft'  of  Col.  James 
Fisk.  He  gave  his  influence  to  the  national  Union,  sending  three  of  his 
sons  into  the  Federal  ranks.  The  eldest.  Francis  }vl.,  made  a  splendid  com- 
pany in  the  fall  of  1861  and  led  it  to  the  field  as  captain.  Lafayette  enlisted 
the  same  year  in  Col.  Lew  Wallace's  regiment  of  Zouaves,  for  the.  three- 
months  service,  and  later  joined  his  brother's  company  in  the  Forty-third 
Regiment  and  was  made  sergeant,  later  being  promoted  to  lieutenant.  In 
1863,  when  Morgan,  the  raider,  invaded  Indiana,  a  third  son.  Joshua,  a  fine 
boy  of  sixteen  years,  went  to  the  front  and  laid  down  his  young  life  for  his 
country,  as  a  recruit  in  the  One  Hundred  and  Fifteenth  Regiment,  in  which 
he  took  part  in  the  hard  campaign  to  Cumberland  Gap.  \\'hile  retreating 
from  that  country  he  contracted  a  cold  while  passing  through  the  mountains 
of  Kentucky,  which,  after  a  recent  attack  of  measles,  proved  fatal. 


446 


VVEIK  S    HISTORY    OF 


Samuel  Darnall's  death  occurred  January  13,  1879,  and  in  the  shade  of 
the  old  Brick  Chapel  he  is  sleeping  the  sleep  of  the  just.  He  was  a  peaceable, 
home-loving,  kind,  public-spirited,  noble-hearted  man  whom  every  one  held 
in  the  hi'^hest  esteem,  for  he  was  always  ready  to  serve  friend  and  stranger 
alike  with  a  lavish  hospitality,  and  had  a  word  of  cheer  and  encouragement 
for  all. 


FRAXK  M.  STROUBE. 

It  is  not  an  easy  task  to  describe  adequatel_\-  a  man  who  has  led  an 
eminentlv  active  and  busv  life  and  who  has  attained  a  position  of  relative 
distinction  in  the  community  with  which  his  interests  are  allied.  But  biog- 
raphy finds  its  most  perfect  justification,  nevertheless,  in  the  tracing  and 
recording  of  such  a  life  history.  It  is,  then,  with  a  full  appreciation  of  all 
that  is  demanded  and  of  the  painstaking  scrutiny  that  must  be  accorded  each 
statement,  and  vet  with  a  feeling  of  satisfaction,  that  the  writer  essays  the 
task  of  touching  briefly  upon  the  details  of  such  a  record  as  has  been  that  of 
Frank  M.  Stroul^e,  the  well-known  sheriff  of  Putnam  county. 

]\Ir.  Stroube  was  born  at  Augusta,  Kentucky,  July  19.  1863,  the  son  of 
Oliver  Stroube,  a  native  of  the  Blue  Grass  state,  this  family  having  been 
prominent  for  several  generations  in  Bracken  county.  There  Oliver  Stroube 
was  reared  and  educated.  In  1S65  he  came  to  Putnam  county,  Indiana, 
locating  on  a  farm  in  Madison  township,  where  he  soon  had  a  comfortable 
home  and  where  he  lived  until  his  death,  April  3.  1901.  at  the  age  of  sixty- 
three  years,  having  been  born  July  19,  1S38.  He  was  a  man  whom  everybody 
respected  owing  to  his  steady  habits  and  his  genial  disposition.  He  married 
Eliza  Blackerby.  a  native  of  Bracken  county,  Kentucky.  She  is  a  woman  of 
such  kind  and  generous  instincts  that  she  is  greatly  admired  by  her  friends 
and  neighbors  in  Greencastle,  where  she  now  resides. 

Eio-ht  children  were  born  to  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Oliver  Stroube,  named  as  fol- 
lows :  Frank  M.,  of  this  review ;  J.  W.  is  trustee  of  Madison  township,  where 
he  resides :  Anna  died  when  one  year  old ;  Dr.  Charles  N.  lives  at  Roachdale ; 
Earl  is  a  farmer  in  Madison  township;  Clifford  E.  died  when  one  year  old; 
Ida  is  tlie  wife  of  Dr.  Reginald  Pollon,  Cayuga,  Indiana;  Minnie  is  the  wife 
of  E.  R.  Bartley,  of  Greencastle. 

The  patemal  grandfather  of  these  children,  John  Stroube,  was  a  native 
of  Virginia,  removing  from  that  state  to  Kentucky  at  an  early  date,  where  he 
spent  the  remainder  of  his  life,  dying  at  Augusta.  Kentucky.     He  married  a 


PUTNAM    COUNTY,    INDIANA.  447 

Miss  Reader  and  the}-  became  the  parents  of  four  children,  all  deceased  but 
one  son,  X.  J.,  a  banker  in  Augusta. 

Frank  M.  Stroube  was  brought  to  Putnam  county,  Indiana,  by  his  par- 
ents when  he  was  but  an  infant.  He  spent  his  youth  on  the  home  farm,  which 
he  assisted  in  developing,  attending  the  district  schools  in  the  meantime.  He 
remained  at  home  until  he  was  twenty-ti\e  years  of  age,  when  he  took  up  the 
livestock  business,  buying  and  shipping.  He  was  very  successful  at  this  and 
built  u|)  an  e.\tensi\'e  business,  becoming  known  throughout  the  countv  as 
one  of  the  leading  stock  men  of  this  locality. 

Mr.  Stroube  always  took  considerable  interest  in  political  matters  and 
as  a  reward  fur  his  public  spirit  and  his  genuine  worth  he  was  elected  sheriff 
of  Putnam  county  on  the  Democratic  ticket  in  1908,  and,  according  to  the 
statement  of  man_\-  of  his  constituents,  he  has  so  far  proven  to  be  one  of  the 
best  sheriffs  the  county  has  ever  had,  always  faithful  in  the  performance  of 
his  duty  and  going  about  the  same  in  a  conscientious  and  business-like  manner, 

Mr.  Stroube  was  married  on  September  19,  188S,  to  Belle  Roberts, 
daughter  of  John  Roberts,  of  Manhattan,  Putnam  county,  where  she  was 
born  and  reared,  attending  the  public  schools.  Three  children  ha\-e  been  born 
to  this  union,  nametl  as  follows :  Jean  Lucille,  Ruth  Marie  and  Gail  Blackerby ; 
the\  are  all  members  of  the  family  circle,  constituting,  with  their  parents  a 
nuuuall}-  hai)i)y  household,  their  home  being  a  cozy  and  pleasant  one. 

Mr.  and  Mrs.  Stroube  are  members  of  the  Christian  church.  Fratern- 
ally Mr.  Stroube  is  a  Mason,  and  he  carries  into  his  daily  life  its  sublime 
teaching's. 


CL.AREXCE  ARTHUR  SHAKE. 

The  well  known  florist  and  honored  citizen,  Clarence  Arthur  Shake, 
who  is  an  honored  resident  of  Greencastle,  in  the  progress  of  which  he  has 
ever  been  deeply  concerned,  is  a  native  of  Stoddard  county,  Missouri,  where 
he  was  born  April  i,  1886.  He  is  the  son  of  Spencer  J.  and  Marv  R. 
(Brooks)  Shake,  the  father  born  in  low-a,  in  1838,  on  a  farm  on  which  his 
parents  settled  when  the  country  was  comparatively  new.  Spencer  J.  Shake 
was  educated  in  the  common  schools  of  his  native  community.  Moving  to 
Carlisle.  Indiana,  he  entered  the  schools  of  that  place  and  was  graduated 
therefrom.  He  was  ambitious  to  become  a  minister  of  the  gospel  and  in 
order  to  properly  fit  himself  for  this  eminent  calling  he  worked  his  way 
through  Borden  College,  Borden,  Indiana,     He  was  duly  ordained  a  minister 


448  weik's  history  of 

in  the  ^lethodist  Episcopal  church,  his  first  charge  being  in  Xew  Providence, 
in  1890.  He  was  popular  with  his  congregation  and  developed  into  a 
preacher  of  power,  doing  a  great  deal  of  good  wherever  he  went.  On 
Thanksgiving  day,  1S78,  he  was  married  to  Mary  Rebecca  Brooks,  daughter 
of  Thomas  Brooks,  of  Missouri.  This  union  resulted  in  the  birth  of  eight 
children,  of  which  number,  Clarence  A.,  of  this  review,  was  the  third  in 
order  of  birth.  Rev.  Spencer  J.  Shake  is  now  pastor  of  the  Methodist 
Episcopal  church  at  Farmersburg,  Indiana. 

Clarence  A.  Shake  obtained  a  good  primary  education  and  in  1905 
he  was  graduated  from  the  high  school  at  Evans ville.  In  1906  he  entered 
DePauw  University,  at  Greencastle,  Indiana,  taking  a  general  course,  but 
before  graduating  he  left  the  university  in  order  to  form  a  partnership  with 
A.  M.  Troxell,  in  1908.  He  has  taken  readily  to  this  line  of  work  and  to- 
gether thev  are  building  up  a  very  satisfactory  business. 

Mr.  Shake  is  a  member  of  the  Delta  Upsilon  fraternity,  in  which  he 
has  always  taken  a  great  deal  of  interest. 

Mr.  Shake  was  married  on  June  16,  1909,  to  Clara  J.  Yunker,  a  popular 
young  ladv,  the  daughter  of  Conrad  and  Susan  (Skiels)  Yunker,  of  Evans- 
ville,  Indiana,  where  she  w^as  a  favorite  in  the  best  social  circles  of  the 
city,  being  a  woman  of  culture  and  education. 

Politically  Mr.  Shake  is  a  Republican,  and  he  is  an  earnest  worker  in 
the  ^Methodist  Episcopal  church.  Fraternally  he  is  a  member  of  the  Inde- 
pendent Order  of  Odd  Fellows,  the  Modern  Woodmen  of  America,  and  the 
Knights  of  Pvthias.  Considering  the  fact  that  he  is  yet  quite  a  young  man 
and  has  made  such  a  promising  start  in  the  business  world,  the  future  needs 
must  ausTur  lars^e  success  for  him. 


...:  WILLIAM  MILFORD  HOUCK. 

Fealtv  to  facts  in  the  analyzation  of  a  citizen  of  the  type  of  William 
Milford  Houck  is  all  that  is  required  to  make  a  biographical  sketch  interest- 
ing to  those  who  have  at  heart  the  good  name  of  the  community,  because  it 
is  the  honorable  reputation  of  the  man  of  standing  and  affairs,  more  than 
any  other  consideration,  that  gives  character  and  stability  to  the  body  politic 
and  makes  the  true  worth  of  a  county  or  state  revered  at  home  and  respected 
abroad.  In  the  broad  light  which  things  of  good  report  ever  invite,  the  name 
and  character  of  the  gentleman  whose  name  introduces  this  sketch  stand  re- 


PUTNAM     COUXTV,    IXDIAXA.  449 

vealed  and  secure  and  though  with  modest  demeanor,  with  no  ambition  to  dis- 
tinguish himself  in  pubhc  position  or  as  a  leader  of  men,  his  career  has  been 
signally  honorable  and  it  may  be  studied  with  profit  by  the  youth  entering 
upon  life's  work,  for  it  shows  that  the  man  who  persists  along  right  lines  of 
endeavor  will  eventually  accomplish  what  he  sets  out  to  do  despite  seemingly 
insurmountable  obstacles.  Mr.  Houck  is  too  well  known  to  the  readers  of 
this  book  to  need  any  lengthy  chronicle  of  his  life  histor}-.  for  he  has  been 
interested  in  large  affairs  here  for  many  years  and  has  spent  the  major  part 
of  his  life  in  the  community  of  his  birth,  being  one  of  the  worthiest  repre- 
sentatives of  the  Houck  family,  which  is  one  of  the  old  and  influential  families 
of  Putnam  county. 

Mr.  Houck  was  born  April  5,  i860,  on  the  home  farm  in  ^iladison  town- 
ship, the  son  of  David  and  Rachael  Houck,  a  complete  sketch  of  whom  ap- 
pears on  another  page  of  this  work.  He  was  educated  in  the  country  schools 
of  Washington  township  and  assisted  with  the  work  on  the  farm,  becoming 
well  accpiainted  with  general  and  scientific  agriculture  and  stock  raising  early 
in  life  and  he  has  continued  to  make  this  his  principal  life  work.  Howe\'er, 
he  began  life  as  a  school  teacher,  having  applied  himself  very  assiduouslv  to 
his  text-books  and  received  a  good  education,  verv^  largely  by  his  individual 
ettorts,  teaching  two  very  successful  terms  of  school,  in  1878  and  1S79,  in 
Washington  township.  But  this  line  of  endeavor  did  not  appeal  to  him  as  a 
life  vocation  and  he  returned  to  the  freer  life  of  the  husbandman  and  stock 
man.  and  an  evidence  of  his  large  success  in  this  line  is  shown  bv  the  fact 
that  when  eighteen  years  of  age  he  purchased  forty  acres;  hv  hard  work  and 
ffood  management  this  small  place  has  grown  to  one  of  the  model  farms  of 
the  county,  comprising  four  hundred  acres,  which  is  well  improved  in  everv 
resjject.  ver\'  carefully  tilled  and  under  a  high  state  of  cultivation.  He  has  a 
modern,  commodious  and  beautiful  residence  and  all  the  substantial  outbuild- 
ings that  his  needs  require.  He  handles  large  numbers  of  live  stock  of  various 
kinds  and  usually  of  a  verv^  high  quality,  being  considered  a  good  judge  of 
stock,  especially  cattle  and  hogs. 

Mr.  Houck  is  also  a  stockholder  in  the  Live  Oak  Plantation  Company, 
which  has  twelve  thousand  acres  in  Louisiana,  which  is  a  very  paving  invest- 
ment, yielding  its  stockholders  excellent  returns.  He  is  a  stockholder  and 
director  in  the  Plezee  Company,  of  Greencastle,  a  firm  manufacturing  the 
famous  soda  fountain  rlrink  from  which  the  company  deri\ed  its  name,  and 
which  for  se\eral  years  has  had  an  immense  sale  in  the  Middle  A\'est. 

On  October  20,  rSSo,  Mr.  Houck  married  Emma  Myra  Bence,  the  repre- 
sentative of  an  influential  and  highlv  respected  familv,  her  parents,  Tohn  and 
(29) 


450 


WEIK  S    HISTORY    OF 


Annie  E.  (Kidd)  Bence,  being  represented  on  another  page  of  this  work. 
Mrs.  Houck  was  born  June  23,  1864.  She  is  a  member  of  the  Wasliburn 
Chapter,  Daughters  of  the  American  Revolution,  the  Twentieth  Century 
Chib  and  the  Crescent  Chib  of  Greencastle.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Houck  have  one 
foster  daughter.  Ethel  Houck  Sheppard.  wife  of  Will  M.  Slieppard.  who  make 
their  home  with  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Houck.  She  is  a  graduate  of  the  city  high 
school. 

Politically  ^Ir.  Houck  is  a  Democrat  and  fimi  in  advocating  his  party's 
principles,  taking  considerable  interest  in  local  affairs  during  elections.  He 
has  attained  to  the  thirty-second  degree  in  Masonry,  being  also  a  member  of 
]\[urat  Temple.  Ancient  Arabic  Order  of  Xobles  of  the  Mystic  Shrine,  at  In- 
dianapolis. Blue  Lodge  No.  47.  Greencastle  Chapter,  Xo.  22,  Royal  Arch 
Masons,  and  the  Greencastle  Commandery.  Xo.  11.  Knights  Templar.  Mr. 
Houck  stands  high  in  the  circles  of  this  great  fraternity  in  this  state.  He 
is  also  a  member  of  the  Benevolent  and  Protective  Order  of  Elks. 

Although  Mr.  Houck  has  a  beautiful  country  home,  he  resides  in  Green- 
castle. owning  one  of  the  attractive  residences  of  this  city,  at  No.  ~2,t,  East 
Washington  street,  which  is  equipped  with  all  up-to-date  appliances  and  tastily 
arranged,  and  here  the  many  friends  of  the  family  frequently  gather,  always 
finding  an  old-time  hospitality  and  good  cheer  unstintingly  dispensed. 


JOHN  FRANCIS  CL'LLY.  M.  D. 

The  medical  practitioner  who  would  succceed  at  his  profession  must 
possess  manv  qualities  not  to  be  gained  from  te.xt  and  medical  books.  In 
analyzing  the  career  of  the  successful  physician  it  will  invariably  be  found 
to  be  true  that  a  broad-minded  sympathy  with  the  suffering  and  an  honest, 
earnest  desire  to  aid  his  afflicted  fellow  men  have  gone  hand  in  hand  with 
skill  and  able  judgment.  Dr.  John  Francis  Cully,  of  Bainbridge.  one  of  the 
best  known  phvsicians  of  Putnam  county,  fortunately  embodies  the  necessary 
qualifications  mentioned  above,  and  these,  too.  in  a  marked  degree,  and  by 
energ}-  and  app!icati(5n  to  his  professional  duties  is  building  up  an  enviable 
reputation  and  drawing  to  himself  a  large  and  remunerative  practice. 

Doctor  Cullv  was  born  in  Xewark.  Xew  Jersey.  July  4,  1S52.  the  son  of 
^lathew  and  Marv  A.  Cully,  the  father  a  native  of  Ireland,  who  came  to  this 
countrv  in  an  earlv  dav  and  became  well  established.  He  was  loyal  to  his 
adopted  country,  joined  the  Union  army  and  gallantly  fought  during  the  war 
between  the  states,  meeting  death  on  the  field  of  battle.     The  Doctor's  mother 


PL'TXAM    COLW'TV,    IXDIAXA. 


451 


died  when  he  was  six  years  old.  and  when  he  was  eight  years  of  age  he  came 
to  Putnam  county,  Indiana,  from  New  York,  and  has  since  resided  here, 
having  found  a  home  in  the  family  of  John  and  Eliza  Allen,  who  treated  him 
as  if  he  had  been  their  own  child,  and  to  whom,  in  a  large  measure,  he  attrib- 
utes much  of  his  success  in  life,  since  they  gave  him  every  opportunity  look- 
ing to  his  education  and  success. 

After  completing  the  prescribed  course  of  study  in  the  common  schools, 
he  began  the  study  of  medicine  under  Dr.  R.  F.  Stone,  in  1876;  in  1878  and 
1879  he  attended  lectures  at  the  Rush  Medical  College.  Chicago,  Illinois, 
from  which  institution  he  was  graduated  in  1880.  Returning  to  Bainbridge. 
he  immediately  began  practice  and  has  since  continued  here,  having  been  very 
successful  both  as  a  general  practitioner  and  as  a  surgeon,  enjoving  a  laro-e 
and  lucrative  practice  and  keeping  on  hand  a  carefully  selected  stock  of  medi- 
cine. He  has  kept  abreast  of  the  latest  discoveries  in  the  medical  profession 
in  every  respect,  and  he  has  a  large  and  valuable  medical  library,  and  his 
rank  among  the  medical  men  of  the  county  and  state  is  high. 

Doctor  Cully  was  married  in  1885  to  Ella  F.  Darnall.  who  was  born, 
reared  and  educated  in  Putnam  county:  she  is  the  daughter  of  Samuel  and 
Maria  Darnall.  a  highly  honored  old  pioneer  family  of  this  countv.  her  father 
having  long  been  deceased.  Tid  Doctor  Cully  and  wife  three  children  have 
been  bom.  Lily.  Don  and  Max. 

The  Doctor  is  a  member  of  the  Christian  church,  and  in  his  fraternal 
relations  he  belongs  to  the  Free  and  Accepted  Masons,  holding  membership 
in  Commandery  Xo.  1 1,  at  Greencastle;  also  the  Knights  of  Pythias,  No.  ^2^. 
He  belongs  to  the  Putnam  County  Medical  Society  and  the  Indiana  Medical 
Society,  taking  much  interest  in  both.  He  is  a  member  of  the  board  of  pen- 
sion examiners.  At  one  time  he  served  as  president  of  the  Putnam  County 
Medical  Society.  He  has  also  served  on  the  school  board  and  the  town  board 
of  trustees.  On  January  8.  1910,  Doctor  Cully  suffered  the  loss  bv  fire  of 
his  fine  library,  instruments  and  drug  stock,  which,  though  a  serious  handicap, 
temporarily,  has  not  deterred  him  from  practicing  his  profession  with  his 
usual  vigor  and  skill.  The  Doctor  is  a  lover  of  fine  horses,  and  is  the  owner 
of  a  2  :i :;  trotter. 


DAVID  KXOLL. 


Holding  worthy  prestige  among  the  enterprising  farmers  and  public- 
spirited  citizens  of  Putnam  county  is  David  Knoll,  of  Cloverdale  township,  a 
gentleman  of  high  standing  and  marked  influence  in  the  communitv  of  which 


45- 


WEIK  S    HISTORY    OF 


he  has  long  been  an  honored  resident.  As  the  name  implies,  he  is  of  German 
Hneap-e.  his  father.  John  Knoll,  having  been  boni  in  the  upper  Rhine  valley 
al)out  the  vear  1813.  John  Knoll  was  the  son  of  a  soldier  who  served  in  the 
army  of  Napoleon  and  considered  the  great  Emperor  as  something  more  than 
a  mere  mortal.  Long  after  the  wars  in  which  he  took  part  had  closed  and  the 
star  of  the  man  of  destiny  had  set  forever,  any  reference  to  the  Emperor 
would  arouse  the  patriotism  of  the  Rhennish  soldier,  and  when  an  old  man 
to  hear  the  music  to  which  he  had  marched  while  wearing  the  cockade  was 
sufificient  to  cause  the  tears  to  flow  down  his  furrowed  cheeks. 

John  Knoll  left  his  home  in  the  Fatherland  when  nineteen  years  old 
and  came  to  the  United  States,  locating  at  Cincinnati,  Ohio,  where  he  worked 
for  a  number  of  years  at  tailoring,  which  trade  he  had  learned  in  his  native 
country.  Later  he  went  to  Union  county,  Indiana,  where  in  due  time  he  mar- 
ried Susannah  Knipe,  who  was  born  at  Dublin,  Wayne  county,  of  which 
part  of  the  state  her  father,  Thomas  Knipe,  was  an  early  pioneer.  Mr.  and 
Mrs.  Knipe  were  natives  of  England,  but  came  to  America  many  years  ago 
and  spent  the  remainder  of  their  lives  on  the  farm  in  the  county  of  Wayne 
which  the  husband  and  father  redeemed  from  the  wilderness.  On  changing 
his  residence  to  Union  county,  John  Knoll  turned  his  attention  to  farming, 
which  he  carried  on  for  some  years  in  connection  with  his  trade.  He  proved 
a  valuable  accession  to  the  community  in  which  he  settled,  doing  much  of  the 
tailoring  required  by  the  neighbors,  \yho  remunerated  him  by  assisting  with 
his  farm  work.  The  nearest  trading  points  at  that  time  were  Lawrenceburg 
and  Cincinnati  and  in  marketing  his  produce  at  those  places,  where  he  also 
purchased  the  few  groceries  and  other  necessities  for  the  family,  required  a 
trip  of  several  days.  About  the  year  1847  Mr.  Knoll  disposed  of  his  interests 
in  Uniim  countv  and  moved  to  what  is  now  Jennings  township  in  northwest- 
ern part  of  Owen  county,  where  he  bought  land  and  developed  a  good  farm 
on  which  he  made  his  home  the  remainder  of  his  days,  dying  at  a  ripe  old 
age  in  about  1885. 

David  Knoll  was  born  January  9,  1842,  in  Union  county,  Indiana,  but 
spent  the  greater  part  of  his  youth  and  early  manhood  in  the  county  of  Owen, 
to  \vhich  he  was  taken  by  his  parents  when  about  five  years  old.  He  well  re- 
members the  iourne^'  to  the  new  home  in  what  was  then  the  wilds  of  Jen- 
nings township,  as  a  part  of  the  way  had  to  be  cut  through  a  dense  forest,  no 
roads  having  yet  been  made.  As  soon  as  his  services  could  be  utilized,  he 
assisted  his  father  with  the  labors  of  the  farm,  attending  at  intervals  such 
schools  as  the  countrv  afforded  and  until  his  twenty-second  year  remained  at 


PUTNAM    COUNTY,    INDIANA.  453 

home  and  contributed  to  the  interests  and  comfort  of  his  parents.  In  1864 
he  went  to  Nebraska,  where  he  engaged  with  a  government  wagon  train  to 
transport  supplies  to  various  mihtary  posts  and  other  points  in  the  far  West. 
The  train  consisted  of  twenty-six  wagons,  each  drawn  by  six  yoke  of  oxen, 
JMr.  Knoll  taking  charge  of  one  of  the  wagons,  which  he  drove  as  far  as  Salt 
Lake  City.  The  trip  across  the  plains  was  fraught  with  many  difificulties  and 
hardships  and  it  is  estimated  that  it  cost  the  government  the  sum  of  thirty- 
two  dollars  and  hfty  cents  for  every  hundred  weight  of  goods  thus  freighted. 

Mr.  Knoll  passed  through  not  a  few  thrilling  experiences  on  the  trip, 
both  going  and  coming,  being  obliged  to  walk  much  of  the  way,  which  with 
the  labor  of  attending  to  his  six  yoke  of  oxen  and  other  incidental  duties 
proved  not  only  exceedingly  tiresome,  but  at  times  exasperating.  Of  the 
twenty-six  wagons  with  which  the  company  started  all  but  one  were  left  in 
Utah  and  on  the  return  trip  these  were  brought  farther  than  Fort  Halleck, 
making  their  way  from  the  latter  place  to  Leavenworth,  Kansas.  Mr.  Knoll 
decided  to  leave  the  West  and  accordingly  in  the  winter  of  1866  he  returned 
to  Indiana,  arriving  at  his  home  in  Owen  county  on  Christmas  day. 

Later  Mr.  Knoll  and  a  Mr.  Routh  took  a  contract  to  make  one  hundred 
and  fifty  thousand  brick,  for  the  preparation  of  which  they  devoted  the  latter 
part  of  the  winter  of  the  above  year  and  during  the  summer  following  the 
work  was  completed  as  per  agreement.  In  the  ensuing  fall  the  subject,  in 
partnership  with  John  Job.  started  a  general  store  at  what  is  now  the  village 
of  Cunot.  for  two  vears.  when  Mr.  Knoll's  father  purchased  Mr.  Job's  interest 
and  became  a  partner.  L'nder  the  style  of  Knoll  &  Son.  the  store  was  con- 
ducted with  encouraging  success  during  the  five  years  ensuing,  at  the  expira- 
tion of  which  time  the  subject  traded  his  interest  in  the  business  for  one 
hundred  and  twenty  acres  of  land,  forty  in  Owen  county  and  eighty  on  the 
south  line  of  Cloverdale  township  in  the  county  of  Putnam.  Moving  to  this 
land.  Mr.  Knoll  addressed  himself  to  the  task  of  its  improvement  and  in  due 
time  had  one  of  the  finest  farms  and  among  the  most  beautiful  and  desirable 
homes  in  the  community.  There  he  lived  and  prospered  until  about  1890. 
when  he  purchased  one  hundred  and  fifty-two  acres,  one  mile  southwest  of 
Cloverdale.  where  he  has  since  resided.  In  the  meantime  he  turned  his  atten- 
tion to  the  manufacture  of  drain  tile,  for  which  there  was  a  growing  demand, 
constructing  a  factorv-  about  two  miles  south  of  the  above  town,  which,  after 
operating  for  some  time,  he  exchanged  for  a  tract  of  land  in  the  vicinity.  A 
few  months  afterwards  he  and  his  sons  bought  the  factory,  which  they  oper- 
ated with  profitable  results  until  1910.  when  the  business  was  sold  to  other 
parties. 


454  WEIK  S    HISTORY    OF 

Air.  Knoll  has  been  quite  successful  in  his  various  business  and  farming 
interests  and  is  now  in  independent  circumstances,  owning  the  fine  farm  of 
one  hundred  and  fifty-two  acres  on  which  he  lives,  a  fifty-acre  tract  in  Owen 
county  and  fifty-two  acres  on  the  line  between  the  counties  of  Owen  and  Put- 
nam. In  1898  he  engaged  in  general  merchandising  at  Cloverdale.  where 
he  conducted  a  thriving  business  until  the  latter  part  of  1904,  when  he  dis- 
posed of  the  establishment,  since  which  time  he  has  devoted  his  attention  to 
agriculture  and  the  manufacturing  of  drain  tile,  in  both  of  which  his  success 
has  been  commensurate  with  the  ability,  energy  and  excellent  management 
displayed  in  all  of  his  undertakings. 

]\Ir.  Knoll,  on  February  5,  1867.  contracted  a  marriage  with  Livonia 
Hendricks,  daughter  of  William  and  Mary  Ann  (Routt)  Hendricks,  who 
moved  to  Putnam  county,  Indiana,  from  their  native  state  of  Kentucky  when 
Mrs.  Knoll  was  about  five  years  of  age.  The  offsprings  of  this  union  are 
as  follows :  Ida  AL.  who  first  married  ]\Iack  Asher.  by  whom  she  had  three 
children.  Forest.  Xora  Ellen  and  Marian.  After  the  death  of  Mr.  .Asher 
she  married  William  Xanns.  with  whom  she  now  lives  near  Cataract  in  Owen 
county,  their  marriage  resulting  in  the  birth  of  four  children.  Alma,  Doris, 
George  and  Floy  Genevie.  Hannah,  the  second  of  the  family,  married  John 
Vice,  to  whom  she  bore  a  son.  Roy.  and  two  daughters.  Florence  and  Dor- 
othy. Mr.  Vice  dying,  she  subsequently  entered  the  marriage  relation  with 
her  present  husband.  Thomas  Paris,  of  Cloverdale  township,  the  union  being 
blessed  with  three  offsprings.  Glory,  Roxey  and  Harold.  James,  the  third 
child,  died  in  infancy.  William  Knoll,  the  fourth  in  order  of  birth,  lives  in 
Prairie  county.  Arkansas,  where  he  is  engaged  in  the  growing  of  rice.  His 
wife,  formerly  Lovina  Cook,  has  presented  him  with  four  children.  Orville. 
Grace.  Everett  and  Gamett.  Emma,  the  next  in  succession,  married  Nicholas 
Mace  and  lives  in  Clay  county.  Indiana,  their  family  consisting  of  a  son, 
David,  and  a  daughter  who  answers  to  the  name  of  Hattie  Ila.  Xellie,  who 
married  John  Canada,  with  whom  she  moved  to  Arkansas  some  years  ago, 
died  in  that  state  the  month  following  her  arrival,  leaving  four  children.  Ruth. 
James.  Charles  and  Ann.  all  bom  in  Indiana.  George  Knoll,  the  sixth  in 
order  of  birth,  married  Mettie  McMains  and  lives  in  Arkansas,  two  children 
having  been  born  to  them.  Willard  and  Mar\-  Livonia  McMains.  Susie,  the 
seventh  of  the  family,  is  unmarried  and  still  a  member  of  the  home  circle. 
Arley  is  head  bookkeeper  and  cashier  of  the  X'ational  Biscuit  Company  at 
Indianapolis.  Grover.  Hattie  and  Marie,  the  youngest  of  the  family,  are  still 
under  the  parental  roof. 


PUTXAM    COUNTY,    INDIANA. 


JOSEPH  B.  CROSS.  M.  D. 

Few  of  the  early  physicians  of  Putnam  county  succeeded  in  winning  the 
reputation  that  Dr.  Joseph  B.  Cross  enjoyed  through  a  long  span  of  years 
in  which  he  engaged  in  practice  here.  He  was  one  of  those  whole-souled, 
large-hearted,  kindly  men  who  delighted  in  his  practice  more  because  he  could 
do  humanity  the  most  gocnl  in  this  than  by  any  other  medium,  and  it  was 
not  from  sordid  mercenary  motives  that  he  followed  his  profession.  And 
because  of  his  clean,  honorable  and  praiseworthy  life  he  was  always  held  in 
the  very  highest  regard  by  his  fellow  men.  He  won  a  worthy  place  in  the 
estimation  of  medical  men  of  this  section  of  the  state  as  both  a  general  prac- 
titioner and  surgeon,  having  long  maintained  his  office  at  Bainbridge. 

Doctor  Cross  was  born  in  Wayne  county,  Indiana,  February  12,  1823, 
son  of  John  J.  and  Ruth  (Poe)  Cross,  natives  of  Ohio  and  of  German  an- 
cestry. They  were  the  parents  of  five  children,  four  of  whom  grew  to  ma- 
turity. In  1836  they  removed  to  Montgomery  county,  Indiana,  where  they 
remained  until  1854,  thence  to  Iowa  for  two  years,  then  returned  to  Put- 
nam county  where  the  father  died  in  April,  1872,  and  the  mother  in  1876. 
The  Doctor  was  reared  on  a  farm  in  Wayne  and  Montgomery  counties, 
Indiana,  and  received  a  good  primary  education  in  the  public  schools.  He 
began  life  as  a  school  teacher,  but  having  been  ambitious  from  boyhood  to 
enter  the  medical  profession,  he  gave  up  teaching  and  earnestly  applied  him- 
self to  the  .study  of  medicine  in  the  office  of  Dr.  .\.  Kelly,  of  Ladoga,  and  he 
took  his  first  course  of  lectures  at  the  Louisville  L'niversity,  Louisville,  Ken- 
tucky, in  1847  'infl  1848.  He  graduated  from  the  Ohio  Medical  College, 
at  Cincinnati,  in  the  winter  of  1832  and  1853.  He  returned  to  Indiana  and 
opened  an  office  in  Ladoga.  .Although  he  was  gaining  prestige  here,  he 
moved  to  Carpentersville.  where  he  believed  there  existed  a  better  opening, 
and  he  continued  successfully  in  the  latter  place  for  a  ])eriod  of  sixteen 
vears.  and  in  1865  he  moved  to  Bainbridge,  Putnam  county,  where  he  con- 
tinued until  1880,  building  up  a  very  extensive  and  lucrative  practice,  re- 
tiring from  active  work  on  the  last  mentioned  date.  His  retirement  to 
private  life  was  due  principally  to-  inflammatory-  rheumatism,  contracted, 
no  doubt,  from  his  too  assiduous  attention  to  his  many  patients,  riding 
through  all  kinds  of  weather,  often  long  distances. 

In  September.  1850.  the  Doctor  was  married  to  Sallie  Call,  who  was 
born  in  Kentucky,  October  31,  1831.  daughter  of  Squire  and  Mary  (Moore) 


45^ 


WEIK  S    HISTORY    OF 


Call.  Six  children  were  born  to  Doctor  Cross  and  wife,  only  two  of  whom 
are  living.  Emma  F.,  wife  of  J.  A.  Lewman.  a  well  known  farmer  and  stock 
man  of  Putnam  county,  a  sketch  of  whom  appears  elsewhere  in  these  pages, 
and  Anna  Cross,  who  married  Harry  G.  Brown  and  they  live  near  Green- 
castle. 

Doctor  Cross  became  well  fixed  financially  and  owned  two  hundred  and 
eightv  acres  of  good  land  in  this  township,  besides  his  property  in  Bain- 
bridge,  where  he  had  a  large  residence  and  one  acre  of  ground.  He  was  a 
member  of  Masonic  Lodge  No.  75,  at  Bainbridgei  and  of  the  Independent 
Order  of  Odd  Fellows,  Lodge  Xo.  311.  He  was  also  a  member  of  the 
Christian  church  and  a  liberal  supporter  of  the  same. 

The  Doctor  took  an  interest  in  his  distinguished  ancestry.  His  mother 
was  a  first  cousin  of  General  Poe.  the  famous  Indian  fighter,  and  the  family 
was  also  related  to  Edgar  Allen  Poe,  the  great  poet.  John  Call,  a  brother 
of  Mrs.  Cross,  died  while  in  the  Union  anny. 


JOHN  F.  CANNON. 


This  utilitarian  age  has  been  especially  prolific  in  men  of  action,  clear- 
brained  men  of  high  resolves  and  noble  purposes,  who  gi\e  character  and 
stability  to  the  communities  honored  by  their  citizenship,  and  whose  in- 
fluence and  leadership  are  easily  discernible  in  the  various  enterprises  that 
have  added  so  greatly  to  the  high  reputation  which  Putnam  county  enjoys 
among  her  sister  counties  of  this  great  commonwealth.  Conspicuous  among 
this  class  of  men  whose  place  of  residence  is  in  Greencastle  is  the  progressive 
citizen  under  whose  name  this  article  is  written,  for,  while  yet  young  in 
years.  'Slv.  Cannon  has  reaped  the  rewards  that  never  fail  to  come  as  the 
result  of  rightly  applied  energy. 

John  F.  Cannon  is  a  native  of  the  city  where  he  now  resides,  having 
been  born  here  on  July  2.  1S72.  His  father,  Frank  Cannon,  was  born  in 
county  Donegal,  Ireland,  in  1842,  grew  to  maturity  and  was  educated  there. 
He  early  in  life  formed  a  desire  to  come  to  America  and  in  1864  he  gratified 
that  am])ition.  He  located  in  Northumberland  county,  Pennsylvania,  re- 
maining there  for  a  period  of  two  years.  From  there  he  went  to  Indianapolis 
and  in  1870  came  to  Greencastle,  Indiana,  where  he  has  since  remained, 
with  the  e.xception  of  one  year  spent  at  his  old  home  in  Ireland,  making 
the  trip  in  1899.     He  has  always  followed  the  trade  of  tailor  and  he  is  re- 


PUTNAM    COUXTY,    INDIAN' A.  457 

garded  as  \'en-  skillful  in  tliis  line  of  work,  having  long  enjoyed  a  very 
liberal  patronage.  He  married  in  1870.  at  Indianapolis,  Catherine  Carr, 
who  was  born  in  Ireland,  not  far  from  the  birthplace  of  Frank  Cannon. 
She  came  to  America  when  a  young  woman,  and  she  is  still  living,  being, 
like  her  husband,  highly  esteemed  among  a  wide  circle  of  friends.  Thev 
are  the  parents  of  ten  children,  si.x  of  whom  are  li\ing  at  this  writing, 
namely:  John  F..  of  Greencastle;  Bridget  lives  in  the  Community  of  St. 
]\rary"s-of-the-Woods ;  James  and  Frank  live  in  Greencastle:  George  is  a 
senior  in  DePauw  University  and  will  graduate  with  the  class  of  1910;  Anna 
is  also  a  student  in  that  university.  The  parents  of  these  children  are 
members  of  the  Catholic  church. 

John  F.  Cannon  was  educated  in  the  public  schools  of  Greencastle,  and 
when  but  a  boy  he  decided  to  follow  the  footsteps  of  his  father  bv  entering 
the  tailoring  business,  which  he  accordingly  did  with  his  father,  w  ith  whom 
he  remained  for  about  six  v'ears,  during  which  time  he  mastered  all  the 
details  of  the  same:  but.  desiring  a  larger  field  for  the  exercise  of  his  tal- 
ents, he.  in  1891,  engaged  in  the  clothing  business  with  D.  W".  Alspaugh  under 
the  finn  name  of  Alspaugh  &  Company,  with  which  finn  he  continued  verv 
successfully  until  four  years  ago,  when  ^Ir.  Alspaugh  died.  Frank  Cannon 
also  had  an  interest  in  the  finn.  which,  at  the  time  indicated  abo\e,  became 
J.  F.  Cannon  &  Company,  advertising  as  the  Bell  Clothing  Company,  which 
has  continued  to  grow  steadily  until  a  large  and  lucrative  patronage  is  enjoved 
with  the  town  anrl  surrounding  country.  A  large,  up-to-date  and  carefully 
selected  stock  of  clothing,  gents'  furnishings  and  men's  outfittings  in  general 
are  carried.  Customers  are  accorded  such  fair  and  courteous  treatment 
here  that  the\'  are  invariably  pleased  and  never  care  to  change  their  favorite 
place  of  trading,  according  to  the  statement  of  many  of  them. 

John  F.  Cannon  was  married  on  Xovember  26,  1901.  to  Rose  Gainer, 
a  native  of  Greencastle,  the  daughter  of  John  Gainer  and  wife,  highly 
honored  citizens  here.  [Mrs.  Cannon  is  a  woman  of  refinement  and  is  a 
fa\'orite  A\ith  a  large  coterie  of  friends.  This  union  has  resulted  in  the 
birth  of  one  daughter,  bearing  the  good  old  name  Mary  Katherine. 

!Nfr.  Cannon  is  a  director  in  the  Indiana  Retail  Merchants  Fire  Insur- 
ance Company,  also  a  director  of  Plezee  Company  of  Greencastle.  a  com- 
pany organized  to  manufacture  the  well  known  popular  .soft  drink  "Plezee." 
Fraternally  he  is  the  present  exalted  ruler  of  the  Benevolent  and  Protective 
Order  of  Elks.  Xo.  1077.  Ke  also  belongs  to  the  Improved  Order  of  Red 
]\ren.      He   and   his    wife  are   members   of  the   Catholic   church,    and    liberal 


458 


WEIK  S    HISTORY    OF 


supporters  of  the  same.  No  family  in  Greencastle  is  more  highly  esteemed 
than  the  Cannons,  this  being  the  result  of  upright  and  proper  living  and  the 
manifestation  of  right  principles  in  furthering  the  city's  interests. 


JOSEPH  A.  LEWMAX. 

It  is  proper  to  judge  of  the  success  of  a  man's  life  by  the  estimation 
in  which  he  is  held  by  his  fellow  citizens.  They  see  him  at  his  work,  in  his 
family  circle,  in  church,  hear  his  views  on  public  questions,  observe  his  code 
of  morals,  witness  how  he  conducts  himself  in  all  the  relations  of  society  and 
civilization,  and  are  therefore  competent  to  judge  of  his  merits  and  his 
demerits.  After  a  long  course  of  years  of  such  daily  observation,  it  would 
be  out  of  the  question  for  his  neighbors  not  to  know  of  his  worth,  for.  as 
has  been  often  said,  "Actions  speak  louder  than  words."  In  this  connection 
it  is  not  too  much  to  say  that  Joseph  A.  Lewman  has  lived  a  life  of  honor; 
that  he  is  industrious  and  has  the  confidence  of  all  who  know  him  and  have 
the  pleasure  of  his  friendship,  being  one  of  Monroe  township's  well  known 
stockmen  and  fanners,  having  owned  some  the  best  horses  that  Putnam 
county  ever  produced. 

Mr.  Lewman  was  born  January  4.  1853.  the  son  of  Jesse  and  Purcella 
(Laforge)  Lewman.  natives  of  Fleming  county.  Kentucky.  In  1857.  while 
on  a  trip  to  Iowa,  the  father  w-as  drowned  by  falling  off  the  deck  of  the 
steamboat  that  was  carrying  him.  The  mother  and  children  then  abandoned 
the  trip  and  came  to  Indiana. 

Joseph  A.  Lewman  received  an  ordinary  common  school  ethication.  On 
January  15.  1879.  he  married  Emma  F.  Cross,  daughter  of  a  well  known 
local  physician  of  the  past  generation,  a  sketch  of  whom  is  to  be  found 
elsewhere  in  these  pages.  Mrs.  Lewman's  father's  mother  was  related  to 
Edgar  Allen  Poe,  the  great  American  author. 

This  union  resulted  in  the  birth  of  the  following  children:  Ida  May. 
born  January  18.  1880.  married  Harry  L.  Grider.  a  merchant  of  Fincastle. 
this  county;  thev  have  one  child,  Howard  L..  born  [March  25.  1909:  James 
B.  Lewman  was  born  October  5.  1882;  Frederick  A.,  l^orn  Feliruarv'  24. 
1887:  Frank  C.  born  January  2.  1890.  is  a  bookkeeper  in  the  employ  of  the 
Bell  Telephone  Company;  Ruth,  born  June  24.  1895.  is  a  student  in  the 
Bainbridare  schools. 


PUTNAM    COUNTY,    INDIANA.  459 

Mr.  Lewman  is  the  owner  of  one  hundred  and  forty  acres  of  well  cul- 
tivated and  highly  improved  land  where  he  has  carried  on  general  farm- 
ing very  successfully  for  many  years;  but  stock  raising  has  been  his  prin- 
cipal source  of  income  and  has  claimed  his  close  attention.  It  is  as  the 
owner  of  fine  horses  that  he  has  become  widely  known,  having  been  a  very 
successful  horse  raiser,  among  the  well  known  horses  he  has  owned  being 
the  following:  "Brinoda,"  with  a  record  of  2:11^4;  "Major  Ham."  2:24; 
"Major  Ham.  Jr.,"  2:19;  "Coon  Hollow  Jack."  2:i^':i:  "Trixie."  2:i9'4; 
"Major  L.."  2:09'4;  "Alice  Miller,"  2:15.  He  still  owns  some  valuable 
stock  for  which  he  finds  a  ready  market  whenever  he  cares  to  dispose  of  them. 

Mr.  Lewman  is  a  member  of  Masonic  Lodge  Xo.  75,  at  Bainbridge :  in 
politics  he  is  a  Democrat,  and  while  he  is  interested  in  the  county's  welfare  in 
every  way  he  is  no  office  seeker,  but  spends  all  his  time  looking  after  his  in- 
dividual affairs. 


.  AXDREW  MARSHALL  TROXELL. 

From  a  fine  old  \'irginia  family,  noted  alike  for  its  hospitality  and 
industry,  is  descended  Andrew  Marshall  Troxell,  who  has  long  figured 
prominently  in  Putnam  county  affairs.  He  himself  was  born  near  Lexington, 
Virginia,  January  12,  1858,  the  son  of  .\ndrew  and  Elizabeth  Troxell.  who 
died  when  their  son,  Andrew  M..  was  young,  the  father  dying  in  the  Old 
Dominion,  and  the  mother  soon  passed  away  after  her  arrival  in  Henry 
county.  Indiana. 

Andrew  M.  Troxell  was  ambitious  when  a  lad  and  in  order  to  get  a 
proper  text-book  training,  worked  his  way  through  the  Knightstown  schools. 
He  began  his  life  work  by  taking  a  position  as  assistant  agent  of  the  Pennsyl- 
vania Railroad  Company  at  Knightstown.  Indiana,  where  he  remained  for  a 
period  of  four  years,  then  he  represented  this  company  as  agent  at  Raysville. 
Indiana,  for  two  years.  Always  of  an  artistic  temperament  and  by  nature 
a  lover  of  the  beautiful,  he  obser\-ed  an  opening  for  a  florist  at  Knightstown 
and  accordingly  established  himself  there  in  this  line  which  he  continued  with 
varying  success  for  a  period  of  fifteen  years.  Twelve  years  ago  he  came  to 
Greencastle  and  launched  out  in  the  same  line  of  business  and  was  very  suc- 
cessful from  the  first.  In  1908  he  formed  a  partnership  with  C.  A.  Shake  and 
he  is  still  engaged  in  vigorously  pushing  his  business  to  the  front.  This  finn 
has  now  become  well  established  and  is  one  of  the  b.est  known  in  this  part 


460  weik's  history  of 

of  the  state  and  does  an  extensive  business  with  this  and  surrounding  towns. 
Fraternally  Mr.  Troxell  belongs  to  the  Independent  Order  of  Odd  Fellows, 
also  the  encampment.  He  is  known  as  an  energetic,  honest  and  congenial 
business  man  who  has  made  manv  friends  since  coming  here. 


^IRS.  VIRGIXIA  C.  AKERS. 

A  woman  who  enjoys  distinctive  social  prestige  in  Warren  township, 
Putnam  countv.  where  she  has  iiosts  of  friends  who  delight  in  her  companion- 
ship because  of  her  genial  and  hospitable  disposition,  and  who  has  proved 
herself  to  be  a  woman  of  rare  business  ability  in  the  successful  management 
of  her  fine  farm,  is  Mrs.  Virginia  C.  Akers,  who  is  a  native  of  Putnam 
county,  having  been  born  here  February  22,  1842,  the  daughter  of  John  and 
Marv  Gose.  an  old  and  well  established  family  of  this  county,  her  father 
being  a  native  of  Virginia.  Mrs.  Akers  grew  to  maturity  on  her  father's 
old  homestead  and  had  the  advantage  of  the  common  schools.  January  19, 
1865,  she  married  Martin  C.  Hurst,  born  March  15,  1846,  the  son  of  Jeffer- 
son and  Eliza  Hurst,  the  father  bom  in  Marion  township,  Putnam  county, 
March  28,  1824,  the  son  of  William  and  Fannie  Hurst,  the  former  a  native 
of  Virginia.  His  parents  came  to  Putnam  county,  Indiana,  in  1823,  being 
among  the  first  settlers  of  the  county,  locating  on  Deer  creek,  in  Marion 
township,  entering  several  tracts  of  land  there  from  the  government.  Like 
all  pioneers,  he  endured  many  hardships  and  privations  and  died  in  1850. 
He  and  his  wife  were  the  parents  of  six  children,  all  now  deceased.  Mr. 
Hurst  was  widely  known  and  highly  respected.  Politically  he  was  a  Demo- 
crat and  he  was  a  devoted  member  of  the  old-school  Baptist  church.  Jeffer- 
son Hurst  was  reared  to  manhood  in  this  county  and  received  a  limited  edu- 
cation in  the  early  subscription  schools.  December  24,  1844,  he  married 
Elsie  \'owel  and  eight  children  were  born  to  them,  namely:  Martin  C,  first 
husband  of  ]Mrs.  Akers,  of  this  review;  William,  Levi,  Squire  J..  James  H., 
George  W.,  Benjamin  F.  and  Mary,  wife  of  Daniel  Moffet.  The  mother  of 
these  children  died  November  2,  1879,  and  on  September  i,  1891,  Jefferson 
Hurst  married  Mary  E.  Tilley,  a  native  of  Owen  county,  Indiana.  Two 
children  were  born  to  this  union,  Joseph  B.  and  Flossie  M.  Mr.  Hurst  was 
a  successful  farmer;  he  first  settled  on  a  farm  in  section  36,  Greencastle 
township,  and  he  became  the  owner  of  six  hundred  acres  of  valuable  land 
and   was  considered   one  of  the  leading  agriculturists   of  the   countv.      He 


PCTNAM    COUNTY,    INDIANA.  461 

was  a  member  of  the  old-school  Baptist  church  and  served  as  clerk  of  the 
local  congregation  for  many  years.  His  death  occurred  on  September  19, 
1888. 

:\Iartin  C.  Hurst,  his  son  and  first  husband  of  ?\Irs.  Akers.  began  his 
married  life  on  a  fann  given  him  by  his  father,  near  Mt.  ^Meridian,  in  Jeffer- 
son township,  and  they  made  this  their  home  for  five  years,  then  moved  to 
a  farm  of  one  hundred  and  fourteen  acres  in  section  i,  Warren  township, 
and  after  a  few  years  bought  an  adjoining  eighty,  and  they  moved 
into  a  weather-boarded  log  house,  on  which  they  made  additions  later,  and 
here, ]\ Irs.  Akers  has  continued  to  reside.  ^Ir.  Hurst  prospered  and  owned 
three  hundred  and  fifty  acres  at  his  death,  which  occurred  February  4,  1899. 
He  devoted  his  life  to  farming  and  stock  raising  and  he  and  his  wife  were 
members  of  the  Primitive  Baptist  church.  Seven  children  were  born  to  them : 
Ida  Lee,  now  Mrs.  Dobbs,  was  born  November  25,  1866,  married  July  28, 
1889.  and  she  has  had  four  children,  Joel  M..  Albert  Lee,  Edgar  R.  (de- 
ceased) and  Eugene  H.  Mr.  Dobbs  is  a  farmer  in  Mill  Creek  township. 
Albert  W.,  born  November  25,  1868,  died  January  3,  1S88;  Walter  W.,  born 
April  9,  1 871,  married  Maud  May  Bryan,  :May  15,  1892,  and  they  are  the 
parents  of  four  children.  Hazel  C,  Norbert,  Caroline  and  Thomas  A.  Mr. 
LIurst  is  a  salesman,  living  at  Columbus,  Ohio.  Lawrence  T.  Hurst,  born 
April  22,  1873,  married  Birdie  W.  Wright  December  24,  1893,  and  they  have 
one  child,  H.  Kenneth.  Mr.  Hurst  has  taught  school  and  engaged  in  mer- 
chandising. The  next  child  was  named  Edgar,  born  September  2,  1875,  and 
died  November  18,  1877.  Paul  Hurst,  born  .\pril  30,  1879.  married  Ger- 
trude Cooper:  he  is  engaged  in  farming  and  he  and  his  wife  are  the  parents 
of  four  children,  Victor  Ray,  Harry  H.,  Alton  O.  an<l  Cecil  C.  Jasper  T. 
Hurst,  born  February  6,  1S82,  is  also  engaged  in  farming:  he  married  Myrtle' 
Cooper  January  14,  1902,  and  they  have  the  fcjllowing  children:  Emmett  C, 
Edgar  E.,  Opal  Marie. 

After  the  death  of  her  first  husband,  INIrs.  }ilartin  C.  Hurst  had  the 
management  of  the  home  farm  and  she  looked  after  the  same  in  a  business- 
like and  successful  manner.  On  September  16,  1902,  she  married  Henry  S. 
Akers,  a  native  of  Virginia,  who  came  to  Lidiana  October  i,  186S.  He  was 
drafted  from  Franklin  county,  Virginia,  for  service  in  the  Confederate  army, 
under  Colonel  Magruger,  of  the  Fifty-Seventh  Regiment.  Longstreet's  corps. 
Pickett's  division,  and  he  saw  service  in  many  of  the  greatest  battles  of  the 
war.  including  Gettysburg,  Antietam.  Winchester  and  many  of  lesser  note. 

^Ir.  .\kers  was  previously  married,  his  first  wife  dying  April  26,  1884, 
and  twelve  children  were  born  to  that  union,  of  whom  seven  survive:  Chades 


462  WEIK  S    HISTORY    OF 

J.,  a  Baptist  minister,  living  in  the  state  of  Washington;  ^Irs.  Mildred 
Britton,  a  farmer  in  Putnam  county,  and  they  have  two  children,  Harvey 
and  Clav ;  James  C.  Akers  has  remained  single  and  is  living  in  this  county ; 
Mrs.  Sarah  Jarvis  lives  in  Parke  county,  Indiana:  Silas  Lee,  Stock  Yards, 
Indianapolis;  Joseph  A.  lives  in  Jasper  county;  Mrs.  Elizabeth  C.  Angus 
also  lives  in  Jasper  county.  Indiana. 


CAPT.  WILLIAM  P.  WIMMER. 

.\  pioneer  of  the  pioneers,  a  Civil  war  veteran  with  a  splendid  record, 
and  a  progressive  fanner  who  has  made  a  success  of  his  business  by  keep- 
ing up  with  the  procession — such  a  man  is  Captain  Wimmer,  to  whom  we 
now  introduce  the  readers  of  this  volume.  He  is  a  good  man  to  know  and 
all  who  meet  him  are  sure  to  like  him.  When  it  is  stated  that  his  progenitor 
was  a  \'irginian  of  the  old  school,  it  will  be  seen  that  this  family  comes  of 
excellent  stock.  It  was  in  1822  that  Jacob  Wimmer  and  his  young  wife 
mounted  their  horse  in  front  of  their  old  Virginia  homes,  kissed  their  friends 
goodby  and  turned  their  faces  resolutely  to  the  west.  It  took  a  stout  heart 
to  ride  the  hundreds  of  miles  intervening  between  the  Old  Dominion  and 
western  Indiana  at  the  time  this  journey  was  undertaken.  There  were  prac- 
tically no  roads,  only  trails  and  traces.  Long  ranges  of  rough  mountains  had 
to  be  crossed,  large  and  deep  rivers  to  be  forded  or  ferried,  miles  and  miles 
of  gigantic  forests  to  be  threaded,  under  mighty  trees  whose  shade  was  so 
dense  that  in  many  places  the  sunlight  could  not  penetrate  at  mid-day.  Jacob 
Wimmer  and  wife  were  brave  and  self-confident.  They  had  made  up  their 
minds  to  hunt  a  home  in  the  boundless  west,  where  land  was  cheap  and  the 
soil  rich.  Thev  escaped  all  accidents  by  flood  and  field,  including  wild  beasts 
and  Indians,  trudged  along  at  the  rate  of  some  fifteen  or  twenty  miles  a  day 
and  eventually  reached  their  goal.  Mr.  Wimmer  entered  government  land, 
one  mile  east  of  what  is  now  Bridgeton  in  Parke  county  and  this  in  time 
became  the  homestead  of  the  Wimmer  famih-.  This  ad\-enturous  youth 
married  a  pioneer  girl  named  Elizabeth  Mills,  and  tradition  says  she  made 
him  a  helpmate  worthy  of  his  courageous  character.  They  were  married  in 
Virginia  and  she  accompanied  him  to  Indiana,  riding  the  seven  hundred 
miles  on  horseback. 

\\"illiam  Perrv  Wimmer.  a  son  of  the  above  mentioned  couple,  was  born 
in   Parke  countv.   Indiana.   March    i ;,    1836.     He  got  the   rudiments  of  an 


PUTNAM    COUNTY,    INDIANA.  463 

education  in  the  old  subscription  school  and  loves  to  tell  how  he  had  to 
walk  three  miles  to  school  ever\'  day  and  he  wastes  no  sympathy  on  the 
tender  shoots  of  this  age  who  insist  on  being  hauled  to  school.  It  was  per- 
haps his  pioneer  experiences  that  caused  Captain  Wimmer  to  become  an 
advocate  of  good  roads,  in  which  cause  he  has  always  been  enthusiastic.  He 
took  an  active  and  ot^cial  part  in  the  building  of  the  first  free  roads  in  Put- 
nam countv  and  long  ago  saw  the  vital  necessity  of  easy  means  of  trans- 
portation from  place  to  place,  especially  fanners.  He  has  been  one  of  the 
viewers  anil  has  opened  up  over  seventy  miles  of  gravel  and  rock  roads  in 
Putnam  county. 

Captain  Wimmer  is  ju.stly  proud  of  his  war  record  and  has  reason  to 
be.  as  no  man  can  show  one  longer  or  more  creditable.  He  enlisted  on  July 
6.  1 86 1,  and  devoted  four  years  and  a  half  to  the  cause  of  the  Union.  He 
was  promoted  from  the  ranks  to  second  lieutenant  and  from  second  to  first 
lieutenant,  and  from  first  lieutenant  to  captain,  and  had  command  of 
Companx-  H.  of  the  Twenty-first  Indiana  Regiment.  First  Heavy  Artillen,-, 
as  captain.  The  command  served  under  Gen.  Ben  Butler  and  saw  much  hard 
fighting  and  campaigning.  .\t  Baton  Rouge  his  regiment,  in  connection 
with  the  Si.xth  Michigan  and  Fourth  Wisconsin,  had  a  severe  engagement 
with  the  enemv  and  it  was  the  opinion  of  General  Butler,  publicly  expressed. 
tliat  the  Twenty-first  Indiana  had  won  the  day. 

.\fter  the  war.  Captain  Wimmer  engaged  in  farming  and  came  to 
Putnam  county  in  i8fi8.  He  has  always  taken  much  interest  in  all  farmers' 
organizations,  such  as  the  Grange,  the  institutes  and  other  educational  gath- 
erings. Captain  Wimmer  has  always  been  a  Democrat  and  in  1S77  was 
elected  ioint  representative  from  Putnam  and  Plendricks  counties,  overcom- 
ing a  Republican  majority  in  Hentlricks  county  of  eleven  hundred,  and  be- 
ing elected  bv  sixty-one.  which  was  (|uite  complimentar}-  to  his  popularity 
considering  the  state  of  parties  in  the  two  counties  at  that  time. 

In  1867  Captain  Wimmer  married  Angela,  daughter  of  David  Parker 
and  Elizabeth  (Lockridge)  Farrow,  a  descendant  of  Colonel  Farrow,  a  noted 
pioneer,  of  whom  a  sketch  appears  elsewhere  in  this  volume.  His  wife  hav- 
ing died  a  few  months  after  their  union.  Captain  W'immer  married  her 
•lister.  Catherine  Elizabeth,  the  ceremony  taking  place  .\ugust  7,  1S68.  They 
ha\-e  had  sexen  children;  Gertrude  Flarddee  is  a  resident  of  Indianapolis: 
lessie  married  James  Owens,  who  makes  his  home  in  Chicago:  Claude 
Parker,  who  remains  with  his  father,  married  :\Iyrtle  Ragsdale :  Xelly  Eliza- 
beth died  in  infancy:  Oscar  died  when  three  years  old,  and  Omar,  his  twin 
brother,   is   a   resident   of   Chicago;   William   Andrew,    who   married    Xelly 


464 


WEIK  S    HISTORY    OF 


Can-er,  has  one  child,  Elizabeth  Louise,  and  remains  on  the  old  homestead 
Captain  Wimmer's  two  sons  assist  him  on  his  farm  of  one  hundred  and 
sixty  acres,  which  has  all  the  modern  improvements  and  is  conducted  on 
scientific  principles. 

Captain  W'immer  has  been  an  Odd  Fellow  since  186S,  belonging  to 
Lodge  Xo.  45,  of  Greencastle.  He  is  also  a  member  of  the  Grand  Army  of 
the  Republic.  Greencastle  Post. 


THOALAS  D.  BROOKSHIRE. 

The  record  of  Thomas  D.  Brookshire  is  that  of  an  enterprising  and 
public-spirited  gentleman  who  worthily  upholds  an  honorable  family  name, 
and  whose  life  has  been  very  intimately  associated  with  the  material  pros- 
perity and  moral  advancement  of  Franklin  township,  and  in  fact,  with  the 
general  progress  of  Putnam  county,  during  the  most  progressive  period  of  its 
history,  for  he  has  always  been  found  on  the  right  side  of  questions  looking 
to  the  development  of  his  community  in  any  way,  and  while  he  has  been 
prominent  in  the  industrial  affairs  of  the  county,  he  has  at  the  same  time 
won  an  enviable  reputation  for  honesty  and  wholesome  living.  He  is  a  native 
of  Montgomery  county,  Indiana,  where  his  birth  occurred  October  15,  1861, 
the  son  of  Drake  and  Sallie  (Graves)  Brookshire,  the  father  having  come  to 
JNIonto'omerv  countv  in  1830,  being  among  the  first  settlers  in  his  community. 
He  made  the  long  and  somewhat  hazardous  trip  oxerland  from  Randolph 
county,  Xorth  Carolina,  but  he  was  a  hardy  son  of  the  soil  and  enjoyed  new 
conditions  and  primitive  surroundings.  Sallie  Graves  also  came  from  the 
same  locality  in  the  old  Tar  state,  and  they  were  married  in  Montgomery 
county,  Lidiana.  in  1S41.  Drake  Brookshire  is  still  living,  three  miles  north- 
east of  Ladoga.  Indiana,  where  he  owns  a^ valuable  farm  of  two  hundred  and 
fortv-ei^ht  acres.  He  has  been  very  successful  since  coming  here,  having 
seen  the  countrv  develop  in  a  wonderful  manner.  He  is  a  man  of  excellent 
characteristics.  He  was  biirn  in  1819,  and  is  now  in  his  ninety-first  year. 
Grandfather  Joel  Brookshire  was  a  native  of  North  Carolina  and  came  to 
Alontgomerv  countv  in  1830.  He  married  Sallie  Slack.  He  died  in  1869. 
after  rearing  a  familv  of  twelve  children,  five  sons  and  seven  daughters. 

To  Air.  and  Mrs.  Drake  Brookshire  ten  children  were  born,  nine  sons  and 
one  daughter,  named  as  follows:  Andrew  G.,  Allen.  Alexander  M.,  James  and 
Alarv  E,  are  both  deceased;  Hon.  Elijah  \'..  who  represented  the  old  eighth 


THOMAS   D.   BROOKSHIRE 


PUTNAM     COUNTY.     INDIANA.  465 

congressional  district  in  Congress  for  a  period  of  six  years,  is  a  prominent 
lawyer  in  Washington.  D.  C. ;  Joel,  Thomas  D.,  of  this  review,  is  the  seventh 
son  in  order  of  birth;  Swan  C.  (deceased)  and  Lee. 

Thomas  D.  Brookshire  was  reared  on  the  farm  and  when  old  enough 
assisted  with  the  general  work  on  the  same,  attending  the  district  schools  dur- 
ing the  winter  months  until  he  reached  maturity.  He  was  a  student  at  Ladoga 
Normal  School  for  a  time,  and  after  receiving  a  good  education  he  returned 
to  the  farm,  but  in  iS88  he  returned  to  Ladoga,  Indiana,  and  entered  the 
butcher  business.  He  had  been  ver}-  successful  at  this,  but  on  August  17, 
1S91.  he  left  that  place  and  came  to  Putnam  county  where  he  purchased  a 
fami.  which  recei\'ed  his  entire  attention,  consequentl}'  he  has  prospered  and 
now  owns  one  hundred  and  fifty  acres  in  Jackson  township,  also  owns  one  hun- 
dred and  twenty  acres  in  Montgomery  comity.  He  has  developed  his  farm  in 
a  manner  that  stamps  him  as  a  modern  twentieth-century  agriculturist  and 
his  abundant  harvests  annually  attest  to  his  care  and  sound  judgment.  Be- 
sides carrying  on  general  farming  he  also  devotes  considerable  attention  to 
stock  raising,  and  knowing  well  how  to  handle  all  kinds  of  stock,  no  small 
part  of  his  annual  income  is  deri\ed  from  this  source.  He  has  one  of  the 
best  impro\"ed  and  most  attractive  places  in  the  township. 

On  October  15,  n^oj.'Mr.  Brookshire  moved  to  Roachdale.  where  he  has 
since  made  his  home  in  an  attractive,  cozy  and  modern  dwelling  on  Indiana 
street.  He  was  married  on  November  27.  1884,  to  Emma  Myers,  the  rep- 
resentative of  an  excellent  family  of  Montgomery  county,  Indiana,  where 
she  was  born  December  17,  1863.  having  been  reared  on  the  home  farm  and 
educated  in  the  district  schools.  She  is  the  fifth  child  in  order  of  birth  in 
a  famil_\-  of  eight  children. 

l\Ir.  and  Mrs.  Erookshire's  pleasant  home  has  been  graced  by  the  birth 
of  two  interesting  children,  namely:  Flora  C.  born  November  30.  1887.  is 
the  wife  of  Dora  Crodian.  li\-ing  in  Putnam  county;  Carlisle  M..  born  Jan- 
uary 5,  1S90.  is  single  and  is  living  at  home. 

Mrs.  Brookshire  is  a  member  of  the  Christian  church.  Fraternally.  [Mr. 
Brookshire  belongs  to  Roachdale  Lodge.  No.  602.  Free  and  Accepted  Masons, 
of  which  he  is  a  past  master.  Both  he  and  his  wife  belong  to  the  Eastern 
Star,  of  which  he  is  worthy  patron.  He  is  also  a  member  of  Greencastle 
Chapter.  No.  2J.  Royal  .\rch  Masons,  of  Greencastle  Council.  Roval  and 
Select  Masters,  and  Greencastle  Commandery.  No.   11,  Knights  Templar. 

Politically,  ]\[r.  Brookshire  is  a  Democrat,  and  he  has  long  taken  con- 
siderable interest  in  the  affairs  of  his  party,  ami  he  has  alwa_\-s  done  wJiat 
(30) 


466 


WEIK  S    HISTORY    OF 


he  could  politically  and  otherwise  to  advance  the  interests  of  his  county.  On 
December  i.  1898.  he  was  elected  county  commissioner  from  the  first  district 
and  he  made  such  an  honorable  and  highly  commendable  record  in  every 
way  that  he  has  since  been  re-elected  twice  to  the  same  office,  serving  the 
same  with  fidelity  and  ability  for  a  period  of  nine  years  and  one  month,  dur- 
ing which  time  there  were  four  hundred  miles  of  macadam  road  built  and 
there  was  an  expenditure  of  one  hundred  thousand  dollars,  and  he  ^vas  also 
chairman  of  the  board  of  construction  when  the  court  house  was  built,  which 
imposing  structure  would  be  a  credit  to  any  county,  as  would  also  the  fine 
system  of  roads.  According  to  the  statement  of  many  of  his  constituents  and 
fellow  citizens,  regardless  of  party  affiliations,  Mr.  Brookshire  was  perhaps 
the  best  commissioner  the  county  has  ever  had,  for  he  did  many  important 
things  while  in  office  and  always  discharged  his  duties  with  a  fidelity  of  pur- 
pose that  could  not  help  being  in  the  end  of  general  benefit.  His  record  is 
without  a  stain  or  the  shadow  or  suspicion  of  wrong  in  any  way  and  he  will 
always  have  the  high  esteem  of  his  friends  and  acquaintances  throughout  the 
country  or  wherever  he  is  known. 

Mr.  Brookshire  is  a  large  stockholder  in  the  bank  at  Roachdale  and  is 
one  of  its  directors.  Success  has  attended  his  efforts  because  he  has  worked 
for  it  along  legitimate  lines  and  has  been  true  to  every  trust  reposed  in  him. 
Personally  he  is  a  good  mixer,  genial,  genteel,  straightforward  and  hospitable, 
and  while  advancing  his  own  interests  never  fails  to  consider  the  rights  of 
others. 


ESTES  DUXCAX. 


Among  the  enterprising  farmers  and  representative  citizens  of  Putnam 
county  who  bv  well  directed  industry  and  force  of  character  have  sur- 
mounted adverse  conditions  and  risen  to  positions  of  influence  and  promi- 
nence in  their  respective  communities,  the  name  of  the  subject  of  this  sketch 
is  deserving  of   special   notice. 

The  family  of  which  Estes  Duncan  is  an  honorable  representative  is 
an  old  and  highly  esteemed  one  in  this  part  of  Indiana  and  wherever  known 
the  name  stands  for  all  that  is  upright  in  manhood  and  creditable  in  citizen- 
ship. Benjamin  Duncan,  the  subject's  grandfather,  was  a  native  of  Pennsyl- 
vania and  a  man  of  sound,  practical  judgment  and  intelligence.  He  and  his 
wife.  Adaline.  migrated  to  Putnam  county  some  time  prior  to  1830  and. 
settliu"-  in  what  is  now  Cloverdale  township,  purchased  a  valuable  tract  of 


PUTXAM    COL'XTV.    INDIANA.  467 

government  land  which  he  subsequently  developed  into  a  fine  fann  and  on 
which  both  spent  the  remainder  of  their  days,  dying  just  across  the  county 
line  in  the  village  of  Ouincy.  where  for  several  years  they  had  made  their 
home. 

Among  the  children  of  Benjamin  and  Adaline  Duncan  was  a  son,  Llovd 
T.,  whose  birth  occurred  on  the  homestead  in  Putnam  county,  April  3.  1843, 
and  who,  like  his  father,  was  a  farmer  by  occupation  and  a  man  of  more  than 
ordinan,-  intelligence  and  influence.  He  was  a  member  of  Companv  E, 
Thirty-third  Regiment.  Indiana  \'olunteer  Infantry,  in  the  late  Civil  war 
and  was  with  his  command  during  all  the  varied  experiences  of  the  cam- 
paign and  battled  and  bore  his  part  bravely  and  well,  upholding  the  honor 
of  the  government  in  its  time  of  peril.  He  shared  with  his  comrades  the 
hardships  and  dangers  of  active  ser\-ice  until  severely  wounded  at  the  battle 
of  Peach  Tree  Creek  (siege  of  Atlanta),  where  he  was  shot  through  the  left 
arm  so  near  the  shoulder  that  the  entire  arm  had  to  be  amputated,  during 
which  operation  the  blood  pressure  was  so  strong  on  the  arteries  at  the  in- 
jured part  as  to  endanger  his  life.  Indeed,  for  a  long  time  his  friends 
despaired  of  his  reco\'ery  and  more  than  a  year  elapsed  before  he  regained 
sufficient  strength  to  enable  him  to  reach  his  home.  Among  the  more  im- 
portant engagements  in  which  he  participated  were :  Peach  Tree  Creek, 
Thompson's  Station  and  Cumberland  Gap. 

Shortly  after  leaving  the  army  'Sir.  Duncan  was  united  in  marriage  with 
^lan.-  A.  Gillespie,  daughter  of  Lysander  and  Rebecca  (Alartin)  Gillespie, 
the  union  resulting  in  the  birth  of  eight  children,  of  whom  the  subject  was 
the  first  born,  the  youngest  three  being  triplets,  one  of  whom  died  at  the 
age  of  nine  months,  this,  with  the  father's  death,  which  occurred  [March  13, 
1903,  being  the  only  invasions  of  the  family  circle  by  the  dread  Destroyer. 
Airs.  Duncan,  who  is  residing  in  Cloverdale  township,  is  a  lady  of  excellent 
character,  and  is  highly  esteemed  by  her  neighbors  and  friends  and  those 
who  know  her  best  speak  in  glowing  terms  of  her  many  excellent  qualities 
of  head  and  heart. 

Estes  Duncan,  whose  birth  occurred  in  Putnam  county,  Indiana.  Sep- 
tember 13.  1S67,  was  reared  on  the  home  place  in  the  northern  part  of  Owen 
county  and  early  became  familiar  with  the  varied  duties  of  the  fann.  At 
the  proper  age  he  entered  the  public  school  in  the  neighborhood  and  with  such 
interest  did  he  apply  himself  to  his  studies  that  on  the  seventeenth  anniversary 
of  his  birth  he  was  sufficiently  advanced  to  pass  the  required  examination 
and  receive  a  teacher's  license.     Although  but  a  youth  in  age  and  appearance, 


468 


WEIK  S    HISTORY    OF 


he  took  charge  of  a  district  school  and  proved  not  only  a  successful  and 
popular  instructor  but  a  strict  disciplinarian,  whose  methods  won  the  favor 
alike  of  pupils  and  patrons.  Actuated  by  a  laudable  desire  to  fit  himself  for 
o-reater  efficiency  in  his  chosen  calling,  he  subsequently  entered  the  State 
Normal  School  at  Terre  Haute,  which  he  attended  at  intervals  during  the 
early  part  of  his  professional  career,  teaching  in  the  meantime  and  after- 
wards devoting  his  entire  attention  to  school  work.  Mr.  Duncan's  experience 
in  the  school  room  covered  a  period  of  fifteen  years,  during  which  time 
he  forged  to  the  front  among  the  successful  teachers  of  the  county  and  had 
he  seen  fit  to  devote  his  life  to  this  honorable  profession  he  doubtless  would 
have  achieved  high  distinction  among  the  educators  of  the  state.  With  a 
natural  liking  for  the  soil,  however,  and  an  aptitude  for  its  cultivation,  he 
decided  to  give  his  attention  to  fanning;  accordingly  in  1889  he  engaged  in 
that  vocation  which  he  carried  on  in  connection  with  teaching  during  the 
ten  vears  ensuing,  when  he  discontinued  the  latter,  since  which  time  he  has 
ranked  among  the  enterprising  agriculturists  of  his  township  and  county. 
The  father,  being  a  clear  headed,  well  balanced  man  of  practical  ideas,  ad- 
vised his  sons  to  buy  land  and  go  in  debt  for  the  same,  assuring  them  that  for 
young  men  without  ready  capital  this  was  the  best  and  surest  way  of  securing 
a  home  and  acquiring  a  competency.  Acting  upon  this  judicious  counsel,  the 
subject  purchased  lands  from  time  to  time  until  his  indebtedness  amounted 
to  the  sum  of  three  thousand  five  hundred  dollars,  but  managed  his  affairs 
with  such  energy  and  diligence  that  at  the  end  of  four  years  his  land  was 
not  only  free  from  encumbrance  but  he  occupied  a  prominent  position  among 
the  leading  men  of  his  calling  in  Cloverdale  township. 

Bv  well  directed  effort  and  sound  judgment  'Sir.  Duncan  has  been  en- 
abled to  add  to  his  holdings  at  intervals  until  he  now  is  the  owner  of  four 
hundred  acres  of  valuable  land,  the  greater  part  under  a  high  state  of  cul- 
tivation and  otherwise  well  improved,  his  buildings  being  among  the  best  in 
the  community,  and  in  point  of  productiveness  his  farms  yield  precedence 
to  no  like  area  in  the  county.  As  a  tiller  of  the  soil  he  is  not  only  energetic 
and  progressive,  but  also  studious,  believing  in  the  dignity  of  his  calling  and 
strivino-  bv  e\-ery  means  at  his  command  to  make  it  remunerative  and  in  the 
hio-hest  decree  honorable.  In  addition  to  his  agricultural  and  livestock  inter- 
ests he  is  identified  with  several  local  enterprises  of  different  character, 
amono-  them  being  the  Cloverdale  Hardware  &  Lumber  Company,  of 
which  he  is  secretary^  and  treasurer  and  the  success  of  which  is  very  largely 
attributable  to  his  judicious  management. 


PUTXAM    COUNTY,    INDIANA.  469 

The  domestic  life  of  Mr.  Duncan  dates  from  the  year  18S9.  at  which 
time  was  solemnized  his  marriage  with  Nevada  Pollard,  a  daughter  of 
William  G.  and  Martha  A.  Pollard,  a  union  blessed  with  two  children.  Frank 
P.  and  Floyd  R.,  both  bright  and  intelligent  young  men  with  promising  fu- 
tures before  them.  The  older  son  is  a  student  of  the  State  University,  where 
he  is  preparing  himself  for  a  life  of  usefulness  and  honor;  the  younger, 
who  is  also  ambitious,  is  pursuing  his  studies  in  the  Cloverdale  high  school, 
with  the  object  in  view  of  becoming  more  than  a  mere  passive  factor  in  the 
world  of  affairs. 

Mr.  and  Mrs.  Duncan,  together  with  their  sons,  are  members  of  the 
[Methodist  Episcopal  church  and  are  zealous  in  all  lines  under  the  auspices 
of  the  same.  Fraternally,  Mr.  Duncan  belongs  to  the  Independent  Order 
of  Odd  Fellows  and  Modern  Woodmen,  in  both  of  which  societies  he  has 
been  honored  from  time  to  time  with  important  ofificial  positions. 


JOHX  W.  WALLACE. 

In  reality  no  greater  badge  of  honor  could  be  attached  to  a  man  at  the 
present  time  than  to  refer  to  him  as  one  of  the  "boys  in  blue,"  for  it  re- 
quired no  little  amount  of  -sacrifice,  no  small  degree  of  courage  and  no  lack 
of  patriotism  to  leave  hearth  and  home  and  brave  the  dangers  and  hard- 
ships of  camp,  campaign  and  battle  in  order  to  perpetuate  the  L'nion,  to 
sa\e  the  national  integrity  and  to  insure  peace  and  prosperity  to  future 
generations.  Such  a  man  is  John  W.  Wallace,  one  of  Mill  Creek  township's 
substantial  farmers.  He  was  born  in  Hendricks  county,  Indiana,  in  1835, 
the  son  of  Elijah  and  ]\Ielvina  (Manley)  Wallace,  the  father  born  March  22, 
181 1,  in  Anderson  county,  Tennessee,  the  son  of  David  and  Elizabeth 
(Atkins)  Wallace.  Elijah  Wallace  grew  to  maturity  in  his  home  community 
and  in  March.  1S34.  he  married  Melvina  Manley.  who  was  born  October  6. 
18 1 3.  in  Tennessee.  Her  parents  were  Wilson  and  Louisa  Manley.  natives 
of  the  same  state.  Eleven  children  were  born  to  this  union,  namely:  Amanda, 
wife  of  Leonard  Shaw:  John,  James,  David  and  Elizabeth:  Louisa,  the 
wife  of  Homer  W.  Sandv :  Xancy,  wife  of  Samuel  ^IcCollum:  ^^"illiam ; 
Ellen,  wife  of  Richard  Brown,  and  Serelda. 

Elijah  ^Vallace  and  family  came  to  Indiana  in  1834  and  settled  first  in 
Morgan  county,  but  after  a  short  residence  there  moved  to  what  is  now 
Hendricks  county,  locating  in  the  woods,  cleared  a  spot  and  erected  a  cabin, 


470 


WEIK  S    HISTORY    OF 


and  soon  began  the  work  of  clearing  a  farm.  He  had  a  total  capital  of 
only  one  hundred  dollars  when  he  reached  this  state,  but  he  was  successful 
and  at  his  death  had  accumulated  large  holdings;  he  died  July  I3.  1884.  He 
was  a  man  whom  everybody  liked  and  trusted.  After  his  death  his  widow 
moved  to  Alill  Creek  township  and  made  her  home  there;  she  often  re- 
ferred to  the  days  of  1834.  when  she  and  her  husband  arrived  in  Indiana, 
having  made  the  journey  from  Tennessee  in  a  one-horse  wagon.  Mr. 
Wallace  was  worth  quite  a  sum  for  those  days,  one  hundred  thousand  dollars 
at  the  time  of  his  death. 

When  John  W.  Wallace  was  about  seven  years  old  the  family  moved  to 
Morgan  countv.  where  the  father  entered  another  farm,  and  lived  there  five 
or  six  years,  then  moved  two  and  one-half  miles  south  of  Stilesville.  where 
the  father  bought  another  farm,  tliis  being  the  family  home  until  the  death 
of  the  father  in  1884:  thus  in  the  southwest  corner  of  Hendricks  county  John 
W.  Wallace  grew  to  maturity.  In  i860  he  married  Louisa  Hill,  who  was 
born  in  Jefiferson  township,  the  daughter  of  George  and  Nellie  Hill.  Reuben 
Hill  was  the  father  of  George,  Harrison  and  ^^'arren  Hill.  George  Hill 
married  Melinda  Christenson  and  they  became  parents  of  three  children, 
namely:  Vandever  B..  Piney  married  Robert  McCammack ;  Andrew,  who 
first  married  a  Miss  MacAmic,  there  being  one  daughter  by  this  union; 
he  then  married  Emily  Jane  Scott,  and  to  this  union  were  born  three  sons 
and  four  daughters.  Melinda  Christenson  Hill  died  and  George  Hill  mar- 
ried Elinor  Newman  in  Kentucky.  George  Hill  came  from  Kentucky  about 
18^0  and  settled  one  and  one-half  miles  west  of  Belle  Union,  where  he  entered 
government  land,  the  country  roundabout  for  many  miles  being  new  and  un- 
cleared. He  remarried  and  died  there.  By  his  second  marriage  these  chil- 
dren were  born:  Malinda.  Sallie,  Eliza  (wife  of  John  Wallace),  IMargaret, 
Harrison  and  James. 

Andrew  Hill  grew  to  maturity  near^where  Belle  Union  now  stands.  He 
was  bom  in  Kentucky  about  1828  and  in  1830  his  parents  brought  him  to 
Indiana.  Twelve  children  were  born  to  Andrew  Hill  and  wife,  eight  of 
whom  are  now  living,  namely:  Florence  Dell  married  Thompson  Vaughan ; 
Vandever  Berry:  Savanna  married  John  Cohn :  Chandler  B. ;  IMonte  married 
Hucrh  Hicks  and  is  now  deceased;  Franklin  died  in  infancy:  Agnes  is  the 
widow  of  John  Whittaker:  Nevada  married  Reuben  Ma.sten :  Otto  and 
George.     Mrs.  Hill  died  February  17.  1898. 

James  Hill,  now  deceased,  was  born  in  Putnam  county  in  August, 
iS-'<).  the  son  of  George  and  Nellie  Hill,  natives  of  Kentucky  and  pioneers  of 


PLTNAM    COL'NTY,    INDIANA.  47^ 

Putnam  county.  He  was  reared  in  this  county  and  always  followed  farm- 
ing. He  was  also  engaged  in  shipping  stock.  He  was  married  in  March, 
1861.  to  Elizabeth,  daughter  of  Elijah  and  Afelvina  Wallace,  early  settlers 
of  this  county. 

Xine  children  were  born  to  Mr.  and  Mrs.  John  W.  Wallace,  named 
as  follows:  James  W..  Elijah.  Frances,  George.  Minnie  (deceased).  Emma. 
]^larietta  (deceased).  Dora  and  Catherine. 

Icihn  W.  Wallace  had  a  small  farm  in  Jefferson  township,  this  county, 
where  lie  lived  until  1863.  when  he  moved  to  section  17.  'MIW  Creek  township, 
where  he  lived  until  1884.  In  March.  1864.  he  enlisted  in  Company  E.  Fifty- 
ninth  Regiment.  Indiana  \'olunteer  Infantry,  joining  the  regiment  at  Flunts- 
ville.  Alabama,  while  the  army  was  on  its  way  from  Tennessee  to  Atlanta. 
He  was  taken  sick  the  following  August  and  was  sent  to  the  hospital  at 
Cleveland.  Tennessee,  where  he  was  confined  by  illness  until  Christmas, 
following.  From  there  he  was  sent  to  Baltimore,  then  by  ship  to  Xewburn. 
Xorth  Carolina;  he  was  then  in  the  battle  of  Kingston;  then  he  joined 
Sherman's  army  at  Goldsboro.  Xorth  Carolina,  from  which  place  he  ac- 
companied the  army  to  Raleigh  to  meet  Johnson's  army,  taking  three  days' 
rations  and  went  out  to  battle,  but  Johnson  surrendered  and  there  was  no 
battle.  Then  came  the  long,  hard  march  to  Washington  City,  where  Mr. 
Wallace  took  part  in  the  Grand  Review.  He  received  his  honorable  dis-  ' 
charge  at  Louisville,  Kentucky,  and  soon  afterward  came  home,  his  reunion 
with  his  family  being  something  not  to  be  forgotten. 

In  1884  Mr.  Wallace  bought  a  farm  in  sections  19  and  jo  in  Mill  Creek 
township.-  ^^  here  he  has  one  hundred  and  twenty  acres  of  well-kept  and  well- 
tilled  land.  Politicallv  he  is  a  Democrat ;  he  was  township  asses.sor  for  two 
terms.  He  is  a  member  of  the  Grand  Army  of  the  Republic  at  Greencastle. 
and  he  and  his  wife  both  belong  to  the  Friends  church  near  his  home.  Their 
children  are  as  follows:  James  W.  Wallace  marrierl  Cora  Knoy  and  lives  in 
Hendricks  county.  Indiana:  they  are  the  parents  of  seven  children.  Ida. 
Lottie,  .\nnie.  Eva.  Walter.  Xeda  and  Robert.  Elijah  Wallace  is  a  stock 
trader  and  lives  at  Greencastle:  he  married  Ida  McFadden  and  they  have 
one  child,  Frank.  Frances  ^\'allace  married  Vanley  Humphrey  and  li\es 
in  Mill  Creek  township;  two  children  were  born  to  them,  Elbert  and  Myrtle 
the  latter  dying  when  about  two  years  of  age.  George  A\"allace,  who  lives 
near  the  home  place,  married  Ella  Goodpaster  and  has  four  children,  Xellie, 
Xettie.  Elma  and  Herman.  Minnie  Wallace  married  Wilfred  Ogles  and  died 
in    1899,   leaving  two  small  children.  John   and  Gilbert:  after  the  death   of 


472  WEIK  S    HISTORY    OF 

their  mother  they  made  their  home  with  John  \V.  Wallace,  of  this  review. 
Gilbert  Wallace  married  ^label  Elmore  and  lives  near  John  W.  Wallace.  John 
Wallace  is  still  a  member  of  the  home  circle.  Emma  Wallace  married  Walter 
Butler  and  lives  at  Martinsville,  and  has  one  son.  Gilbert.  Marietta  died 
when  a  bab\-.  Dora  and  Catherine  both  live  at  home  with  their  parents. 
John  W.  Wallace  is  a  man  whom  everybody  likes,  being  kind-hearted, 
honest  and  reliable. 


TOHX  L.  SELLERS. 


Among  the  native  sons  of  Warren  township.  Putnam  county,  who  de- 
ser\-e  a  place  in  local  history  is  John  L.  Sellers,  who  has  spent  his  long  life 
here  and  who  has  ever  had  the  interest  of  his  community  at  heart.  His 
birth  occurred  August  25,  1S36.  the  son  of  John  Crawford  Sellers,  who  was 
born  March  26,  1796,  in  Garrard  county,  Kentucky.  ]March  i,  1821,  he  mar- 
ried Fannie  Brown  and  thirteen  children  resulted  from  this  union,  two  of 
whom  are  living,  John  L..  of  this  review,  and  Joseph  B.,  whose  death  occurred 
in  1843;  those  deceased  are,  Mrs.  Rebecca  Gilmore,  born  in  1830,  died  in 
April,  1906:  Mrs.  Martha  Ruark,  born  in  1838,  died  April  19,  1909;  Mrs. 
Lucy  Ann  Leach,  born  in  1822,  died  May  6.  1846:  James  Washington,  born 
in  1823,  died  June  11,  1865;  William,  born  in  1824,  died  October  5,  1850; 
Mary,  born  1826.  died  October  2.  1853:  Elizabeth,  born  1828.  died  October 
16.  185S;  Amanda  J.,  born  1832.  died  November  13.  1836:  Mrs.  Xancy 
Talbott.  born  1834:  died  February  8,  1872;  Fannie  E.  (twin  sister  of  John 
L.),  born  1836,  died  November,  1S51  :  Sarah  B.,  born  1840,  died  in  infancy. 

The  father  of  these  children  arrived  in  Putnam  county  in  1823,  having 
a  capital  of  only  two  hundred  dollars.  He  bought  eighty  acres  of  land  in 
section  5,  Warren  township,  all  in  the  woods,  ten  acres  of  which  had  been 
deadened.  The  first  spring  after  he  came  here  he  rolled  logs  and  assisted  to 
build  cabins  for  thirty-one  days  in  succession.  His  only  horse  being  crippled, 
he  was  compelled  to  tend  his  first  crop  of  corn  with  a  steer.  He  laid  the 
"worm"  rail  of  his  fence  at  night  and  his  wife  \vould  finish  building  the  fence 
the  next  day  while  he  was  doing  other  work.  From  time  to  time  he  added 
other  land  to  his  home  fami  until  he  owned  four  hundred  acres  of  valuable 
land,  entering  most  of  it  from  the  government.  When  he  started  out  he 
worked  for  twenty-five  cents  per  day  to  get  money  with  which  to  buv  his 
first  land.     When  he  came  here  the  county  was  practically  a  wilderness  and 


PUTXA.M    COUXTV.    IXUIAXA.  473 

to  get  to  Greencastle.  then  a  hamlet  composed  of  seven  cabins,  he  was 
compelled  to  blaze  his  way  through  the  hea\y  woods,  composed  princii)ally 
of  tall  oaks  and  dense  underbrush.  School  houses  and  churciies  were  un- 
known then  and  the  chances  for  an  education  were  very  limited,  but  he 
gave  his  children  such  as  could  be  obtained.  He  was  a  soldier  in  the  war  of 
1812.  his  regiment  being  organized  principally  in  the  northern  frontier  and  he 
was  in  the  famous  charge  when  the  Indian  chief  Tecumseh  was  killed  at  the 
battle  of  the  Thames.  Mr.  Sellers  was  an  industrious,  plain,  honest  man, 
who  never  sought  or  held  office.  For  forty  years  he  and  his  wife  were  mem- 
bers of  the  Presbyterian  church  at  Putnamville,  he  being  an  elder  during  the 
greater  part  of  that  time,  giving  liberally  and  cheerfully  of  his  means  for 
the  advancement  of  the  church's  interest,  and  he  did  much  to  develop  the  re- 
sources of  the  county.  His  death  occurred  November  i,  1874,  at  the  age 
of  seventy-eight  years,  his  wife  surviving  until  1878,  dying  in  her  seventy- 
seventh  year,  and  they  are  buried  at  the  old  Putnamville  cemetery. 

[ohn  L.  Sellers,  the  inimediate  subject  of  this  review,  spent  his  youth  on 
the  home  farm.  ha\ing  the  advantage  of  a  three-months  subscription  school 
each  winter.  September  4.  i86_'.  he  enlisted  in  Company  L,  Forty-fifth  Regi- 
ment. Third  Indiana  Cavalry,  under  Capt.  O.  'SI.  Powers  and  Lieut.  G.  J- 
Langsdale.  and  he  served  with  credit  until  the  close  of  the  war. 

On  December  11.  1866.  Mr.  Sellers  married  Mary  Matkins.  of  Green- 
castle. and  thev  went  to  live  with  his  parents,  with  whom  he  remained  during 
their  lifetime — in  fact,  he  has  since  made  his  home  on  the  parental  farm,  de- 
voting his  attention  exclusively  to  general  farming  and  stock  raising,  being 
\'ery  successful  in  each. 

Mr.  Sellers  very  ably  served  his  township  as  trustee  for  a  period  of  four 
years.  He  is  known  as  a  very  liberal  man.  generous  and  kind  hearted,  and  he 
has  thus  been  imposed  upon,  having  frequently  paid  notes  on  which  he  was 
security.  He  is  a  memljer  of  the  Presbyterian  church  and  was  an  elder  in  the 
same  for  years,  also  a  trustee  for  many  years.  Mrs.  Sellers  was  also  a  faith- 
ful member  of  the  ^fethodist  church.  She  died  October  20.  1879,  having 
borne  her  husband  seven  children,  namely:  Edward  ]..  bom  September  11, 
1867.  married  Clara  Silver,  and  they  are  the  parents  of  seven  children: 
Arthur  U..  Lawrence  L..  Ethel  \'..  Joyne  M..  Louisa  A..  Harold  G.  and 
Edward  L.  Katherine  .\.  Sellers  was  born  in  November.  1868:  she  has 
remained  single  and  is  living  at  home.  Jennie  L..  born  in  April.  1S70.  died 
in  November.  1882.  Nannie  E..  born  July  4.  1872.  is  the  wife  of  Alonzo 
Dav  and  thev  have  two  cliildren.  Hazel  and  Russell   (deceased).    Sarah  F.. 


474 


WEIK  S    HISTORY    OF 


born  in  October,  1874,  died  May  20,  1879.  ^vlinnie  B.,  born  February  15, 
1876,  married  Charles  R.  Grogan  and  they  had  four  children:  Grace  May, 
Jennie  (died  October  22,  1902),  Dorothy  F.,  and  Esther  A.  Ida  M.  Sellers 
is  the  wife  of  Hays  Williams;  she  was  born  August  i.  1879.  and  they  have 
two  children.  Estelle  L.  and  Hubert  L. 

On  August  3,  1880.  John  L.  Sellers  married  a  second  time,  his  last  wife 
being  Elizabeth  Wells,  daughter  of  Levi  and  Katherine  Wells,  of  Greencastle, 
and  this  union  resulted  in  the  birth  of  three  children :  William  C.  born 
August  21.  1 88 1,  married  Grace  Haymaker,  and  they  have  one  child.  John 
Riley;  Mary  E..  born  January  17.  1884.  and  Myrtle  O..  born  July  5.  1891, 
graduated  from  the  Greencastle  high  school  in  the  class  of  1910. 


OSCAR  L.  JOXES. 


The  founder  of  the  Putnam  county  family  of  this  name,  which  has 
always  been  successful,  prosperous  and  influential,  was  Jesse  Jones,  known 
familiarly  to  everybody  hereabouts  in  olden  days.  He  was  born  in  Kentucky 
and  came  here  when  the  county  was  still  sparsely  settled,  without  good  roads 
and  devoid  of  improvement  of  any  kind.  He  entered  government  land  in  sec- 
tion 5  of  Greencastle  township,  which  at  the  time  was  wild  and  wholly  unim- 
proved and  covered  with  a  heavy  growth  of  forest  trees.  Many  a  hard  lick 
was  put  in  by  Jesse  Jones  in  his  efforts  to  convert  his  wild  land  into  farming 
ground.  He  went  at  it.  however,  and  kept  at  it  with  a  dogged  persistency 
that  characterized  the  sturdy  race  of  which  he  was  a  fine  representative, 
and  eventually  he  had  a  moderate  estate  to  leave  to  his  heirs.  The  land  he 
purchased  for  one  dollar  and  twenty-five  cents  an  acre  is  now  an  average 
fami  of  Putnam  countv  and  is  so  greatly  improved  by  adjacent  pike  roads, 
fine  buildings,  good  fencing,  telephones,  rural  mail  delivery  and  other  modern 
appliances  that  the  original  owner  would  not  recognize  it  as  the  same  place. 
Hiram  Jones  was  born  in  Kentucky  in  1820.  and  came  to  Putnam  county 
when  a  bov  with  his  parents.  He  married  Eliza  Reeves,  by  whom  he  had 
four  children,  of  whom  Oscar  L.  Jones  is  the  only  survivor.  The  mother 
died  in  1861  and  the  father  married  Hannah  McCorkle.  of  Kentucky,  and 
one  child.  Jesse  Jones,  of  Monroe  township,  was  born  to  them.  Hiram  Jones 
died  Februan,-  14,  1870.  Oscar  L.  Jones  was  born  June  13.  1859.  and  grew 
up  with  usual  experiences  of  fami  boys  of  his  period.     He  helped  on  the 


/ 


PUTNAM    COUNTY,    INDI.\NA.  475 

fami,  doing  all  kinds  of  work  suitable  to  one  of  his  age,  and  meantime 
managed  to  attend  school  during  the  winter  months.  After  he  got  older  he 
attended  old  Asbury  University  and  acquired  a  very  fair  education  for 
his  day.  He  remained  on  the  farm  until  he  was  twenty-five  years  old,  when 
he  gave  up  fanning  for  a  business  career.  For  several  years  he  was  en- 
gaged in  the  wholesale  produce  business  at  Roachdale  and  made  quite  a 
success  in  this  line,  as  he  did  of  all  his  undertakings.  He  used  to  ship  car- 
loads of  produce  to  Xew  York  and  his  store  was  headquarters  for  producers 
miles  around  who  brought  in  their  products  and  received  for  them  the  highest 
market  prices.  In  1899  Mr.  Jones  entered  the  feed  and  building  material 
business  in  Greencastle  and  has  carried  it  on  on  an  extensive  scale  for  many 
years.  He  handles  lime,  cement,  brick,  plastering  goods  and  all  other  things 
suitable  in  house  construction  and  all  kinds  of  feed.  His  business  is  large 
and  growing  all  the  time,  as  Mr.  Jones  is  energetic  and  resourceful,  a  close 
buyer  and  prudent  seller — in  fact  a  business  man  of  the  first  rank.  Like  his 
father  before  him.  he  has  always  been  a  member  of  the  Republican  party, 
though  not  an  office  seeker  and  too  bus}-  with  his  own  affairs  to  bother  with 
political  manipulations.  In  1904  he  was  elected  to  represent  the  fourth  ward 
in  the  city  council  and  made  a  watchful  and  honest  guardian  of  the  city's 
interests.  He  is  a  member  of  the  Locust  Street  Methodist  Episcopal  church 
and  belongs  to  Greencastle  Lodge,  Xo.  473.  Free  and  .\ccepted  Masons. 

Mr.  Tones  married  Lena  Shinn,  of  Putnam  county,  October  7.  1880, 
and  thev  have  one  child,  Gladys,  now  the  wife  of  John  Johnson,  of  Green- 
castle, who  is  associated  in  business  with  his  father-in-law.  His  wife  having 
died,  Mr.  Jones  married  Mary  Ellis,  of  Bainbridge.  June  9.  1890. 


WILLIAM  P.VYXE  STOXER. 

.\  man  who  has  long  been  active  and  influential  in  the  affairs  of  Put- 
nam county,  reaping  a  just  reward  for  his  many  years  of  endeavor  along 
legitimate  lines,  and  now  living  in  honorable  retirement  in  the  city  of 
Greencastle,  surrounded  by  the  evidences  of  his  former  years  of  thrift  and 
good  management,  is  William  Payne  Stoner.  He  comes  down  to  us  from 
the  pioneer  days  in  this  county,  the  Stoner  family  having  lived  here  when 
this  city  was  a  village.  He  was  born  on  the  old  homestead  two  miles  from 
Greencastle.  Februarv  7,   1843.     A  complete  sketch  of  his  parents  and  an- 


476  weik's  history  of 

cestors  is  to  be  found  on  another  page  of  this  work,  under  the  caption  of 
L}'curgus   Stoner. 

Wilham  P.  Stoner  remained  at  home  until  he  was  eighteen  years  of 
age,  when,  although  but  a  lad,  he  could  not  repress  his  patriotism  at  Presi- 
dent Lincoln's  urgent  call  for  troops  to  suppress  the  rebellion  in  the  South, 
and  in  the  fall  of  1862  he  enlisted  in  Company  A,  Seventy-eighth  Regiment, 
Indiana  \'o!unteer  Infantry,  for  the  purpose  of  serving  along  the  Ohio 
river.  After  being  in  the  field  thirty  days  he  was  captured  by  the  Con- 
federates at  Uniontown,  Kentucky,  who  made  a  raid-  on  the  Union  camp, 
taking  two  companies  of  the  regiment  at  that  time.  They  were  soon  paroled, 
and  Mr.  Stoner  came  home  and  was  discharged;  however,  he  was  not  con- 
tented to  remain  idle  when  he  was  needed  in  the  field  and  in  1864  he  en- 
listed in  the  heavv  artillery  for  one  year  and  he  served  until  August,  1865, 
principallv  at  Baton  Rouge.  His  company  was  detached  from  the  main 
armv  and  was  sent  to  Ft.  A\'illiams  until  after  Lee's  surrender.  They  were 
sent  up  tlie  Red  river  for  the  purpose  of  securing  stores  that  had  been 
surrendered. 

^Ir.  Stones  was  educated  in  the  common  schools  of  the  county.  With 
his  two  brothers  he  bought  a  fann  near  Manhattan,  Washington  town- 
ship, where  he  remained  for  eleven  years,  during  which  time  he  got  a  good 
start.  At  the  death  of  his  father  in  1876  he  returned  to  the  old  home  place 
and  began  farming  a  part  of  the  same,  part  of  the  original  entry  from  the 
government,  known  as  the  Hathaway  farm,  lying  in  Greencastle  township, 
adjoining  the  original  Stoner  farm.  He  erected  a  comfortable  and  sub- 
stantial dwelling  and  other  buildings  on  the  place  in  1878  and  lived  there 
ver\-  comfortably  until  1905,  making,  besides  general  agricultural  pursuits, 
stock  raising  a  specialty,  becoming  widely  known  in  this  special  feature, 
being  one  of  the  first  men  in  this  locality  to  breed  heavy  draft  horses.  For 
a  period  of  fifteen  years  he  spent  the  major  part  of  the  winters  in  Louisiana, 
fiftv-three  miles  north  of  New  Orleans,  having  bought  land  there  and 
stocked  it  with  cattle.  He  understood  well  the  proper  care  of  all  kinds  of 
livestock  and  the  greater  part  of  his  income  was  derived  from  this  source. 
One  thing  that  took  him  to  the  South  during  the  winter  was  rheumatism, 
with  which  he  has  been  troubled  for  twenty-si.x  years.  He  added  forty 
acres  to  the  old  farm,  making  a  total  of  two  hundred  and  twenty-two  acres, 
which  he  still  retains,  having  disposed  of  his  other  valuable  property  about 
five  vears  ago.  He  is  reluctant  to  part  with  his  farm  here,  all  of  which  was 
formerlv  owned  by  his  father.  It  is  still  \-ery  productive,  having  been  very 
skillfullv  tilled  and  properlv  cared  for.     He  purchased  his  present  attractive 


PUTNAM    COUNTY,    INDIANA.  477 

and  tastily  furnished  city  residence  some  time  ago ;  it  was  known  as  the  Ed. 
Hanneman  homestead,  the  latter  known  as  the  builder  of  the  local  opera 
house.     Mr.  Stoner's  sons  are  now  operating  the  farm  in  partnership. 

Politically  ]\Ir.  Stoner  is  a  Republican,  but  he  has  never  held  otifice, 
preferring  to  lead  a  quiet  life  and  give  his  attention  exclusively  to  his  fanii 
and  stock.  He  is  a  member  of  the  local  post  of  the  Grand  Army  of  the 
Republic. 

Mr.  Stoner  was  married  on  February  7,  1872,  while  living  on  his  farm 
in  Washington  township,  to  Mary  Parritt,  daughter  of  Burr  G.  and  Almeda 
(Benedict)  Parritt,  a  well  known  family  of  Hamricks,  this  county,  where 
they  conducted  a  store.  Mrs.  Stoner  was  born  in  the  state  of  Connecticut 
and  came  to  Putnain  county  when  se\'en  years  of  age,  and  she  grew  to  ma- 
turity here  and  \vas  educated  in  the  public  schools.  Her  father  died  in 
this  county,  being  over  seventy  years  of  age.  He  took  considerable  interest 
in  public  affairs. 

The  following  children  were  born  to  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Stoner:  Ernest, 
employed  in  the  postoffice  at  Greencastle;  Omer  is  active  manager  of  the 
farm;  ^lary  Almeda  married  James  Lynch,  of  Danville.  Indiana:  Andrew 
P.  also  Ii\"es  on  the  home  farm,  but  he  is  a  civil  engineer  by  profession  and 
is  engaged  most  of  the  time  in  railroad  work  in  the  civil  engineering  de- 
partment. 

This  family  deserves  a  very  high  rank  among  the  leading  citizens  of 
Putnam  county,  having  always  been  industrious,  honorable  in  all  the  rela- 
tions of  life  and  interested  in  the  public  welfare. 


D.WTD  ADER. 


Although  the  late  David  .Ader  has  passed  from  tlie  scene  of  action  in 
Putnam  county,  where  he  was  so  long  a  conspicuous  figure,  his  wholesome 
influence  is  still  felt  by  scores  who  knew  him  well  and  his  memory  will 
ever  be  revered  for  his  many  little  acts  of  kindness  and  the  good  example 
he  set  the  vouth  of  the  land,  for  he  was  truly  a  good  and  just  man  in  all 
the  walks  of  life  and  a  very  successful  one.  his  large  rewards  coming  as  a 
result  of  rightiv  applied  energy,  the  carr\-ing  out  of  honorable  principles 
and  by  strict  integrity  in  his  dealings  with  his  fellow  men.  .All  credit  is 
due  a  man  who  wins  success  in  spite  of  obstacles  and  by  persistency  and 
energ}-  gains  a  competence  and  a  position  of  honor  as  a  man  and  citizen. 


478  weik's  history  of 

The  record  of  Mr.  Ader  is  that  of  such  a  man.  for  he  came  to  Putnam 
county  in  the  davs  of  her  rapid  growth  and  here  worked  out  his  way  to 
definite  success  and  independence.  He  quickly  adapted  himself  to  the  con- 
ditions which  he  found  here  and  latoring  so  consecutively  and  effecti^■ely 
that  lie  became  one  of  the  substantial  men  of  the  county  and  also  one  of  her 
most  highly  honored  citizens. 

David  Ader  was  bom  March  6.  1S22.  in  Davidson  county.  North  Caro- 
lina, the  son  of  Solomon  and  Elizabeth  (Pickle)  Ader,  the  father  a  native  of 
\'irginia.  the  son  of  Adam  Ader,  who  was  a  native  of  Maryland  and  of 
German  extraction ;  thus  the  Ader  family  has  been  in  America  for  many 
generations  and  many  of  them  have  been  conspicuous  in  various  walks  of 
life.  Elizabeth  Pickle  was  the  daughter  of  Valentine  Pickle,  also  of  German 
ancestry. 

It  was  as  eariv  as  1828  that  the  Ader  family  came  to  Putnam  county, 
Indiana,  making  the  long  journey  overland  from  the  old  Tar  state  of  the 
South,  and  here,  amid  the  trials  and  inconveniences  of  a  new  countrv\  they 
established  a  home  in  the  wilderness,  from  which  in  due  course  of  time,  by 
dint  of  hard  toil,  sprang  an  excellent  farm  and  a  comfortable  and  com- 
modious home.  x-Mthough  David  Ader,  of  this  review,  was  then  but  eight 
vears  old.  he  began  assisting  his  parents  in  their  home  building  in  whatever 
wav  he  could.  Their  first  house,  built  on  their  land  in  Russell  township, 
was  a  pole  cabin  fourteen  by  sixteen  feet.  Here  young  Ader  found  a  very 
limited  opportunity  to  attend  school,  but  later  in  life  he  educated  himself. 
He  grew  to  maturitv  on  the  home  place  in  Russell  township  and  shortly 
afterward  moving  to  Flovd  township  and  became  acquainted  with  hard  toil 
like  all  sons  of  pioneers.  In  1865  he  came  to  Bainbridge  and  lived  here  till 
his  death. 

January  9.  184.^.  David  Ader  married  Elizabeth  Aldridge,  a  native  of 
Connersviile.  who  proved  to  be  a  very  faithful  helpmate  through  the  years 
that  she  traversed  the  path  of  life  by  his  side.  To  this  union  two  children 
were  born.  Nathan  W.  and  Helen  E. 

The  mother  of  these  children  died  on  May  4,  1854,  and  on  January-  18. 
iS^T.  Mr.  Ader  married  Mrs.  Belinda  C.  Buchanan.  This  union  resulted 
in  the  birth  of  four  children,  two  of  whom  are  living  at  this  writing.  Alice 
B.  and  Francis  David. 

David  Ader  was  a  philanthropist  and  stood  always  ready  to  assist  in 
anv  worthv  cause.  Although  he  started  in  life  under  none  too  favorable 
environment,  being  compelled  to  literally  hew  out  his  fortune,  he  became 
prominent  and  accumulated   a  vast    fortune,   owning    two    thousand    three 


PUTXAM    COUNTY,    IXDIAXA.  479 

hundred  and  fifty  acres  of  land.  He  was  a  hard  worker,  a  good  manager 
and  a  man  of  keen  foresight,  and  his  death  occurred  very  suddenly  while 
riding  on  horseback  looking  after  his  extensive  interests,  on  September 
6,  1894,  in  Floyd  township,  and  in  the  Bainbridge  cemeterv-  he  is  sleeping 
the  sleep  of  the  just. 

Mr.  Ader  took  an  ardent  interest  in  politics,  always  interested  in  seeing 
the  best  men  in  local  and  national  ofiices,  and  he  very  ably  served  as  justice 
of  the  peace,  which  honor  was  literally  "thrust  upon  him,"  as  Shakespeare 
says.  He  was  no  office  seeker,  preferring  to  give  his  exclusive  attention  to 
his  private  business  affairs.  He  aided  his  government  during  the  war  of 
the  Rebellion  by  acting  as  agent  for  his  township,  paying  the  total  sum 
of  eighteen  thousand  dollars  for  substitutes  in  the  Union  armv.  He  was 
prominent  in  church  affairs,  having  been  an  elder  in  the  local  Cumberland 
Presbyterian  church,  which  he  practically  built  and  of  which  he  was  always 
a  liberal  supporter.  _  He  was  a  trustee  of  the  Groveland  church  from  the 
time  of  its  organization  until  his  death.  He  was  never  a  user  of  strong  drink, 
detesting  saloon  and  grog  shops  in  general  and  wherever  he  could  he  struck 
a  blow  for  temperance.  He  is  remembered  as  a  man  whose  word  was  as 
good,  if  not  better,  than  the  bond  of  most  men.  strictly  honorable  in  his 
dealings  with  his  fellow  men,  obliging,  generous,  a  kind  neighbor,  indulo-ent 
father  and  an  ideal  home  man,  his  commodious  and  well  appointed  dwellino" 
often  being  the  scene  of  rare  hospitality,  for  he  delighted  to  show  every 
courtesy  to  whatever  guest  passed  his  threshold.  Such  a  life  should  be 
enuilated  by  the  youth  who  stands  at  the  parting  of  the  ways,  for  it  was 
successful,  noble,  exemplaiy  in  ever\-  respect,  and  he  left  behind  him  the 
greatest  of  all  inheritances,  an  untarnished  reputation. 


W.  M.  SUTHERLIX. 


This  family,  which  is  of  English  origin,  sent  representatives  to  the 
United  States  and  at  an  early  date  they  were  settlers  in  Kentucky.  Rife 
Sutherlin.  who  was  born  in  that  state,  came  to  Indiana  as  earlv  as  1826. 
settled  in  Putnam  count}",  and  entered  land  from  the  government  in  Russell 
township,  on  which  he  lived  until  his  death,  about  1883.  He  married  Rebecca 
Saylor,  bv  whom  he  had  seven  children.  Among  the  number  was  Elijah 
Sutherlin.  who  for  many  years  had  been  a  farmer  in  Russell  township, 
where  he  was  born  and   reared.     He  married  Elizabeth  Triplett.  who  was 


480  WEIKS    HISTORY    OF 

born  near  Brazil,  Clay  county,  Indiana,  and  by  this  union  there  were  eight 
children:  Emma,  the  wife  o*  T.  M.  Kelly,  of  Roachdale,  Indiana;  Carrie, 
wife  of  William  Myers,  of  Russell  township;  Viven,  wife  of  William  Say- 
lor.  of  Russell  township:  William  ^L.  of  Greencastle;  Guy,  a  resident  of 
Russell  township;  Hattie,  wife  of  Bert  Clifford,  of  Russell  township:  Dol- 
lie,  wife  of  Perry  Harbison,  of  Russell  township,  and  Roy,  at  home. 

William  M.  Sutherlin.  the  fourth  child,  was  born  in  Russell  township, 
Putnam  county,  Indiana,  November  27,  1878.  He  remained  under  the  par- 
ental roof  until  he  was  twenty-two  years  old.  meantime  attending  the  dis- 
trict schools  and  acquiring  a  good  primary  education.  Later  he  entered 
DePauw  University  and  devoted  a  year  to  study  in  the  excellent  courses  of 
that  famous  institution.  He  also  took  a  course  in  law  and  the  scientific  de- 
partment at  Central  Normal  College  in  Danville,  from  which  he  was  grad- 
uated in  1902.  Prior  to  this  he  had  taught  school  for  three  years  in  Rus- 
sell township  and  after  leaving  college  he  taught  one  year.  In  1904  he 
opened  a  law  office  at  Jasonville.  Greene  county,  Indiana,  where  he  prac- 
ticed about  one  year,  and  then  removed  to  Greencastle.  He  is  regarded  as 
one  of  the  brightest  and  most  promising  of  the  younger  members  of  the  bar 
and  his  friends  predict  for  him  a  prosperous  career.  In  1909  Mr.  Sutherlin 
was  the  Democratic  nominee  for  mayor  of  Greencastle,  and,  though  defeated 
by  a  few  votes,  made  a  splendid  race  in  a  city  known  as  a  Republican 
stronghold. 

In  July,  1905,  'Sir.  Sutherlin  married  Ethel,  daughter  of  Henry  and 
Maiy  Day,  of  Greencastle.  They  have  an  only  son.  Roy  C,  born  August 
27,  1909.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Sutherlin  are  members  of  the  Christian  church. 
His  fraternal  associations  are  with  the  Masons,  Elks.  Eagles  and  Modern 
Woodmen.  The  family  ranks  well  socially  and  enjoy  general  popularity 
among  the  wide  circle  of  acquaintances. 


J.\MES  L.  H.\MILTON.     - 

Amono  the  prominent  and  widely  known  citizens  of  Putnam  county  is 
Tames  L.  Hamilton,  the  present  efficient  county  clerk,  who  is  an  important 
factor  in  both  business  and  political  circles,  and  his  popularity  is  well  deserved 
as  in  him  are  embraced  the  characteristics  of  unabating  energy,  unbending 
integrity  and  an  industry  that  never  flags.  He  is  public  spirited  and  thor- 
oughly interested  in  whatever  tends  to  promote    the    welfare    of    the    com- 


Ciyymj 


PLTXAM    COUNTY,    INDIANA.  48I 

munity  and  the  county  has  profited  by  his  labors  in  Ijehalf  ot  the  general 
public. 

The  founder  of  this  well  known  eastern  Indiana  family  was  an  emigrant 
from  the  Emerald  Isle,  who,  more  than  a  century  ago,  reached  American 
shores  and  here  became  well  established.  He  was  familiarly  known  bv  the 
soubriquet  of  "Old-School."  and  from  him  to  the  gentleman  whose  name 
appears  above  thrift  and  other  accessory  qualities  that  win  have  been  prover- 
bial in  the  Hamilton  family.  James  Hamilton  first  settled  in  Pennsylvania, 
from  which  state  he  migrated  to  Kentucky  and  eventually  came  to  Indiana, 
locating  in  White  county,  but  afterwards  removed  to  Putnam,  where  he 
arrived  as  early  as  1SJ9,  and  here,  among  other  adventurous  home-seekers,  he 
began  life  anew,  soon  becoming  well  established  for  those  early  days  on  the 
frontier.  Before  leaving  Pennsylvania  he  married  Hannah  Ramsey,  a  native 
of  that  state,  and  to  this  union  nine  children  were  born.  The  father  remained 
here  until  his  death  in  1840.  Robert  S.  Hamilton,  youngest  of  his  children, 
was  born  in  White  county.  Indiana.  April  15,  1816,  the  same  year  which  wit- 
nessed the  entrance  of  the  Hoosier  state  into  the  Union.  When  thirteen  vears 
of  age  he  accompanied  his  parents  to  Putnam  county,  and  he  became  a 
physician,  having  graduated  fn^m  the  Louisville  Medical  College,  and  he 
practiced  his  profession  several  }-ears  in  Putnam  and  Parke  counties,  his 
first  location  being  at  Mansfield  in  the  last  mentioned  county.  He  served  by 
appointment  as  county  treasurer  at  one  time  and  was  a  citizen  of  influence 
up  to  the  time  of  his  death  in  1893.  He  married  Mary  R.  Bishop,  a  native 
of  Portland  Mills,  Putnam  county,  by  whom  he  had  five  children,  named  as 
follows :  James  L..  of  this  rc.iew :  Fay  S. :  Pearl  G..  wife  of  Elmer  Smith,  of 
Parke  county,  Indiana:  Dr.  Claud  B.,  a  dentist  of  Greencastle.  and  H.  Claire, 
the  wife  of  Samuel  H.  Gibson,  of  Greencastle. 

James  L.  Hamilton,  oldest  of  Doctor  Hamilton's  family,  was  born  near 
Portland  Mills,  this  county.  January  13.  1868.  After  the  usual  terms  in 
the  common  schools,  he  entered  Danville  Central  Normal  College,  from 
which  he  graduated  with  honors  in  penmanship  and  bookkeeping,  in  1896. 
He  had  the  misfortune,  when  twenty  years  old,  while  working  in  a  sawmill, 
t'l  have  his  left  arm  so  badly  cut  In-  a  circle-saw  that  amputation  near  the 
elbow  was  necessary,  this  totally  incapacitating  him  from  manual  labor  ever 
afterwards.  Xot  knowing  defeat  by  this  untoward  mishap,  he  set  to  work  to 
sell  musical  instruments  and  met  with  much  encouragement  as  a  piano  sales- 
man for  himself  and  in  1900  estal^lished  a  music  store  in  Greencastle  and  bv 
hard  work  he  has  succeeded  in  building  up  a  large  and  lucrative  business,  his 
store  being  one  of  the  best  appointed  in  the  city,  carefully  stocked  with  a 
(31) 


482  WEIK  S    HISTORY   OF 

large  line  of  standard  instruments  and  which  is  one  of  the  largest  and  most 
popular  music  stores  in  this  section  of  the  state.  For  a  time  he  was  also  ver\- 
successfullv  engaged  in  cement  bridge  contracting  and  built  fourteen  bridges 
for  the  Big  Four  railroad. 

Mr.  Hamilton  comes  from  a  fannly  who  have  enjoyed  the  conhtlence 
of  their  fellow  men  and  ha\e  been  chosen  to  public  office  on  numerous  oc- 
casions, his  father  having  served  as  treasurer  of  Parke  county:  an  uncle, 
Samuel  Hamilton,  also  served  as  commissioner  of  Parke  county,  and  a  great 
uncle  being  Governor  Bishop  of  the  state  of  Ohio,  besides  many  of  his  other 
relatives  filling  offices  of  public  trust.  James  L.  has  shown  himself  quite 
capable  of  rendering  the  public  efficient  service,  and  he  has  been  quite  promi- 
nent in  politics,  his  political  career  showing  results  both  notable  and  unusual. 
He  made  his  debut  in  the  political  arena  in  1898  in  the  race  for  the  nomina- 
tion for  countv  clerk  and  was  a  close  second  to  a  man  that  was  very  popular 
and  who  was  the  logical  candidate  of  his  party.  Again  in  the  campaign  of 
1902.  he  made  the  race  for  county  clerk  and  had  for  his  opponent  the  popular 
young  editor  of  the  Greencastle  Democrat.  Arthur  Hamrick.  It  was  a  warm 
fight  and  attracted  the  chief  attention  of  the  campaign.  In  this  race  Mr. 
Hamilton  was  successful,  having  received  two  votes  to  every  one  of  his 
opponent,  receiving  in  the  Democratic  primaries  twenty-two  hundred  and 
seventv-tive  votes  and  a  majority  of  sixteen  hundred  and  seventeen,  the  larg- 
est ever  given  a  candidate.  He  received  every  vote  in  Russell  township,  ex- 
cept two,  and  every  one  but  four  in  his  home  township.  At  the  ensuing  elec- 
tion he  defeated  his  opponent,  Charles  Hughes,  of  Bainbridge,  who  was 
looked  upon  as  the  strongest  man  on  the  Republican  ticket,  by  a  majority  of 
seven  hundred  and  seventy-nine,  the  largest  ever  received  by  a  local  candidate, 
and  he  ran  far  ahead  of  any  one  on  the  county  ticket  and  one  hundred  votes 
ahead  of  the  state  ticket.  He  was  re-elected  in  1906,  having  so  faithfully  per- 
fomied  his  duties  during  his  first  term  that  his  constituents  were  unwilling  to 
give  up  his  services,  and  he  served  until  1910  with  continuing  popularity  and 
esteem  bv  those  who  elected  him  as  well  as  by  the  people  generally.  In  his 
second  race  he  headed  the  ticket  and  his  name  proved  a  tower  of  strength  to 
the  cause  of  his  party  and  associates. 

Mr.  Hamilton  has  one  of  the  coziest  and  most  tastily  appointed  cottage 
homes  in  the  countv,  at  No.  910  South  Indiana  street,  Greencastle.  It  is 
modern  in  e\erv  detail,  with  hardwood  floors,  beautiful  woodwork  through- 
out, decorated  bv  an  expert  decorator  of  Indianapolis,  and  in  every  part  of 
the  house  there  is  a  striking  harmony  of  detail.  The  presiding  spirit  of  this 
attractive  home  is  a  ladv  of  culture  and  refinement,  known  in  her  maidenhood 
as  Marv  R.  Heck,  a  native  of  Kentucky,  of  an  excellent  Southern  family,  and 


PL'TXAM    COUNTY,    INDIANA.  483 

whom  Mr.  Hamilton  married  on  May  19.  1900.  She  is  the  daughter  of 
Aiigustu.s  D.  and  Samantha  (  Stroube )  Heck,  both  of  whom  were  born  and 
reared  in  Bracken  county,  Kentucky,  in  which  place  they  spent  their  lives, 
both  being  now  deceased,  Mrs.  Heck  dying  in  1879  ^"d  Mr.  Heck  following 
her  to  the  grave  in  1904.  He  was  a  farmer  and  at  one  time  a  tobacco 
planter  and  in  his  younger  days  handled  fine  horses.  Mrs.  Hamilton  is  one 
of  three  children,  having  two  brothers  hving  at  Augusta,  Kentuck-}-,  in  which 
place  Mrs.  Hamilton  was  reared  and  educated.  This  union  has  been  without 
issue. 

Mr.  Hamilton  is  a  charter  member  of  the  Bene\olent  and  Protective 
Order  of  Elks,  and  he  was  the  hrst  exalted  ruler  and  organizer  of  Lodge  Xo. 
1077,  Greencastle,  doing  the  entire  work  himself,  practically  without  assist- 
ance. He  is  also  a  member  of  the  Ben  Hur,  Improved  Order  of  Red  Men,  the 
Woodmen  and  Eagles  lodges. 

Mr.  Hamilton  has  made  his  own  way  since  boyhood  and  is  a  fine  type 
of  the  pushing,  ambitious,  unconquerable  American  spirit  which  deserves 
success  bv  hax'ing;  earned  it. 


ABE   COHX 


In  ever}'  life  of  honor  and  usefulness  there  is  no  dearth  of  incident,  and 
yet  in  summing  up  the  career  of  any  man  the  writer  needs  touch  onlv  those 
salient  points  which  give  the  keynote  to  his  character.  Thus  in  gi\ing  the 
life  record  of  Abe  Cohn  sufficient  will  be  said  to  show,  what  all  who  know 
him  will  freely  acijuiesce  in,  that  he  is  one  of  the  enterprising  and  pro- 
gressive citizens  of  Putnam  county,  being  a  well  known  merchant  at 
Cloverdale. 

Mr.  Cohn  was  born  in  Cincinnati.  Ohio,  December  18.  1858,  the  son  of 
Aleig  and  Lena  (Amberg)  Cohn.  the  father  a  native  of  France,  from  which 
country  he  came  to  America  in  [848  and  located  in  Cincinnati,  and  there 
met  and  married  Lena  Amberg,  who  was  bom  in  Germany  and  who  came  to 
Cincinnati  when  young.  They  were  the  parents  of  six  children,  four  sons 
and  two  daughters,  one  of  whom  died  in  Cincinnati.  One  son.  Lambert 
Cohn.  resides  in  Cincinnati  and  travels  for  a  wholesale  house :  John  Cohn  is 
at  Belle  L'nion.  where  he  is  engaged  in  the  mercantile  business.  His  full 
sketch  appears  elsewhere  in  this  work.  David  Cohn  is  at  Martinsville  en- 
gaged in  conducting  a  sanitarium.    Hannah   Cohn  married   Samuel   Simons, 


4S4  weik's  history  of 

•who  is  now  deceased;  she  formerly  resided  in  Greencastle.  but  now  Hves  in 
Louisville ;  the  other  sister,  next  to  the  oldest  child,  died  in  childhood  in  Cin- 
cinnati. 

In  i860  this  family  moved  to  Cloverdale,  Putnam  county,  where  the 
father  engaged  in  the  mercantile  business  and  lived  there  until  1893  where 
he  was  verv  successful ;  he  then  moved  to  Indianapolis,  where  he  died  in  1899. 
He  was  a  man  whom  evers'body  liked  and  who  was  enterprising  and  honor- 
able in  his  dealing  with  his  fellow  men.  His  wife  died  in  Cloverdale  in  the 
latter  se\enties. 

Abe  Cohn  received  a  very  serviceable  education  in  the  common  schools 
and  early  in  life  decided  to  follow  in  his  father's  footsteps  and  devote  his 
time  to  this  line  of  endeavor  and  he  has  been  active  in  business  affairs  since 
he  was  eighteen  years  of  age.  He  assisted  his  father  for  several  years  and 
learned  the  "ins  and  outs"  of  merchandising,  and  was  later  taken  in  as  a  part- 
ner with  his  father.  About  1896  he  purchased  his  father's  interest  in  the 
business  and  has  conducted  the  store  alone,  continuing  to  build  up  the  business 
until  he  now  has  a  very  extensive  patronage  with  the  surrounding  country. 
He  now  deals  in  clothing,  boots  and  shoes,  gents'  furnishings  and  some 
jewelrv:  also  ladies.'  misses'  and  children's  cloaks.  He  carries  a  neat,  care- 
fully selected  and  up-to-date  line  of  goods  and  his  prices  are  always  right, 
according  to  his  customers. 

On  March  t,  1893.  Mr.  Cohn  married  Eva  Rogers,  daughter  of  J.  H. 
and  Ophelia  fTavlor)  Rogers.  Her  parents  were  well  known  and  influential 
in  Putnam  county.  A  full  sketch  of  her  family  appears  on  another  page  of 
this  work.  Mr.  Rogers  died  in  February.  1902:  ^Irs.  Rogers  is  now  living 
in  Cloverdale. 

Mr.  Cohn  is  a  member  of  Sanders  Lodge.  Xo.  307.  Independent  Order 
of  Odd  Fellows,  and  of  Masonic  Lodge.  No.  132,  of  Cloverdale.  He  has  the 
verv  highest  standing  in  Cloverdale.  having  the  respect  and  good  will  of  all. 
being  regarded  as  one  of  the  reliable  and  substantial  merchants  and  among 
the  leading  citizens  of  the  town. 


MELVILLE  F.  McHAFFIE. 

Among  the  citizens  of  Mill  Creek  township,  Putnam  county.  Indiana, 
who  have  built  up  a  comfortable  home  and  surrounded  themselves  with  large 
landed  and  personal  property,  none  has  attained  a  higher  degree  of  success 


PUTXAM    COUNTY^    INDIANA.  485 

than  the  subject  of  this  sketch,  and  his  Hfe  demonstrates  what  mav  be  ac- 
complished by  any  man  of  energy  and  ambition  who  is  not  afraid  to  work, 
his  success  being  the  result  of  his  well-directed  and  persistent  efforts,  his  capa- 
ble management  of  his  business  interests  and  his  sound  judgment.  In  all 
the  relations  of  life  he  has  commanded  the  respect  and  confidence  of  those 
with  whom  he  has  been  brought  in  contact  and  he  is  today  numbered  among 
the  representative  men  of  his  county. 

The  subject  of  this  sketch  is  descended  from  sterling  patriot  ancestn', 
his  grandfather.  John  McHaffie,  having  been  a  soldier  in  the  war  of  the  Revo- 
lution, participating  in  the  battle  of  Yorktown.  where  he  witnessed  the  sur- 
render of  Lord  Cornwallis.  He  was  a  native  of  the  state  of  Virginia,  vol- 
unteered at  the  early  age  of  sixteen  years,  and  sometime  after  the  securing  of 
national   independence  he  married   Elizabeth   Hackett.    Among  the  children 
born  to  this  union  were  three  sons.  Robert.  John  and  Andrew.  Robert  and 
John  were  soldiers  in  the  war  of  1812,  ser\-ing  with  different  Tennessee  regi- 
ments, and  at  the  battle  of  Horseshoe.  Robert  took  an  active  part.  John  being 
in  the  reserves,  the  same  condition  existing  at  the  battle  of  New  Orleans. 
They  were  valiant  soldiers,  as  was  their   father  before  them.   Robert  died 
in  Putnam  county.  Indiana,  and  John  in  Hendricks  county,  the  latter  being 
now  buried  in  the  bur\-ing  ground  at  the  McHaffie  homestead.  Andrew  Mc- 
Haffie  was  too  young  to  enlist  and  when  old  enough  he  learned  the  tanner 
and  harnessmaker's   trade.   In    iS^^o  he   made   the   trip  on   horseback    from 
Tennessee  to  Indiana  and  entered  nine  eighty-acre  tracts  of  government  land 
in  Morgan  and  Hendricks  counties,  near  the  northeast  corner  of  Alill  Creek 
township,  Putnam  county,  and  he  also  entered  one  hundred  and  sixty  acres 
near  Mt.  Meridian  for  his  brother  James.  He  arrived  on  this  land  in  October, 
1832,  with  his  family  consisting  of  his  two  daughters  and  son,  the  subject  of 
this  sketch.     The  daughters  were  Haney  Emeline,  who  became  the  wife  of 
\^'illiam  P.  Roberts,  and  Thirza  Jane,  who  died  at  the  age  of  twelve  vears. 
The  homestead  residence  was  erected  in  Hendricks  county,  but  afterwards  the 
father  removed  to  Stilesville.  where  he  remained  until  1841,  when  he  bought 
a  home  located  across  the  highway  from  where  his  son,  the  subject  of  this 
sketch,  now  lives.  Andrew  E.  !McHaffie  first  married  Nancy  D.  Woods,  the 
mother  of  the  children  before  mentioned,  who  died  in  1830,  and  in  1838  he 
married  Nanc}'  D.  Denning,  of  Kno.x  county,  Tennessee.  To  this  union  was 
born  one  child.  Mar}-  .\ngeline,  who  subsequently  became  the  wife  of  Harvey 
Lee  and  is  now  deceased,  leaving  three  sons.  Andrew  ^McHaffie  died  in  1866 
and  is  buried  at  Stilesville. 

!Mel\'ille  F.  McHaffie  was  born  in  Knox  county,  Tennessee.  December 
27,   1826.  and  he  was  reared  on  the  parental  homestead,   \^■hen  the  family 


486 


WEIK  S    HISTORY   OF 


first  came  to  Indiana  they  located  in  the  midst  of  a  dense  forest,  the  only 
timber  felled  being  that  cut  to  make  way  for  the  National  road,  which  was 
being  constructed.  The  subject  witnessed  the  early  efforts  made  to  clear  the 
country  and  has  a  distinct  recollection  of  the  tremendous  labor  incurred  in 
the  construction  of  this  road,  when  laborers  worked  for  fifty  cents  a  day  and 
boarded  themselves.  A  cousin  of  the  subject  ran  a  boarding  house  (or  rather 
cabin)  for  these  workers.  Mr.  McHaffie  helped  clear  practically  all  the  land 
.from  a  half  mile  west  of  his  house  to  Stilesville  and  has  thus  had  an  im- 
portant part  in  this  early  work  of  transformation.  He  raised  steers  from 
young  calves  and  with  the  aid  of  these  he  hauled  logs  and  pulled  stumps. 
Game  was  plentiful  and  he  has  killed  many  deers  within  a  short  distance  of 
his  present  home  and  in  his  early  boyhood  saw  many  bear  tracks  there. 

In  185 1,  the  year  following  his  marriage,  he  was  preparing  to  build  a 
home  for  himself,  when  his  father  bought  one  hundred  and  sixty  acres  of 
land  from  Lewis  Orth,  in  section  29,  in  the  northeast  corner  of  what  is  now 
Mill  Creek  township.  Mr.  :McHafiFie  located  on  this  tract  and  it  has  been  his 
home  continuously  since,  a  period  of  practically  sixty  years.  Their  first 
home  there  was  in  an  old  brick  house,  but  in  1870-72  Mr.  McHaffie  erected 
in  its  stead  a  fine  large  brick  house,  the  finest  in  the  locality,  its  original  cost 
having  been  twelve  thousand  five  hundred  dollars,  aside  from  much  of  the 
work  done  by  the  subject  himself.  Today,  forty  years  after  its  erection, 
this  house  is  still  considered  one  of  the  best  in  that  part  of  the  county. 

In  his  business  affairs  Mr.  McHaffie  has  met  with  a  gratifying  measure 
of  success.  As  a  farmer  he  was  practical  and  progressive  in  his  methods  and 
indefatigable  in  his  efforts,  and  as  he  has  prospered  he  added  to  his  landed 
possessions  from  time  to  time,  until  he  became  the  owner  of  over  sixteen 
hundred  acres  of  land.  His  investments  have  not  been  confined  to  the 
Hoosier  state,  as  he  entered  eleven  hundred  acres  of  land  in  Missouri,  one 
hundred  and  twenty  acres  of  which  was  con\erted  into  fami  land.  He  also 
bought  eighty  acres  of  splendid  farm  land  three  miles  east  of  Tu.scola.  Illi- 
nois, for  which  he  paid  ten  dollars  an  acre,  later  selling  the  same  for  forty 
dollars  an  acre.  Mr.  McHaffie  became  interested  in  the  southern  mule  trade 
a  number  of  years  ago  and  his  business  in  this  line  rapidly  grew  to  enormous 
proportions,  having  not  a  little  to  do  with  the  making  of  the  city  of  Macon. 
Mississippi,  which  became  the  headquarters  for  the  trade.  He  was  consid- 
ered one  of  the  best  judges  of  mules  in  the  country  and  made  big  profits  in 
this  business,  having  at  one  time  cleared  over  two  thousand  dollars  on  a  single 
carload.  Through  his  trades  he  secured  a  good  deal  of  southern  cotton  land. 


PUTNAM    COrXTY,    IXDIAXA.  487 

Mr.  McHaftie  has  taken  an  active  interest  in  general  business  aftairs 
and  assisted  materially  in  the  organization  of  the  Central  Xational  Bank  of 
Greencastle.  of  which  he  was  tendered  the  presidency,  but  the  other  demands 
on  his  time  would  not  permit  him  to  assume  the  duties  of  tiie  position,  and 
he  became  vice-president  of  the  institution,  which  soon  became  one  of  the 
leading  monetarv  concerns  of  the  county.  His  son  Ernest  was  for  some 
time  a  clerk  in  the  bank,  but  he  longed  for  the  open  life  on  the  farm  and 
relini-iuished  the  position.  Mr.  McHafhe's  ability  was  recognized  in  his  ap- 
pointment as  a  member  of  the  board  of  county  commissioners,  to  fill  out  an 
unexpired  term,  and  he  was  afterwards  elected  to  succeed  himself.  In  this 
position  he  ga\e  etficient  and  satisfactory  ser\ice.  Mr.  McHattie  is  a  Jackson 
Democrat  and  has  always  taken  a  commendable  interest  in  public  affairs, 
being  one  of  the  strong  and  influential  citizens  of  the  county. 

In  his  younger  days  Mr.  McFIaffie  was  an  accomplished  horseman  and 
at  one  time  he  shot  a  deer  from  the  back  of  a  wild  mustang  in  Missouri, 
standing  in  the  stirrups  as  he  shot.  That  he  was  also  possessed  of  much 
endurance  is  evident  from  the  fact  that  he  rode  from  Tuscola.  Illinois,  to  his 
home  in  Putnam  count}',  a  distance  of  over  one  hundred  miles,  during  the  day- 
light of  one  day.  This  forced  ride,  which  was  made  on  a  mule,  was  be- 
cause of  an  urgent  business  matter  which  required  his  presence  at  home. 
His  love  of  horsemanship  has  been  inherited  ];y  his  grandson  Robert,  who 
has  won  a  widespread  reputation  because  of  his  e.xpertness  in  this  line.  At  the 
age  of  fourteen  years  he  competed  with  old  and  experienced  riders  at  county 
fairs  and  at  one  of  the  state  fairs  he  won  a  one-hundred-dollar  premium. 
Mr.  McHaffie's  success  has  come  as  the  result  of  his  own  persistent  efforts 
and  now  he  is  enjoving  that  ease  to  which  he  is  so  justly  entitled.  Standing 
at  his  beautiful  home,  he  may  look  a  mile  north,  a  mile  and  a  quarter  east,  a 
half  mile  west  and  a  half  mile  south,  and  the  land  within  that  scope  of  vision 
is  all  his.  anil  this  despite  the  fact  that  he  has  given  to  his  children  twelve 
hundred  acres  of  land.  The  attracti\'e  and  well  arranged  home  was  planned 
by  Mrs.  McHaffie  and  is  as  fine  a  home  as  can  ht  found  in  either  Putnam 
or  Hendricks  counties. 

On  August  15,  1S50.  Mr.  McHattie  was  united  in  the  bonds  of  wedlock 
with  Mary  Ann  Thomas,  a  daughter  of  Jonathan  and  Catherine  ( Ulrich) 
Thomas.  She  was  born  at  Georgetown.  Pennsylvania,  and  came  with  her 
mother  to  this  county,  her  father  having  died  in  Pennsylvania.  Subsequent- 
ly her  mother  married  Theodore  Long  at  Dayton.  Ohio,  and  the  family  came 
to  Putnam  county  in  the  fall  of  1S49.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  McHattie  fell  in  love 
with  each  other  at  first  sight,  and  this  mutual   feeling  was  never  altered  in 


488  WEIK  S   HISTORY   OF 

any  degree,  she  proving  to  her  husband  a  "helpmate"  in  the  truest  sense  of 
the  word.  She  was  a  woman  of  splendid  personal  qualities,  endowed  with  a 
liberal  share  of  sound  common  sense,  and  she  not  only  reared  their  children 
to  honorable  manhood  and  womanhood,  but  she  also  took  an  intelligent  inter- 
est in  business  affairs  and  'Mr.  McHaffie  placed  a  high  value  on  her  advice 
and  counsel  in  Inisiness  affairs.  She  is  spoken  of  flatteringly  today  by  those 
who  enjoyed  her  acquaintance.  Her  death  occurred  on  the  2ist  day  of  July, 
1897.  To  ^Nfr.  and  Mrs.  ]\[cHaffie  were  born  the  following  children,  ten  in 
number. 

(i)  Florence  Alice  became  the  wife  of  Charles  Bridges,  a  native  of 
Putnam  county,  who  later  became  a  successful  business  man  at  Indianapolis, 
where  his  death  occurred :  she  still  resides  in  that  city. 

(2)  Thurza  Jane,  generally  called  Jennie,  became  the  wife  of  Thomas 
S.  Boggess.  of  ?i[acon.  ^lississippi.  but  she  died  of  typhoid  fever  in  that  state 
about  two  years  after  her  marriage.  She  left  a  son.  Bennett  ^Mack  Boggess, 
a  trader  and  cotton  grower,  who  is  married  and  has  a  daughter.  Caroline. 

(3)  George  ^^'.  is  a  farmer  and  resides  on  three  hundred  acres  of  land 
southeast  of  Stilesville.  gi\-en  him  by  his  father.  He  married  Emma  Cosner 
and  thev  became  the  parents  of  three  children,  namely:  One  died  in  infancy; 
Katie  married . Harry  Tincher.  a  successful  lawyer  at  Louisville,  Kentucky; 
Maty  Ann  lives  at  home  with  her  parents.  She  and  her  sister  were  both 
educated  at  St.  ]\[ary's-of-the-\Voods,  at  Terre  Haute. 

(4)  Minnie  became  the  wife  of  Dr.  M.  G.  Masters,  who  was  born  and 
reared  at  Stilesville,  Indiana,  the  son  of  Alexander  and  Almira  (Graham) 
Masters,  these  parents  subsequently  moving  to  Kansas,  where  their  deaths 
occurred.  Dr.  ^Masters  died  in  1902  at  Plainfield.  Indiana.  To  him  and  his 
wife  were  born  four  children,  of  whom  three.  Orian.  Eva  and  ^lax.  are  de- 
ceased, the  sur\i\'or  being  Lex.  now  sixteen  years  old.  who  lives  with  his 
mother  in  the  home  of  Mr.  INlcHaffie.  and  who  is  now  a  student  in  the  Stiles- 
ville high  school. 

( ^)      .Andrew  E.  died  at  the  age  of  seventeen  years. 

(6)  Clemmie  died  at  the  age  of  three  years. 

(7)  ]\Iarcus  F.  died  at  the  age  of  four  years. 

(8)  Oscar  S.  is  a  farmer,  living  on  three  hundred  acres  of  land  ad- 
joining his  father's  farni.  He  married  May  Leachman,  daughter  of  James 
Leachman.  of  near  Fillmore,  this  county,  and  they  have  a  son,  James  Mel- 
ville, now  a  student  in  the  agricultural  department  of  Purdue  University  at 
Lafavette.  Indiana. 


PUTNAM    COUNTY^    INDIANA.  489 

(9j  Ernest  married  Annie  Greer,  daughter  of  John  and  Man,-  Agnes 
Greer,  of  Sevmour,  Indiana,  and  they  have  three  children.  Ernestine.  Robert 
and  Maxine. 

(  10)  ^[amie  became  the  wife  of  Jolin  F.  Shiel.  of  Seymour.  Indiana, 
and  they  have  one  son.  John  ^NlcHaffie  Shiel. 


JOHN  WILLSON  OSBORX. 

The  first  half  of  the  nineteenth  century  was  characterized  by  the  emigra- 
tion of  the  sterling  element  which  made  the  great  commonwealth  of  Indiana 
what  it  is.  These  pioneers  were  sturdy,  heroic,  upright,  sincere  folks,  such 
as  constitute  the  intrinsic  strength  of  a  state  and  give  solidity  to  its  institu- 
tions. It  is  hardly  possible  that  in  the  future  another  such  period  can  occur, 
or,  indeed,  any  period  in  which  such  a  solid  phalanx  of  strong-minded,  de- 
termined men  and  self-sacrificing  women  will  take  possession  of  a  new 
country,  develop  its  resources  and  lay  broad  and  deep  the  foundation  of  an 
advanced  and  permanent  state  of  civilization.  Too  careful  or  too  frequent 
reference  cannot  be  made  in  the  pages  of  historv'  concerning  those  who  have 
thus  figured  as  founders  and  builders  of  a  commonwealth,  and  equal  credit 
is  also  due  to  the  sturd}-  sons  and  daughters  who,  born  and  reared  among  the 
stirring  experiences  of  those  heroic  times,  nobly  assumed  the  burdens  borne 
by  their  predecessors  and  with  patience  and  fortitude  such  as  the  world  has 
seldom  seen  excelled,  carried  on  the  good  w  ork  until  what  was  under  so  many 
difficulties  begun,  was  in  due  course  of  time  most  earnestly  and  triumphantly 
completed. 

Among  the  Indiana  pioneers  whose  depth  of  character,  public-spirit,  un- 
swerving devotion  to  right  principle,  and  indefatigable  energy  enabled  them  to 
play  their  parts  in  the  early  development  of  Indiana,  was  John  Willson  Osborn, 
who.  although  long  since  a  pilgrim  to  that  "undiscovered  bourne  from  which 
no  traveler  ever  returned."  set  in  motion  such  ameliorating  forces  while  he 
sojourned  on  earth  for  more  than  three  score  years-  and  ten.  that  his  infiuence 
will  not  wholly  be  dissipated,  but  will  continue  to  bless  the  generations  that 
follow  him  "unto  the  perfect  day."  Therefore  this  noted  pioneer  Hoosier 
editor  is  eminently  deserving  of  a  conspicuous  place  in  the  history  of  this 
state,  as  well  as  worthy  of  emulation  b\-  the  youth  of  the  present  day  whose 
ambitions  are  to  ser\e  mankind  and  w  hose  destinies  are  }"et  matters  for  future 
\"ears  to  determine. 


490 


WEIK  S   HISTORY  OF 


Mr.  Osborn  was  born  at  St.  Johns.  Xew  Brunswick,  February  7.  1794. 
He  was  the  second  son  of  Capt.  Samuel  Osborn,  a  gallant  and  accomplished 
officer  in  the  British  navy.  His  maternal  grandfather.  Col.  John  W'illson, 
and  his  eldest  brother,  Capt.  William  Osborn,  were  also  officers  in  the 
service  of  his  majesty  the  king  of  England.  The  former  was  an  intimate 
friend  of  General  Brock,  acted  as  commissar}'  general,  and  filled  many  places 
of  trust.  It  was  for  him  that  the  immediate  subject  of  this  sketch  was  named. 
William  Osborn,  the  eldest  son  of  Capt.  Samuel  Osborn,  Jr.,  was  promoted 
to  a  captaincv  when  ver\'  young  for  bravery  during  several  sharp  engagements 
at  sea.  Thus  bv  the  divine  right  of  inheritance  and  early  associations,  John 
W.  Osborn  was  fitted  for  the  struggles  and  privations  of  pioneer  life  which 
need  a  brave  heart  and  an  untiring  devotion,  progressive  and  aggressive,  to 
the  principles  of  right.  His  mother's  maiden  name  was  .Mice  W'illson.  the 
daughter  of  John  and  Rebecca  (Thixton)  Willson.  She  was  born  on  Staten 
Island,  and  she  was  educated  in  Xew  York,  where  the  family  always  spent 
a  part  of  each  year,  her  father  being  an  officer  in  the  British  army,  loyal  to  his 
king.  They  finallv  left  the  United  States  and  sought  a  new  home  in  Canada. 
sometim.es  living  at  Halifax,  Quebec,  Montreal,  Canancoqua,  and  finally 
settling  down  at  Toronto,  buying  land  and  laying,  as  they  supposed,  a  per- 
manent foundation  for  a  home.  Colonel  Willson  sent  to  Scotland  and  brought 
a  hundred  families  from  that  country,  settling  them  upon  his  lands  in  Canada, 
and,  believing  in  the  magic  power  of  the  press  to  enlighten  and  civilize,  he 
sent  to  England  for  a  printing  press,  type  and  men  and  started  a  paper  in 
the  then  almost  wilderness  of  the  west.  Associated  with  him  in  the  publi- 
cation of  TJic  Vpl^cr  Canada  Guardian  and  Freeman's  Journal  was  Col. 
Joseph  Wilcox,  who  was  a  member  of  the  provincial  Parliament,  an  ardent 
politician,  an  educated  Irish  gentleman  and  a  Republican.  This  paper  was 
stronglv  devoted  to  the  cause  of  liberty  and  free  government,  and  it  was  as 
an  apprentice  in  this  office  that  young  John  W.  Osborn  learned  the  printer's 
art,  this  experience  giving  direction  to  the  whole  current  of  his  after  life, 
for  he  immediatelv  imbibed  the  principles  he  was  aiding  to  disseminate,  and 
when  the  war  of  1812  ensued  he  followed  his  leader  in  espousing  the  Ameri- 
can cause,  leaving  his  country  and  kindred  on  August  u,  181  J.  and  cast  his 
lot  with  the  people  of  the  United  States.  His  father.  Captain  Osborn.  had 
died  when  his  son  was  yet  a  lad.  and  the  Captain's  associate  in  the  journalistic 
field.  Colonel  Wilcox,  joined  the  army  of  the  Republic  and  was  made  a  colonel 
in  the  .American  army,  and  was  killed  while  leading  his  men  in  the  sortie  up 
Lake  Erie. 


PUTNAM    COUNTY,    INDIANA.  491 

Mr.  Osbom.  upon  leaving  the  service,  resumed  "his  professional  labors. 
A  book  publisher  of  Albany.  New  York,  induced  him  to  go  to  Cortlandville. 
that  state,  where  he  took  charge  of  and  edited  the  Cortland  Republican,  a 
paper  still  published  there.  This  paper,  which  was  an  ardent  supporter  of 
the  United  States  government,  he  continued  to  publish  until  1816.  In  the 
year  succeeding  the  admission  of  Indiana  to  the  Union  as  a  state,  the  eyes 
of  eastern  peope  being  attracted  to  the  wonderfully  developing  West.  ^Ir. 
Osborn,  on  .\pril  18.  1817,  in  company  with  Lucius  H.  Scott  and  others, 
sailed  from  Ogdensburg.  Xew  York,  and  arri\-ed  at  A'incennes  on  June  nth 
following,  where  he  became  associated  with  Elihu  Stout,  in  publishing  In- 
diana's first  newspaper.  The  IJ'cstcni  Sim.  In  July  of  that  year  he  visited 
the  site  of  Terre  Haute,  on  which  he  found  one  log  house.  Being  strongly 
attracted  by  the  native  beaut\-  of  the  spot,  he  finally  returned  there  in  18J3 
and  established  the  IJ'cstcni  Rcgi.itcr.  the  first  newspaper  published  at  the 
now  flourishing  city  of  Terre  Haute.  Though  twenty-two  signed  a  protest 
again.st  its  pulilication,  it  was  continued  until  1832,  the  latter  part  of  the  time 
under  the  editorship  of  his  son-in-law.  Hon.  S.  B.  Gookins.  Mr.  Osborn 
found  slave  trade  fl<5urishing  at  \'incennes  an<l  he  at  once  lifted  a  voice 
against  it;  finally,  in  co-operation  with  others,  he  carried  the  question  to 
the  supreme  court  of  the  state  and  obtained  a  decision  which  set  at  rest  for- 
ever the  question  of  slaver}-  in  Indiana.  The  first  issue  of  the  Register  at 
Terre  Haute  created  something  of  a  sensation  in  the  then  wilderness,  and 
the  inhabitants  came  from  all  parts  of  the  country  to  \ie\v  the  great  wonder. 
It  was  published  through  many  difficulties,  it  being  necessary  to  bring  the 
stock  of  paper  used  principally  from  ^^adison  on  pack  horses,  tlirough  the 
primitive  woods.  His  paper  was  delixererl  by  private  carriers  up  and  down 
the  Wabash,  as  the  nearest  postoffices  were  St.  Louis  on  the  west,  \incennes 
on  the  south  and  there  was  little  civilization  to  tlie  imrth.  During  that  year, 
while  he  was  riding  up  the  Wabash  toward  Ft.  Dearborn,  he  came  to  the 
Tippecan(5e  battleground,  where  he  discovered  that  the  Indians  had  un- 
earthed the  soldiers  buried  there  and.  after  stripping  and  scalping  them,  left 
their  bones  to  bleach  in  the  sun  and  wind.  !\[r.  Osborn  returned  to  Terre 
Haute  and  induced  Capt.  Xathanie!  Huntington  to  take  his  company  of 
cavalry  to  the  spot  and  reinter  the  bones  with  military  honors. 

Having  occasion  to  pass  through  Greencastle.  Putnam  county,  in  1834, 
Mr.  Osborn  was  much  impressed  with  the  high  rolling  country,  delightful 
location  from  a  standpoint  of  health,  and  natural  beauty,  and  soon  decided 
to  locate  there,  having  sold  his  Terre  Haute  paper,  and  he  accordingly  began 
the  publication  of  the  first  newspaper  in  Greencastle.  a  few  of  the  first  issues 


492  WEIK  S    HISTORY   OF 

being  entitled  The  Hoosicr,  but  this  was  soon  changed  to  the  JVcstcrn 
PlougJi  Boy,  which  was  the  first  truly  agricultural  paper  published  in  the 
state.  Becoming  convinced  of  the  evils  of  strong  drink,  he  published  a  sort 
of  leaflet  called  the  Temperance  Advocate,  and  sent  it  without  cost  as  a  sup- 
plement, thus  giving  to  Indiana  her  first  temperance  paper.  The  country 
was  new,  times  were  hard  and  much  of  his  pay  was  in  produce — venison, 
corn,  wood  and  manv  things  were  among  the  rewards  for  his  labors,  but 
his  motto  was  "Know  no  failure."  and,  with  characteristic  energv',  he  suc- 
ceeded at  whatever  he  undertook.  Being  not  only  interested  in  the  further- 
ance of  the  temperance  movement  and  the  development  of  the  new  country, 
but  also  in  educational  affairs,  his  labors  in  Greencastle,  in  a  ver\-  large 
measure,  resulted  in  the  establishment  and  location  of  Asbury  (now  DePauw) 
University,  the  leading  literary  institution  in  the  state,  of  the  ]Methodist 
denomination,  of  which  he  was  an  active  and  zealous  member.  His  name 
is  on  the  record  as  one  of  the  first  trustees  and  original  incorporators.  In 
18^6  '\{r.  Osborn  attended  a  state  editorial  convention  at  Indianapolis,  where 
he  succeeded  in  obtaining  a  unanimous  vote  in  favor  of  abolishing  "treat- 
ing" at  elections,  and  he  was  in  1S41  elected  state  printer,  which  led  him 
to  sell  the  Plough  Boy  and  its  entire  equipment.  In  the  meantime,  however 
(1838),  he  moved  to  Indianapolis  and  published  the  Indiana  Fanner  and 
Stock  Register,  also  continued  the  publication  of  his  temperance  paper.  At 
the  close  of  his  term  of  office  he  retired  from  active  newspaper  business, 
but  was  a  frequent  contributor  to  various  local  journals  during  most  of  his 
after  life.  When  the  war  between  the  states  began,  he  was  too  old  to  take 
the  field,  but.  being  a  stanch  supporter  of  the  national  Union,  he  could 
not  be  idle  during  such  stirring  times,  and  he  went  to  Sullivan  county,  the 
\erv  hot-bed  of  Democracy,  and  there  commenced  the  publication  of  a  war 
campaign  paper.  The  Stars  and  Stripes,  and  he  rendered  valuable  service  to 
the  cause,  until  failing  health  compelled  him  to  abandon  the  enterprise.  He 
returned  to  his  home  in  Greencastle.  where,  after  a  long,  painful  illness, 
which  he  bore  with  Christian  fortitude,  he  passed  to  his  rest  on  November 
12,  1866. 

yiv.  Osborn  was  a  worthy  member  of  the  Masonic  order,  and  during  the 
last  thirtv-five  years  of  his  life  he  was  a  most  earnest  Christian.  Zealous 
in  ever}-  good  cause,  he  promoted  zeal  and  perseverance  in  others. 

Mr.  Osbom's  life  was  one  of  increasing  activity,  and  of  his  work  John 
B.  Dillon,  one  of  Indiana's  first  historians,  justly  says:  "He  was  devoted 
to  labors  for  the  uplifting  of  society,  was  a  pioneer  in  eveiy  movement  for 
education,  humanitv  and  religion,  and  was  always  in  the  van  of  civilization 


PLTNAM    COUNTY,    INDIANA.  493 

and  progress,  leading  others  to  noble  and  heroic  efforts,  and  opening  the  way 
where  masses  of  his  fellow  men  have  followed.  He  was  genial  and  generous 
to  a  fault." 

How  wonderful  and  how  grand  the  life  and  labors  of  this  noble,  yet 
modest  man.  For  a  full  half  century  constantly  battling,  and  that  often  in 
the  face  of  bitter  and  violent  opposition,  for  justice,  for  liberty,  for  the  good 
of  the  farmer  and  stock  raiser,  for  every  moral  and  social  reform,  for  tem- 
perance, for  everv'thing  that  tended  to  ameliorate  the  conditions  of  the  human 
race. 

Air.  Osborn  married,  in  Homer,  Cortland  county,  Xew  York,  on  March 
31,  1S14.  Ruby  \\".  Bishop,  a  daughter  of  Thomas  Lee  and  Ruby  (Webb) 
Bishop.  Mrs.  Osbom  was  of  distinguished  colonial  and  Revolutionary  an- 
cestry, being  a  direct  descendant  of  the  renowned  Governor  AVilliam  Brad- 
ford, of  Plymouth;  also  of  the  Adamses,  Lee.  Palmer,  Hobart,  Allen.  Ripley, 
and  others  of  the  most  notable  families  of  Xew  England.  Through  Mrs 
Osborn  her  descendants  are  many  times  eligible  to  most  of  the  patriotic 
societies  of  the  L'nited  States.  She  was  a  close  student  and  retained,  almost 
to  the  hour  of  her  death,  a  keen  interest  in  affairs  which  pertained  to  public 
welfare.  It  is  said  that  the  editorials  in  her  husband's  papers  were  alwavs 
submitted  to  her  before  publication  and  that  she  was  often  the  proofreatler 
for  the  entire  paper. 

A  group  of  voung  men.  who  afterwards  became  well  known  in  the 
state,  were  gathered  in  the  office  of  the  Western  Rcyistcr.  Mrs.  Osborn 
directed  their  course  of  study,  and  to  her  is  given  the  credit  of  first  dis- 
co\'ering  the  poetical  talent  of  Mr.  Osborn"s  nephew.  George  W.  Cutter, 
author  of  "E  Pluribus  Unum."  "Song  of  Steam"  and  "Buena  Vista."  She 
constantly  encouraged  these  young  men  in  all  worthy  effort  and  urged  them 
to  lofty  aspirations,  and  their  expressions  of  appreciation  were  a  great  solace 
to  her  in  her  declining  years. 

Mrs.  Osborn  died  in  Indianapolis  on  April  15.  1880,  and  is  buried 
beside  her  husband  in  Forest  Hill  cemetery,  in  Greencastle.  Indiana. 

Seven  children  were  born  to  John  Willson  and  Ruby  (Bishop)  Os- 
born. of  which  number  three  died  in  infancy.  The  four  who  lived  to  ma- 
turity were:  ^larv  Caroline,  who  became  the  wife  of  Judge  Samuel  B. 
Gookins.  of  Terre  Haute,  died  in  Columbus.  Georgia.  .August  26.  1889. 
and  is  buried  in  Woodlawn  cemetery.  Terre  Haute:  Bishop  Webb,  born 
in  Terre  Haute,  died  in  Indianapolis  on  .\pril  9.  1891.  and  is  buried  in  For- 
est Hill   cemetery.   Greencastle:  Hannah   M.  became   the   wife   of   Siilomon 


494 


WEIK  S    HISTORY   OF 


Claypool  and  resides  in  Indianapolis;  Ruby  Alice,  who  was  the  wife  of 
Hon.  L.  P.  Chapin,  long  an  honored  citizen  of  Greencastle,  and  who  is  the 
subject  of  a  sketch  found  elsewhere  in  this  work,  died  in  Indianapolis  on 
November  6,  1907,  and  is  buried  in  Forest  Hill  cemetery,  Greencastle. 


PROF.  OSCAR  THOMAS. 

The  men  most  influential  in  promoting  the  advancement  of  society  and 
in  o-ivino-  character  to  the  times  in  which  they  live  are  two  classes,  to-\vit : 
the  men  of  study  and  men  of  action.  Whether  we  are  more  indebted  for 
the  improvement  of  the  age  to  the  one  class  or  the  other  resolves  itself  to  a 
question  of  honest  ditYerence  in  opinion;  neither  class  can  be  spared  and  both 
should  be  encouraged  to  occupy  their  several  spheres  of  labor  and  influence, 
zealously  and  without  mutual  distrust.  In  the  following  paragraphs  are 
briefly  outlined  the  leading  facts  and  characteristics  in  the  career  of  a  gentle- 
man who  combines  in  his  makeup  the  elements  of  the  scholar  and  the  energy 
of  the  public-spirited  man  of  affairs.  Devoted  to  the  noble  and  humane  work 
of  teaching,  he  has  made  his  influence  felt  in  the  school  life  of  Putnam  county 
and  is  not  unknown  to  the  wider  educational  circles  of  the  state,  occupying 
as  he  does  a  prominent  place  in  his  profession  and  standing  high  in  the  esteem 
of  educators  in  other  than  his  own  particular  field  of  endeavor. 

Professor  Oscar  Thomas,  superintendent  of  schools  of  Putnam  county, 
although  yet  a  young  man.  has  shown  that  rightly  applied  energy  and  am- 
bition worthily  pursued  may  accomplish  large  results  in  a  comparatively 
short  time.  He  is  a  native  of  this  county,  having  been  born  in  Madison  town- 
ship. January  20,  1872.  the  son  of  William  Thomas,  who  was  born  in  Green- 
castle township,  June  17.  1844.  and  who  is  the  representative  of  an  excellent 
old  pioneer  family.  He  was  educated  in  the  primitive  schools  of  his  native 
community  and  devoted  his  lite  to  farming,  being  now  one  of  the  leading 
ap-riculturists  of  Madison  township.  The  Thomas  family  is  of  Irish  stock, 
the  lineao-e  of  which  may  be  traced  back  to  1685,  since  which  remote  period 
manv  members  of  this  historic  family  have  distinguished  themselves  in  va- 
rious walks  of  life. 

William  Thomas  married  Elizabeth  J.  Ewing.  born  October  5.  1842. 
She  was  born  in  Montgomeiy  county.  Indiana,  where  her  family  were  long 
well  and  favorably  known.  She  is  a  woman  of  gracious  personality  and  is 
still  livino-  in  Madison  township.     To  Mr.  and  Mrs.  William  Thomas  eleven 


PL'TXAM    CULXTV,    INDIANA.  495 

children  were  born,  named  as  follows:  Eliza,  wife  of  Charles  J.  Priest,  died 
in  1883:  Mrs.  Dora  Reeves,  a  trained  nurse,  is  living  at  home;  Henr^'  is  a 
traveling  salesman  living  in  Indianapolis;  Oscar,  of  this  review;  J.  Elmer 
is  living  in  Oklahoma,  being  a  state  senator  there;  Charles  B.  is  an  under- 
taker at  Rosedale,  Indiana;  Ona,  wife  of  Edward  Wiley,  died  in  Denver, 
Colorado,  1904;  Bertha,  who  was  a  teacher,  died  in  1907;  Fred  is  a  teacher, 
living  in  Greencastle ;  E,  Cleve  is  also  a  teacher  and  is  living  at  home;  Frank 
died  when  two  years  of  age. 

Professor  Thomas  was  reared  on  the  home  farm,  which  he  worked  w  hen 
old  enough  during  the  summer  months,  devoting  the  winter  to  study  in  the 
public  schools  of  Madison  township.  Being  ambitious  to  become  familiar 
with  the  classics  and  higher  sciences,  he  continued  his  schooling  by  entering 
the  Central  Normal  College  at  Danville,  after  which  he  took  a  course  in  De- 
Pauw  University,  where  he  made  a  splendid  record  and  came  out  well  quali- 
hed  to  enter  his  chosen  life  work — teaching,  which  he  soon  began  and  which 
he  has  since  followed,  teaching  for  a  period  of  thirteen  years  in  townships  of 
Aladison,  Mill  Creek.  Monroe  and  Franklin.  Of  this  time  three  years  was 
spent  in  the  high  school  at  Brick  Chapel,  giving  eminent  satisfaction  from  the 
first.  He  soon  became  known  throughout  the  county  and  his  services  were 
in  great  demantl.  having  so  discharged  his  duties  as  to  win  the  highest  en- 
comiums of  the  superintendent  and  boards  of  the  various  schools  where  he 
w  as  employed,  to  say  nothing  of  his  great  popularity  with  the  pupils  under  his 
charge  and  of  the  general  public.  In  1903  he  was  elected  county  superin- 
tendent of  Schools  and  so  faithfully  and  satisfactorily  did  he  fill  this  impor- 
tant trust  that  he  was  re-elected  in  1907. 

The  office  of  county  superintendent  of  Putnam  county  was  organized  by 
act  of  Legislature  in  1S73,  the  first  superintendent  being  John  R.  Gordon, 
who  served  two  years.  L.  A.  Stockwell  was  elected  in  1875  and  held  the 
place  six  years.  L.  E.  Smedley  was  next  elected,  serving  for  a  period  of 
eight  years.  F.  M.  Lyons  succeeded  him  and  also  served  for  a  period  of 
eight  years.     S.  A.  Harris  came  next  with  a  service  of  six  years. 

Professor  Thomas  was  married  on  December  8,  1903,  to  Dessie  O'Hair, 
daughter  of  J.  E.  O'Hair,  an  excellent  and  well  established  family  of  this 
county.  Mrs.  Thomas  was  born  April  4,  1875,  '"  Monroe  tOwnship,  and 
educated  at  DePauw  University  and.  being  a  woman  of  refined  tastes  and 
high  ideals,  has  been  of  great  assistance  to  her  husband  in  his  life  work. 
This  union  is  without  issue. 

The  Professor  is  a  member  of  the  Christian  church,  while  Mrs.  Thomas 
holds  membership  with  the  Methodist  Episcopal  congregation  Politically 
the  former  is  a  Democrat,  but  is  in  no  sense  a  politician. 


496  weik's  history  of 

Professor  Thomas'  record  presents  a  series  of  successes  and  advance- 
ments such  as  few  attain.  He  pursues  his  chosen  calHng  with  all  the  interest 
of  an  enthusiast,  is  thoroughly  in  harmony  with  the  spirit  of  the  work  and 
has  a  proper  conception  of  the  dignity  of  the  profession  to  which  his  life 
energies  are  so  unselfishly  devoted.  A  finished  scholar,  a  polished  gentle- 
men and  possessing  the  traits  of  character  necessary  to  insure  success,  the 
services  thus  far  rendered  and  the  laurels  gained  bespeak  for  him  a  wider 
and  more  distinguished  career  of  usefulness  in  years  to  come,  should  he  see 
fit  to  continue  the  noble  calling  which  he  has  heretofore  followed  with  such 
signal  and  happv  results.  Unlike  so  many  of  his  calling  who  become  nar- 
row and  pedantic,  the  Professor  is  essentially  a  man  of  the  times,  broad  and 
Hberal  in  his  views,  and  he  has  the  courage  of  his  convictions  on  all  the  lead- 
ing public  questions  and  issues  upon  which  men  and  parties  divide.  He  also 
keeps  in  touch  with  the  trend  of  modern  thought  along  its  various  lines  and, 
being  a  man  of  scholarly  and  refined  tastes,  the  acquaintance  of  Professor 
Thomas  with  the  literature  of  the  world  is  both  general  and  profound,  while 
his  familiarity  with  the  more  practical  affairs  of  the  day  makes  him  feel  at 
ease  with  all  classes  and  conditions  of  people  whom  he  meets. 


CAPT.  WILLIAM   H.  ALLEE. 

Back  in  the  earlv  pioneer  days  of  Putnam  county  is  traced  the  history 
of  the  Allee  familv.  manv  members  of  which  have  made  their  influence  felt 
for  the  general  welfare  of  the  locality  during  each  succeeding  generation,  one 
of  the  best  known  being  Capt.  William  H.  Allee.  who.  after  an  unusually  suc- 
cessful, interesting  and  useful  career,  is  sleeping  the  sleep  that  knows  no 
breaking,  but  his  good  deeds  are  still  alive  and  his  memory  is  revered  and 
cherished  bv  hosts  of  friends,  for  he  was  indeed  a  grand  character,  whom  to 
know  was  both  to  admire  and  to  love. 

'Mv.  Allee  was  born  in  Jefferson  township.  Putnam  county.  Indiana,  in 
1S33,  when  the  country  was  new.  and  he  lived  to  take  part  in  its  great  de- 
velopment. He  was  the  son  of  John  and  Lucretia  fPnu'tt)  Allee.  a  complete 
ancestry  of  whom  is  to  be  found  in  the  sketch  of  F.  M.  Allee  on  another 
page  of  this  work. 

Mr.  Allee  grew  up  on  the  home  farm.  and.  owing  to  the  new  condition 
of  the  countn-  when  he  was  a  boy,  it  fell  to  his  lot  to  do  a  great  deal  of  clear- 
ino-  and  hard  work,  and  his  educational  advantages  were  limited,  but  he  made 


WILLIAM   H     ALLEE 


PL'TXAM     COUNTY,    IXDIAXA.  497 

the  most  of  exeiy  opportunity  and  de\eloped  into  a  strong,  successful  man, 
remaining  at  home  until  his  marriage  in  1856.  when  he  fonned  a  matrimonial 
alliance  with  Mary  McCarty,  daughter  of  William  and  Ann  ( Langham) 
McCarty.  She  was  born  in  1834  in  Warren  township.  Putnam  count}',  about 
three  miles  west  of  Mt.  ^leridian.  on  the  National  road.  Her  parents  were 
both  natives  of  Tennessee,  having  come  to  Indiana  from  Claiborne  county, 
near  Nashville.  \\'hen  they  arrived  in  Putnam  county  they  found  a  wilderness 
through  which  roamed  wild  beasts  and  Indians;  they  settled  in  the  unbroken 
forest,  cleared  a  small  place,  pitched  a  camp  in  which  they  li\ed  until  a 
log  cabin  could  be  erected.  Then  John  McCarty  set  to  work  clearing  the 
land  and  the  arduous  toil  and  hardship  incident  to  pioneer  life  were  such  as 
to  prematurel}-  injure  his  health.  He  secured  two  hundred  anti  si.xty  acres 
and  added  to  this  until  he  owned  three  huntlred  and  sixty  acres  before  his 
death.  Eleven  children  constituted  his  family,  namely;  Elijah.  Jane.  Julia, 
Sarah.  Abel.  Emily.  Maiy,  Ellen.  Martha,  Angeline  and  Lewis,  the  last  named 
dying  when  two  years  old.  the  others  all  living  to  maturity.  Mrs.  McCarty 
died  about  1849.  at  the  age  of  sixty-three  years.  Mr.  McCarty  had  served 
as  justice  of  the  peace  in  Warren  township.  Both  parents  belonged  to  the 
Primitive  Baptist  church,  both  taking  a  great  interest  in  its  affairs.  They 
assisted  in  the  organization  of  Deer  Creek  church,  the  first  church  in  that 
part  of  the  county,  the  building  being  erected  in  their  fami. 

After  their  marriage  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Allee  went  to  live  on  a  farm  given 
him  by  his  father,  which  place  was  only  a  short  distance  northwest  of 
Providence  church.  Jefferson  township.  Fi\e  years  later  he  bought  more 
land  from  his  father  and  moved  to  it.  a  mile  and  a  half  further  northwest. 
I'ive  years  later  he  purchased  the  old  McCarty  homestead  in  \\"arren  town- 
ship and  moved  thereto,  remaining  on  the  place  five  or  six  years.  About  1873 
he  bought  a  farm  at  the  crossing  of  the  section  lines  of  sections  5.  6.  7  and 
8  and  moved  thereto  soon  afterwards,  the  place  having  remained  in  possession 
of  the  family  ever  since.  Mr.  Allee  was  a  very  successful  man.  laid  his  plans 
well  and  executed  them  in  a  manner  that  stamped  him  as  the  possessor  of 
rare  business  foresight  and  soundness  of  judgment.  He  became  the  owner 
iif  two  thi5usand  acres,  divided  into  twelve  farms.  He  kept  his  land  well  im- 
proved and  looked  after  every  detail  of  the  work,  his  painstaking  labor  always 
l)eing  aniplv  rew  arded. 

In  politics  Mr.  Allee  was  an  active  Republican,  and  while  he  was  not  an 
office  seeker  he  took  more  or  less  interest  in  the  affairs  of  his  party.  He 
was  one  of  those  bra\-e  men  of  the  Middle  West  who  e\-er  stood  ready  to  de- 


498 


WEIK  S    HISTORY    OF 


fend  the  flag  in  time  of  national  peril,  and  when  only  seventeen  years  of  age, 
during  the  Mexican  war,  he  ran  away  from  home  and  started  to  enlist  for 
service,  but  was  too  young  and  his  father  overtook  him  at  Greencastle  and 
brought  him  back  home.  During  the  Civil  war  he  felt  it  his  duty  to  stay  at 
home  and  look  after  his  large  family,  but  he  was  patriotic  and  was  an  able 
assistant  in  the  Union  cause  as  a  civilian  at  home,  giving  money  with  which 
to  hire  help  on  the  farms  so  that  young  men  could  be  sent  to  the  front  and 
helped  organize  companies.  He  was  a  member  of  the  Masonic  fraternity 
and  also  the  Methodist  church.  [Mrs.  Allee  has  also  long  been  a  member  of 
this  church  and  still  delights  in  its  services,  attending  when  she  can. 

Mr.  Allee's  chief  occupation  was  farming,  but  he  also  traded  in  land, 
bought  and  sold  livestock  and  was  regarded  as  a  man  of  safe  business 
methods.  He  was  well  known  all  over  Putnam  county  and  highly  esteemed  by 
all  who  knew  him,  for  he  was  a  man  whom  everybody  trusted,  being  scrup- 
ulously honest  and  fair  in  his  dealings.  The  death  of  this  excellent  citizen 
occurred  on  July  24,  1905,  having  attained  an  ad\anced  age  which  was  re- 
plete with  both  success  and  honor. 

Mr.  Allee's  companions  like  to  remember  the  efforts  he  put  forth  during 
the  war  of  the  Rebellion,  for  then  his  patriotism  ran  high  and  he  proved 
the  mettle  of  which  he  was  made.  He  was  captain  of  the  Home  Guards, 
after  which  he  was  always  known  as  Captain  Allee.  They  remember  him  as 
a  man  of  splendid  qualities,  of  sterling  character.  He  was  a  well  read  man,  a 
deep  thinker,  a  logical  reasoner  and  of  a  kind  and  genial  disposition,  driving 
away  dull  care  and  letting  in  the  sunshine  of  cheerfulness.  He  was  fond  of 
young  men  who  were  just  starting  in  life,  always  welcoming  their  society 
and  was  every  ready,  without  intrusion,  to  give  the  best  of  advice,  which, 
when  followed,  insured  success.  He  inherited  and  practiced  the  many  virtues 
of  the  earlv  days,  knowing  how  best  to  adapt  them  to  the  great  progress  of 
later  times.  His  sincere  courtesy  and  geniality  endeared  him  to  all.  He  was 
one  of  the  foremost,  wealthiest  and  most  modern  of  Putnam  county  agricul- 
turists. His  friendly  nod  and  warm  hand  clasp  was  given  to  all,  rich  and 
poor  alike,  at  all  times  and  his  charitable  qualities  to  those  in  need  will  long 
be  remembered.  His  faithful  life  companion,  a  woman  of  rare  grace  and 
beautiful  Christian  character,  is  enjoying  the  serenity  of  old  age  on  the  home- 
stead southwest  of  Mt.  ^leridian.  and  she  is  a  favorite  with  a  wide  circle  of 
friends. 

To  3>Ir.  and  Mrs.  William  H.  Allee  eleven  children  were  born,  named  as 
follows:  Horace,  born  in  1857.  died  in  infancy;  Corellah.  born  in  1858.  died 
October  26.  1863,  when  five  years  old:  Albert  Franklin,  born  in  i860:  Lucretia 


PCTNAM    COL'NTY.    INDIANA.  499 

married  Leonard  S.  Peck  and  lives  south  of  Greencastle.  and  is  the  mother  of 
one  son,  Ross;  Ehjah  Walter,  born  in  1864,  married  Alpha  Wallace  and  has 
six  children,  ^larie,  Jewel,  Thelma  and  Velma  (twins),  Flossie  and  Albert 
Ross ;  this  family  is  living  on  a  good  farm  in  Mill  Creek  township ;  Charlotte, 
born  in  1866,  married  Americus  Jones  and  lives  on  the  Bloomington  road  south 
of  Greencastle ;  she  has  six  children :  Frank,  Ruby,  Florence,  Thaddeus.  Jessie 
and  Anna;  Grant,  born  in  1868.  died  in  infancy;  Thaddeus  Stevens,  born  in 
1869,  married  Jessie  Surface;  he  was  a  lawyer  in  Chicago  and  died  childless; 
Florence  Nightengale,  born  in  1872,  died  November  19,  1897,  when  twenty- 
five  years  old;  John  Williams,  born  in  1873,  married  Cadora  Denny  and  lives 
a  mile  south  of  Mt.  Meridian,  and  has  two  children,  Piercy  and  Luciie ;  Sam- 
uel Reed,  born  in  1S77,  died  August  15,  1892,  when  fifteen  years  of  age. 


THE  BAINBRIDGE  BANK. 

The  history  of  the  thriving  institutions,  especially  in  connection  with 
the  business  life  of  Putnam  county,  would  lack  an  important  chapter  should 
the  Bainbridge  Bank  not  be  given  proper  mention  in  a  work  of  this  kind,  for 
it  has  proven  to  be  of  inestimable  value  to  the  residents  of  this  village  and 
]\Ionroe  township  and  is  without  question  one  of  the  soimdest,  safest  and 
most  conservatively  and  ably  managed  banks  in  this  section  of  the  state,  hav- 
ing as  its  prime  moving  factors  men  who  rank  high  in  the  citizenship  of  the 
county  and  noted  alike  for  their  integrity  and  business  ability. 

The  Bainbridge  Bank  was  established  December  i,  1904.  by  F.  P.  and 
C.  M.  Moffett,  who  came  to  Bainbridge  a  short  time  before  that  date  from 
Westfield.  Illinois,  where  they  had  been  successfully  engaged  in  the  banking 
business.  For  a  year  they  conducted  their  business  in  Messrs.  Black  &  Rat- 
cliff's  mercantile  establishment  in  the.  Harvey  Black  room  on  the  corner  of 
Main  and  Washington  streets.  During  that  time  the  bank  erected  the  first 
cement  block  busine.ss  rooms  in  the  town,  and  since  that  time  other  progressive 
business  men  followed  the  pace  set  by  them  and  have  built  modern  buildings 
of  a  like  t}pe.  The  bank  has  enjoyed  an  excellent  patronage  from  the  first 
and  has  had  a  steady  growth.  James  M.  Reeds,  formerly  cashier  of  the 
First  National  Bank  of  Coatesville.  became  identified  with  the  Bainbridge 
Bank  as  vice-president  on  January  i,  1909.  The  consensus  of  opinion  in 
^Monroe  township  is  that  while  the  bank  has  been  profitable  to  its  owners  it 


500  WEIK  S    HISTORY    OF 

has  als(3  been  profitable  to  Bainbridge  and  vicinity,  giving  it  many  advantages 
that  a  bank  affords  besides  enhancing  the  vakie  of  property  in  and  around 
town. 

Sometliing  of  the  Hfe  records  of  the  gentlemen  who  have  the  manage- 
ment of  this  institution  in  hand  would  be  of  interest  here. 

F.  P.  Moffett,  president  of  the  Bainbridge  Bank,  was  born  in  Edgar 
county,  Illinois,  November  i,  1852.  After  receiving  a  common  school  edu- 
cation, he  launched  in  the  mercantile  business  in  Erocton,  Illinois,  in  which 
he  was  ver\-  successful,  but  observing  an  opening  for  a  bank  at  Westfield, 
Illinois,  in  1892,  and.  believing  that  his  true  "bent"  lay  along  banking  lines, 
he  accordingly  entered  the  banking  business  there,  building  up  a  verv^  satis- 
factory patronage  until  his  removal  to  Bainbridge,  Indiana. 

Mr.  Moffett  married  Mary  L.  Beck,  of  Boone  county,  Indiana,  on  De- 
cember 28.  1872.  and  this  union  has  resulted  in  the  birth  of  four  children,  two 
of  whom  reside  in  this  county,  Charles  M.  Moffett  and  Mrs.  Sarah  Inez  Reeds. 
^Ir.  Moffett  is  one  of  the  progressive  business  men  of  Putnam  countv.  Po- 
litically he  is  a  Democrat. 

Charles  M.  Moffett.  mentioned  above,  was  born  September  25.  1877.  in 
Edgar  county,  Illinois.  He  graduated  from  the  Oakland  high  school.  He 
began  life  in  banking  circles,  and  after  holding  various  positions  in  different 
banks,  he  came  to  Bainbridge  with  his  father.  F.  P.  Moffett.  December  i, 
1904.  and  assisted  in  founding  the  bank  here.  On  June  22.  1898,  he  married 
Cora  L.  Dunseth.  a  nati\e  of  Oakland,  Illinois,  which  union  has  resulted  in 
the  birth  of  two  children,  Donovan  C.  and  Bonnie  K.  Politicallv  he  is  a 
Democrat  and  he  is  a  member  of  the  Modern  W^oodmen  of  America.  He  is 
regarded  as  a  young  business  man  of  much  promise. 

James  M.  Reeds  is  a  native  of  Douglas  county,  Illinois,  where  he  was 
born  July  i.  1871.  He  received  his  education  from  the  schools  of  Oakland, 
his  native  state,  graduating  therefrom,  and  to  better  fit  himself  for  life's 
struggle  he  passed  through  the  high  school  and  Austin  College  at  Effingham. 
Illinois. 

-August  28.  1897,  Mr.  Reeds  was  married  to  Sarah  Inez  Moffett.  daugh- 
ter of  F.  P.  and  Mary  L.  (Beck)  Moffett.  and  to  this  union  two  children  have 
been  born.  Reese  and  Ileene. 

Mr.  Reeds  has  made  banking  his  principal  life  work  and  has  well 
learned  the  "ins  and  outs"  of  the  same,  and  as  vice-president  of  the  Bain- 
liridge  Bank  he  is  discharging  his  duties  in  an  eminently  satisfactory  manner. 
Politically  he  is  a  Democrat  and  for  tliree  years  he  was  town  clerk  of  Coates- 
ville. 


PUTXA.M     COrXTV,    INDIANA.  50I 


JAMES  VAXLAXDIXGHA.M. 

It  will  always  be  a  badge  of  honor  in  this  country  to  ha\e  known  that  a 
person's  father,  or  even  his  uncle,  enlisted  in  the  ser\ice  of  his  country  when 
the  great  rebellion  broke  out,  to  assist  in  saving  the  Union  and  in  eradicating 
sla^•e^\•  from  our  soil.  Just  as  to  this  day  we  b(jast  that  our  grandfather  or 
great-grandfather  fought  in  the  Revolution  to  gain  independence,  or  took 
part  in  the  war  of  1812  to  protect  our  rights  on  the  ocean,  so  the  descend- 
ants of  gallant  Union  soldiers  will  boast  through  coming  generations  of  the 
bravery  and  self-sacrifice  of  their  fathers  or  their  relatives.  James  Valand- 
ingham.  living  in  retirement  in  Greencastle,  after  a  long  period  of  useful 
endeavor,  was  one  of  the  "brave  boys  in  blue"  who  went  forth  to  die  on  the 
field  or  in  the  no  less  dangerous  fe\'er  camp,  if  need  be.  for  the  sahation  of 
the  countn,-.  He  was  born  in  Greencastle  township,  Putnam  county,  May  29, 
1847,  f'"!^  *'^'''  '-"'f  J'^'"''}'  ^"tl  Hester  (Vanlandingham)  Vanlandingham.  This 
family  is  of  Scotch  origin,  the  first  emigrants  locating  in  South  Carolina, 
later  came  to  Kentucky  and  located  near  Lexington.  Hester's  father,  James 
\'anlandingham.  came  to  Putnam  county  and  settled  just  east  of  the  David 
Houck  farm  near  Greencastle,  homesteading  it  from  the  government.  Jerrv 
and  Hester  Vanlandingham  were  married  in  Putnam  county.  The  former 
died  when  his  son  James  was  eight  years  of  age.  The  lad  then  lived  with  his 
grandfather,  James  Vanlandingham.  who  died  about  one  year  later,  in  1856. 
and  is  buried  in  the  old  family  cemeten,-  on  the  fami.  The  mother  of  the  sub- 
ject went  to  Ohio  to  live  with  a  married  daughter  and  died  there.  She  is 
sur\ived  by  a  sister.  Sarah.  li\ing  at  Le.xington,  Kentucky,  at  the  age  of 
sixty-four  years,  she  having  been  the  youngest  memljer  of  the  family.  She 
married  George  Brant.  Hester  Vanlandingham  was  the  oldest  child  in  her 
father's  familv.  She  was  a  second  cousin  of  her  husband,  Jerry  Vanlanding- 
ham. 

-\t  the  death  of  his  grandparents.  James  X'anlandingham  returned  to  his 
mother  and  when  about  ten  years  of  age  mo\ed  to  Greencastle.  On  Decem- 
ber 17,  1863,  while  vet  a  mere  lad,  he  enlisted  in  Company  F.  One  Hundred 
and  Twenty-third  Regiment  Indiana  \'olunteer  Infantry,  a  new  regiment 
organized  by  General  Hovev,  who  took  charge  of  six  regiments  as  a  division, 
comprising  the  One  Hundred  and  Twenty-third.  One  Plundred  and  Twenty- 
fourth.  One  Hundred  and  Twenty-ninth.  One  Hundred  and  Thirtieth  and  two 
other  regiments,  these  being  known  as  "Ho\-e_\''s  Babies."  Mr.  Vanlanding- 
ham saw   some  hard  ser'/ice.  taking  [)art  with  his  company  in  all  subsequent 


502 


WEIK  S    HISTORY    OF 


campaigns  and  battles,  always  conducting  himself  in  a  gallant  manner.  He 
was  in  fifteen  battles,  from  Rocky  Face  Ridge  on  the  Atlanta  campaign  and 
back  after  Hood  to  Xashville.  He  was  never  wounded,  was  never  captured 
or  made  a  prisoner.  After  the  battle  of  Franklin,  Tennessee,  the  division 
he  was  in  was  sent  to  North  Carolina,  by  way  of  Cincinnati  and  Washington, 
having  intended  to  join  Grant.  At  one  time  it  was  sent  by  way  of  the  Indian 
Territory  to  Ft.  Smith,  and  then  to  the  mouth  of  the  Cape  Fear  river,  taking 
prisoners,  and  on  to  Ft.  Fisher  and  Wilmington,  then  were  stationed  at 
Greensboro  and  Charlotte,  North  Carolina,  then  to  Lexington,  that  state, 
where  the  company  was  honorably  discharged  August  25,  1865.  Mr.  Vanland- 
ingham  was  always  in  the  ranks,  often  on  short  detail  to  guard  wagon  teams, 
etc.  After  the  war  he  worked  for  a  time  in  a  livery  stable,  later  a  woolen  mill. 
He  then  worked  for  Rese  Hammond  until  he  married,  then  farmed  for  five 
years.  He  was  employed  in  Brockray's  spoke  factory  for  a  period  of  twelve 
years.  He  spent  six  years  on  a  farm  in  Warren  township.  He  made  a  suc- 
cess at  whatever  he  turned  his  attention  to  and  laid  by  an  ample  competency 
for  his  declining  years.  Three  years  ago  he  purchased  his  present  home  just 
south  of  the  city,  known  as  the  old  Wall  Lewis  place,  where  he  has  a  very 
comfortable  and  nicely  arranged  home. 

yir.  Vanlandingham  married,  on  September  13,  1870,  Kate  Branson, 
daughter  of  Thomas  and  Esther  (Lay)  Branson,  at  Greencastle,  the  cere- 
mony being  performed  by  Rev.  O.  P.  Badger.  Her  father,  Thomas  L.  Bran- 
son, was  a  farmer  and  stone-mason  of  Greencastle  township,  having  come 
here  from  Tennessee;  his  wife  and  family  came  to  Putnam  county  in  1863 
while  he  was  in  the  L'nion  army,  a  member  of  Company  B,  First  East  Ten- 
nessee Regiment.  His  father  was  a  native  of  England,  coming  to  America 
when  young,  serving  in  the  American  army  in  the  war  of  1812.  After  the 
war  Thomas  L.  Branson  joined  his  family  here  and  worked  at  his  trade  for 
a  time  and  later  returned  to  his  native  community  in  Tennessee,  dying  at 
jNIavnardsville.  that  state,  when  past  eighty-five  years  of  age.  his  wife  hav- 
ing died  in  Colorado  while  visiting.  Her  daughter  Emma,  who  married 
Thomas  Gibbs,  is  living  at  Greencastle;  two  brothers,  Enoch  and  Thomas, 
are  living  in  Montgomery  county,  Indiana. 

Four  children  were  born  to  Mr.  and  Mrs.  James  Vanlandingham.  named 
as  follows :  Charlev,  a  farmer  in  Brown  county,  Indiana ;  Jessie,  who  married 
^ferlin  Gerner,  a  railroad  employe,  living  at  Indianapolis;  Daisy  married 
Albert  Shuev.  who  is  conducting  a  grocery  store  at  Greencastle;  Dwight  is 
living:  at  home. 


PCTNAM    COUNTY.   INDIANA.  5O3 

Mr.  A'anlandingham  is  a  member  of  the  local  post  of  the  Grand  Army 
of  the  Republic,  and  he  takes  a  great  interest  in  the  reunions  and  meetings 
of  his  old  comrades,  seldom  missing  a  national  encampment.  He  is  a  Repub- 
lican in  politics. 


\VILLI.\M  TELL  BESSER. 

The  life  of  William  Tell  Besser.  a  highly  respected  citizen  of  Greencastle. 
Indiana,  has  been  one  of  consecutive  endeavor  along  lines  that  seldom  fail  to 
bring  satisfactory  results,  and  now.  in  the  evening  of  his  life,  he  finds  himself 
very  comfortably  situated  as  a  result  of  his  former  years  of  activity.  He 
was  born  in  Clark  county.  Illinois,  on  the  home  farm,  October  26.  1842.  the 
son  of  Bates  and  Olive  (Hollenbeck^  Besser.  the  father  being  a  native  of  the 
canton  of  Luzerne.  Switzerland,  born  January  15,  1797.  He  came  to 
America  with  his  father  when  a  small  boy.  He  grew  to  maturity  here  and 
during  the  war  of  18 12  teamed  for  the  American  army  when  the  British 
burned  the  city  of  Buffalo.  He  afterwards  .settled  in  Black  Rock,  near 
Buffalo.  His  mother  died  in  the  old  country  and  Mr.  Besser  married  a  native 
of  Xew  YiM-k  after  coming  here.  They  both  died  in  that  state.  The  parents 
of  William  T.  Besser  boarded  a  trading  boat  and  descended  the  Ohio  river 
to  the  mouth  of  the  Wabash,  ascending  the  latter  stream  until  they  reached 
a  spot  near  Marshall,  Illinois,  where  they  settled,  braving  the  severe  climatic 
changes.  Indians  and  the  hardshijis  incident  to  a  pioneer  life.  Mr.  Besser 
purchased  sixty  acres  of  land,  later  entering  considerable  land  adjoining. 
As  soon  as  he  could  secure  the  sum  of  fifty  dollars  he  would  enter  another 
forty  acres  and  he  soon  had  a  very  valuable  tract  and  made  a  success  in  this 
new  C()untry  where  he  lived  until  he  reached  a  ripe  old  age.  dying  September 
13.  1855.  Bates  Besser  made  many  trips  to  Chicago  in  wagons,  before  the 
days  of  railroads,  taking  apples,  principally,  to  market  and  bringing  back 
merchandise.  He  married  Olive  Hollenbeck  in  1828.  She  was  the  daughter 
of  Lawrence  H.  Hollenbeck,  who  settled  in  Illinois  as  early  as  1815,  his  wife 
dying  soon  afterward.  His  death  occurred  in  i860,  in  Dallas,  Texas,  where 
he  went  from  Iowa,  having  moved  to  the  latter  state  from  Illinois.  Both 
the  elder  Hollenbeck  and  Besser  belonged  to  that  type  of  pioneers  who  courted 
rather  than  shunned  danger  and  thought  nothing  of  hardships.  They  fatten- 
ed their  hogs  with  the  corn  they  raised,  and.  in  order  to  market  them,  .sawed 
lumber  with  hand  saws  with  which  they  constructed  tiat-bottomed  boats  and 
on  these  drove  their  hogs,  taking  them  down  the  ri\-ers  to  the  Xew  Orleans 


504  WEIK  S    HISTORY    OF 

markets,  where  tliey  al)aiulonecl  tlieir  boats  and  walked  home.  Mrs.  Ohve 
Besser  died  in  1873,  ha\iiig  reared  the  following  nine  children:  Luzerne 
died  in  Oregon ;  Wesley  died  in  Illinois :  James  died  in  the  Indian  Territory ; 
Xathan.  who  was  with  General  Grant,  early  in  the  Ci\'il  war,  died  in  1862; 
William  T..  of  this  review;  Margaret  Hathaway  Linton  died  in  Illinois  in 
1830:  Mary,  who  married  Dr.  S.  Jumper,  died  in  ^Marshall.  Illinois,  in  1890; 
Hulda,  who  married  Bryan  Anderson,  now  lives  in  Marshall,  Illinois. 

\Villiam  T.  Besser  worked  on  the  home  farm  in  Illinois  in  his  boyhood, 
attended  the  countiy  schools  until  the  breaking  out  of  the  war  of  the  Rebellion, 
which  so  fired  his  youthful  ardor  that  he  could  not  remain  at  home  when  his 
countrv  was  in  need  of  his  services,  consequently  he  enlisted  in  the  Fifty- 
fourth  Regiment.  Indiana  Volunteer  Infantry,  for  the  three-months  service. 
He  did  guard  dutv  principally,  not  having  occasion  to  participate  in  any  bat- 
tles, his  ser\-ices  being  principally  in  protecting  railroad  property.  He  con- 
tracted the  measles  which  settled  in  his  eyes,  thus  preventing  his  re-enlist- 
ment, and  he  was  honorably  discharged  in  October,  1862.  He  returned  home 
and  took  up  farming  again.  Four  years  later,  1866.  he  purchased  a  half 
interest  in  the  mill  at  Marshall,  Illinois,  which  in  1874  was  destroyed  by  fire, 
but  was  rebuilt.  After  a  series  of  varied  successes  in  business,  he  sold  out  in 
1893  and  came  to  Greencastle,  Indiana,  where  he  purchased  the  interest  of 
E.  H.  Marker  in  the  "Big  Four  Mills."  which  he  has  been  very  successful  in 
and  is  now  widely  known  to  the  farmers  throughout  this  and  adjoining 
counties,  making  a  specialty  of  the  well  known  and  much-sought-for  brand 
of  "Big  4  Flour,"  which  ranks  second  to  none  on  the  market  and  which  is  sold 
in  large  lots  in  many  sections  of  the  L'nited  States.  He  is  regarded  as  one 
of  the  leading  mill  men  in  this  section  of  the  state  and  an  authority  in  such 
matters,  holding  a  conspicuous  place  in  the  ranks  of  millers  of  the  ^fiddle 
West.  He  has  been  very  successful  of  recent  years  and  is  one  of  the  sub- 
stantial men  of  Greencastle.  He  has  a  nice  home,  well  furnished  and  tastily 
kept. 

Mr.  Besser  was  married  on  April  19.  1874,  to  Mary  Craig,  daughter  of 
Robert  and  Marv  (Hall)  Craig,  an  excellent  family  of  Sullivan  county,  this 
state.  This  union  resulted  in  the  birth  of  two  children.  Daniel,  who  is  his 
father's  assistant  in  the  mill,  and  Bertha,  widow  of  Milo  Reed  Janney.  The 
mother  of  these  children  passed  to  her  rest  in  1902.  She  was  a  woman  of 
rare  Christian  character  and  an  earnest  worker  in  the  Christian  church. 

Fraternallv  Mr.  Besser  is  a  niember  of  the  R(Dyal  Arch  Masons,  the  Odd 
T~el!ows.  the  Modern  Woodmen  of  .America  and  the  Grand  Army  of  the  Re- 
public. 


PUTXAM    CCKXTV.    INDIANA.  505 


AXDREW  p..  HAXXA. 

One  of  the  representative  business  men  of  Putnam  county,  and  a  man 
whose  sound  (Uscretion  and  business  judgment  is  universally  recognized,  is 
Andrew  B.  Hanna.  the  well-known  furniture  dealer  and  undertaker  of  Green- 
castle. 

Mr.  Hanna's  ancestr}'  is  that  of  people  of  the  most  sterling  worth,  men 
and  women  who  delighted  in  keeping  untarnished  the  good  records  of  the 
earliest  members  of  both  branches  of  the  family.  In  tracing  this  genealogv 
we  find  that  Mr.  Hanna"s  grandfather,  William  Hanna,  was  a  Kentuckian, 
in  which  state  he  was  bom.  reared  and  received  some  schooling  in  the  primi- 
tive schools  of  the  early  days.  He  came  to  this  section  of  Indiana  at  a  very 
early  date,  being  a  hardy  pioneer,  and  he  established  his  home  here  in  the 
midst  of  the  forest,  and  from  him  sprang  the  later  generations  that  ha\e 
made  this  a  familiar  name  in  all  circles  in  Putnam  and  adjoining  counties. 
One  of  the  best  representatives  of  the  family  is  Andrew  B.  Hanna,  who  \vas 
born  in  Warren  township,  this  county.  May  31,  1865,  the  son  of  .Adam 
Hanna.  now  living  I'etired  in  Greencastle  at  the  advanced  age  of  seventv- 
seven  years.  He  was  born  in  Brown  township,  Montgomery  county.  In- 
diana, where  he  grew  to  maturity  on  the  old  Hanna  homestead.  He  moved 
to  Putnam  county  in  i86j  and  located  on  a  farm  in  Warren  township,  devot- 
ing his  life  to  farming  and  stock  raising,  also  bought  large  numbers  of  li\e 
stock  from  time  to  time,  being  \er\'  successful  in  both  lines  of  endeavor.  He 
shipped  more  stock  to  the  markets  from  Putnam  county  than  any  other  man 
up  to  those  days.  He  was  always  well  known  as  a  stock  man  and  he  was 
a  good  fanner,  laying  by  an  ample  competency  for  his  old  age.  In  1869  he 
moved  to  Greencastle,  where  he  has  since  resided.  He  engaged  in  the  stock 
and  li\ery  business  here  for  many  years,  and  from  1875  ^^  ^^82  he  was  in 
the  furniture  and  unclertaking  business. 

.\dam  Hanna  married  .Amelia  Black,  who  was  born  in  Mt.  Sterling, 
Montgomer^■  county.  Kentucky.  She  was  an  excellent,  whole-souled  woman, 
and  she  passed  to  her  rest  in  Fel)ruary.  iqoo,  at  the  age  of  sixty-six  years. 
They  became  the  parents  of  only  one  child,  .\ndrew  B.,  of  this  review. 

.\ndrew  B.  Hanna  was  four  years  old  when  his  parents  movefl  to  Green- 
castle. He  spent  his  youth  much  in  the  .same  manner  as  other  lads  of  his 
days  in  town,  attending  the  public  and  high  schools.  later  DePauw  Univer- 
sity, where  he  made  an  excellent  record  and  from  which  institution  he  was 
graduated  in  1885.     He  soon  after'wards  turned  his  attention  to  fanning,  but 


5o6  weik's  history  of 

in  1890  went  into  the  furniture  and  undertaking  business,  opening  an  estab- 
lishment alone  in  October  of  that  year,  on  the  east  side  of  the  public  square. 
He  prospered  from  the  first  and  had  built  up  an  excellent  patronage  when, 
in  1897,  he  sold  out  and  bought  in  his  present  place,  the  firm  name  being 
Black  &  Black,  and  in  1900  Mr.  Hanna  bought  the  entire  stock.  He  is  now 
erecting  one  of  the  finest  business  blocks  in  Greencastle,  at  the  corner  of 
Indiana  and  Walnut  streets.  It  is  modern  in  every  detail  and  will  be  elegant 
in  all  its  appointments.  He  will  have  an  up-to-date  and  well  equipped  office 
in  the  same  and  will  carry  a  large  and  carefully  selected  stock. 

Mr.  Hanna  belongs  to  the  Masons,  having  attained  the  thirty-second  de- 
gree:  he  also  belongs  to  the  Knights  of  Pythias  and  the  Red  Men,  also  the 
Woodmen  and  the  Benevolent  and  Protective  Order  of  Elks,  the  Independent 
Order  of  Odd  Fellows.  He  is  a  member  of  the  Phi  Gamma  Delta  fraternity. 
Politically  he  is  a  Republican.  He  is  usually  too  busily  engaged  with  his  in- 
dividual affairs  to  take  much  interest  in  politics;  however,  his  support  may 
always  be  depended  upon  when  movements  are  promulgated  looking  to  the 
betterment  of  the  county  politically,  socially  or  materially.  He  is  regarded 
by  all  as  upright  and  honest  in  all  his  business  relations  and  he  has  the  con- 
fidence and  respect  of  a  wide  circle  of  acquaintances  and  friends  throughout 
the  countv. 


JAMES  O.  CAMMACK. 

Men  who  love  the  esthetic  and  have  eyes  for  the  beautiful  even  along 
the  most  commonplace  stretches  of  the  path  of  life  are  not  numerous,  but 
now  and  then  one  is  to  be  found  who  devotes  his  life  to  the  gratification 
of  this  attribute  rather  than  plunge  into  the  maddening  scramble  for  the 
material  things  of  a  pro.saic  world.  James  O.  Cammack,  a  noted  photog- 
rapher of  Greencastle,  is  perhaps  the  most  conspicuous  figure  of  the  former 
class  of  men  in  Putnam  county,  for  he  has  made  art  his  hobby  and  loves  the 
beautiful  and  ideal.  He  is  a  native  of  Iowa,  having  been  born  on  a  farm  four 
and  one-half  miles  south  of  Iowa  Falls.  Hardin  county,  June  21.  1S69.  His 
father,  [ames  Cammack.  who  was  a  farmer,  was  born  in  Wa}-ne  county, 
Indiana,  where  he  lived  until  about  1855,  when  he  moved  to  Muscatine, 
Iowa:  however  prior  to  his  removal  west  he  had  lived  a  short  time  in  Ohio. 
After  spending  a  few  years  in  Muscatine  he  moved  to  Hardin  county,  where 
he  lived  for  many  years.  In  1887  he  migrated  to  Osage  county,  Kansas, 
locating  in  Barclay,  spending  about  a  year  and   a  half  there,   then  moved 


PL'TNAM    COC'NTY,   INDIANA.  5O7 

to  Xeosho  county,  that  state,  where  he  remained  until  about  one  year  before 
his  death,  in  1904.  He  spent  the  last  year  of  his  life  with  his  daughter  and 
son  at  Radclitte.  Iowa.  He  married  Elizabeth  Hadley,  a  native  of  Ohio,  who 
died  in  1873.  Both  Mr.  and  Mrs.  James  Cammack  were  representatives  of 
excellent  Quaker  families,  (grandfather  John  Cammack  was  a  native  of  east- 
ern Indiana,  and  he  and  his  wife  died  when  James  Cammack.  father  of 
the  subject,  was  a  small  child,  consequently  the  latter  was  bound  out.  as  was 
the  custom  in  those  days.  He  managed  to  secure  a  good  education,  having 
studied  at  Earlham  College,  Richmond.  Indiana,  and  he  preached  some  in 
the  Quaker  church.  The  Hadleys  were  well-to-do  and  influential  in  their 
communities,  cultured  and  educated.  Grandmother  Hadley  was  known  in 
her  maidenhood  as  Lydia  Hazard  and  was  related  to  the  distinguished  Amer- 
ican naval  officer,  Oliver  Hazard  Pern.'.  She  was  a  native  of  the  state  of 
New  York  and  was  a  \'ery  exceptionally  beautiful  woman.  Her  death  oc- 
curred in  1886,  in  Indianapolis,  where  she  had  lived  for  many  years.  She 
was  three  times  married,  her  last  husl)and  being  William  Pyle. 

Mr.  and  Mrs.  James  Cammack  were  the  parents  of  eight  children, 
named  as  follows:  Oliver  and  Alfred,  deceased;  Calvin  H.  lives  in  Radcliffe, 
Iowa;  Walter  R.  is  a  traveling  salesman,  living  at  New  Castle,  Indiana; 
Lydia  Alice  is  deceased;  Henrietta  is  the  wife  of  A.  F.  Crispin,  of  Lajunta, 
Colorado;  \\'illiam  is  deceased;  James  O.,  of  this  review,  is  the  youngest  of 
the  familv. 

James  Cammack  spent  his  youth  on  the  farm,  working  in  the  fields  dur- 
ing crop  season  and  attending  the  district  schools  in  the  winter  time,  remain- 
ing under  the  parental  roof-tree  until  he  was  twenty  years  of  age.  in  18S9. 
He  received  a  verv  good  education.  After  finishing  the  common  schools  he 
attended  the  high  school  at  low^a  Falls  for  a  short  time,  continuing  his 
studies  in  the  schools  after  the  family  had  moved  to  Kansas,  and  he  had 
greatly  supplemented  his  early  education  by  general  home  reading  and  study 
and  by  contact  with  the  world,  by  traveling  and  observation.  In  1889  he 
began  the  study  of  photography  with  his  brother.  W.  R.  Cammack,  at  Oska- 
loosa,  Iowa.  They  moved  from  there  to  Kokomo.  Indiana,  where  James  O 
remained  about  a  year,  then  secured  a  position  in  a  studio  at  Harrisburg, 
Pennsylvania,  where  he  worked  for  fifteen  months.  During  the  five  years 
following  he  traveled  and  worked  in  Virginia,  Indiana  and  Illinois.  In  1895 
he  started  in  business  at  Tazewell.  Virginia,  remaining  there  about  eight 
months,  going  from  there  to  Chestertown,  Mar\dand,  thence  to  Ind'anapolis, 
working  in  the  latter  place  at  the  Marceau  studio,  now  known  as  the  Rink 
studio,  one  of  the  finest  in  Indiana.     On  January  i,   1896.  he  purchased  his 


5o8  weik's  history  of 

present  handsome  studio  in  Greencastle.  He  had  been  here  since  Xoveniber 
4,  1895.  This  is  the  leading  studio  of  Greencastle  and  is  generally  regarded 
as  one  of  the  best  in  the  state,  and  it  is  always  a  busy  place,  being  patronized 
from  remote  parts  of  the  country.  Mr.  Cammack  has  been  a  member  of  the 
State  Photographers"  Association  for  many  years  and  is  now  treasurer  of 
the  association,  a  position  he  has  held  for  the  past  three  years.  Prior  to  that 
he  was  vice-president  of  the  association,  and  during  the  year  1909  he  received 
the  highest  rating  in  both  portrait  and  view  class  in  the  state  exhibit.  His 
efforts  have  done  much  to  encourage  and  promote  the  above  named  associa- 
tion, in  which  he  takes  a  very  deep  interest. 

]\Ir.  Cammack  was  married  on  January  29,  1896,  to  Adelene  Buston, 
who  was  born  near  Dursley,  England,  from  which  country  her  parents 
brought  her  to  America  when  about  one  year  old.  She  is  a  lady  of  talent  and 
culture,  and  she  is  the  mother  of  three  interesting  children,  namely:  Elizabeth 
Eileen,  Hadley  B.  and  Eleanore  Adelene. 

Fraternally  Mr.  Cammack  is  a  Mason,  a  member  of  the  Knights  of 
Pythias  and  the  Modern  \Voodmen.  He  has  always  been  interested  in  the 
affairs  of  his  city  and  county,  and  for  two  years  he  served  very  faithfully  as 
a  member  of  the  city  council  and  for  the  past  two  years  he  has  been  secretary 
of  the  board  of  education.  He  is  also  active  in  fraternal  affairs,  having 
passed  through  all  the  chairs  of  the  local  lodge  of  Knights  of  Pythias.  Per- 
sonallv  he  is  pleasant,  courteous,  genteel  and  thoroughly  reliable,  and  he 
and  Mrs.  Cammack  are  favorites  with  a  large  circle  of  friends  and  acquain- 
tances in  Greencastle. 


ORVILLE  :\I.  TUSTISOX. 

We  are  dealing  with  a  fine  citizen  when  we  confront  the  bearer  of  the 
above  name.  Not  only  has  he  made  a  success  in  life  in  a  business  way,  but 
he  has  done  still  better  by  the  character  of  man  he  has  made  of  himself,  by 
study,  observation  and  e.xperience  in  the  affairs  of  the  world.  His  highest 
claim  to  the  crown  of  good  citizenship  is  his  universal  dedication  of  himself 
to  all  moral  causes.  Point  out  the  moral  side  of  any  question  and  there  you 
will  find  Orville  M.  Tustison  arrayed  as  an  advocate  and  fighter.  He  has 
been  speciallv  conspicuous  in  the  noble  cause  of  temperance.  Knowing  the 
evils  of  the  liquor  tralific,  seeing  with  his  own  eyes  the  ruin  it  has  wrought  on 
all  sides  in  every  household  and  in  all  the  walks  of  life,  he  long  ago  con- 
ceived for  it  a  holv  hatred  and  this  dislike  is  manifested  in  church,  at  the 
polls,  in  private  and  public  life.     Mr.  Tustison  was  bom  at  Cherry  Point, 


PUTNAM   COUNTY,   INDI.\NA.  5O9 

Illinois,  April  14,  1869,  and  is  a  son  of  Dr.  Andrew  F.  and  Mary  (Kelley) 
Tustison.  of  Shelby  county,  Ohio.  His  father  was  a  practicing  physician  at 
Cherry  Point.  Orville  'SI.  attended  public  school  at  Cherry  Point  and  after 
he  grew  up  he  learned  the  trade  of  painting  and  hanging  paper.  He  followed 
this  occupation  for  quite  a  while  and  was  successful  in  a  business  way  as  he 
had  energ}-,  industn.-,  honesty  and  good  judgment.  In  1895  ^^  came  to 
Putnam  county,  where  his  strong  qualities  soon  asserted  themselves  and  we 
find  him  now  one  of  the  successful  and  progressive  farmers  of  this  section. 
He  and  his  wife  own  three  hundred  and  three  acres  of  fine  farming  land 
and  are  ranked  among  the  county's  solid  citizens. 

On  September  19,  1894,  Mr.  Tustison  married  Xellie  G.  Hanna,  a  de- 
scendant of  one  of  the  earliest  of  Putnam  county's  pioneer  families.  Her 
father  is  G.  W.  Hanna,  a  sketch  of  whom  and  his  family  appears  elsewhere 
in  this  volume.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Tustison  have  four  children:  Reed  Ariel, 
born  August  i,  1895;  Ross  Hanna,  bom  May  24.  1897;  Vera  ^larie,  born 
July  21,  19CO,  and  ^ladonna  Xelson,  born  Septemljer  6,  1905.  Mr.  Tustison 
is  a  member  of  the  Knights  of  Pythias,  Eagle  Lodge,  No.  16,  of  Greencastle, 
and  Morton  Lodge,  Free  and  Accepted  Masons,  and  has  also  been  quite 
conspicuous  in  politics,  which  he  aims  to  elevate  and  purify  by  driving  out 
machine  methods  and  all  sorts  of  corrupt  devices.  He  is  the  Republican 
member  of  the  advisory  board  of  Monroe  township  and  is  always  conscien- 
tious in  the  performance  of  the  duties  attached  to  this  position.  He  was  a 
delegate  to  the  Republican  state  convention  held  at  Indianapolis  in  1908,  and 
used  all  his  influence  for  a  strong  declaration  for  temperance  in  the  platfomi. 
As  president  of  the  temperance  league  in  Clinton  township  he  was  foremost 
in  the  fight  for  local  option,  which  carried  the  county  by  an  overwhelming 
majoritv.  He  favors  state-wide  prohibition  and  hopes  to  live  to  see  the  day 
when  there  will  not  be  a  saloon  in  the  state  of  Indiana.  For  many  years  he 
has  l;een  an  indefatigable  laborer  in  the  temperance  cause  and  rejoiced  to 
see  the  steadv  advance  of  temperance  principles  in  all  sections  and  states  of 
the  L'nion.  Xo  man  in  Putnam  county  is  more  highly  esteemed  for  his  high 
character,  sound  business  judgment  and  general  worth  as  an  ail  around  good 
citizen. 


D.WID  HOUCK. 


Putnam  county  was  not  especially  inx'iting  on  the  surface  when  Jonathan 
Houck  came  in  from  the  East  to  seek  his  fortune  in  the  new  country  of 
the  West.     He  was  born  in  Pennsylvania.  X'ovember  10.   1809.  and  in   1840 


5IO 


WEIK  S   HISTORY   OF 


made  his  appearance  in  this  county,  when  all  was  still  wild  and  undeveloped. 
There  were  no  good  roads,  only  trails  and  trees,  swamps  covering  much  of 
the  land,  population  was  scant  and  scattered,  the  best  houses  were  log  cabins 
and  only  a  limited  amount  of  livestock  was  to  be  seen.  As  a  compensation, 
however,  there  was  still  much  game  of  various  kinds  and  on  this  the  pioneers 
relied  chiefly  for  their  fresh  meat.  Times  were  hard  and  the  struggle  for 
existence  was  bitter.  Land  was  cheap,  it  is  true,  but  it  took  an  immense 
amount  of  work  to  clear  it  and  get  it  in  shape  for  raising  crops.  There  was 
no  local  market  for  anything  and  the  farmer  was  unable  to  dispose  of  his 
products  to  advantage,  even  after  he  raised  them  with  much  labor.  It  is 
interesting  to  compare  the  prices  for  food  at  that  time  with  those  now  pre- 
vailino-.  Eggs,  quoted  recently  at  Indianapolis  as  high  as  forty-five  cents  a 
dozen,  went  begging  at  five  cents  or  less  in  Jonathan  Houck"s  day.  The  usual 
price  of  pork  was  two  and  one-half  cents  a  pound,  cattle  three  cents  and  com 
twenty  cents  a  bushel.  Jonathan  Houck  settled  in  Clinton  township  on 
government  land  and  spent  the  best  part  of  his  life  in  developing  it.  Event- 
uallv  he  made  it  a  fine  farm  and  left  a  handsome  estate  to  his  heirs.  When 
he  died,  July  6,  1905,  he  was  the  oldest  resident  of  the  county.  In  early 
manhood  he  married  Nancy  Elizabeth  White,  who  came  with  him  to  the 
West  and  shared  with  him  all  the  hardships  and  privations  of  pioneer  life. 

Nancy  Elizabeth  White  was  born  near  Harrisburg,  Dauphin  county, 
Pennsylvania,  on  May  5,  1812.  On  August  26,  1S30,  she  married  Jonathan 
Houck,  of  Huntington  county,  Pennsylvania,  and  in  1837  they  moved  to 
Hamilton  county,  Ohio,  and  from  there,  in  1839.  to  Putnam  county,  Indiana, 
locating  near  Brick  Chapel.  Four  years  later  they  removed  to  the  old  home- 
stead in  Clinton  township,  where  they  lived  until  their  home  was  destroyed 
by  fire,  in  1898,  since  which  time  they  lived  with  their  son,  David,  of 
Greencastle.  Mrs.  Houck  died  on  January  25,  1898.  There  are  now  sixteen 
living  grandchildren  and  forty  great-grandchildren  of  this  worthy  couple. 
:\trs.  Houck  united  with  the  regular  Predestinarian  Baptist  church  in  1831. 
Jonathan  Houck  was  a  Methodist.  To  Jonathan  and  Nancy  Houck  were 
born  five  sons,  namely:  David,  of  Greencastle:  Thomas,  Anthony  and  Ross 
A.  are  deceased:  Elijah,  of  Greencastle. 

David  Plouck.  son  of  this  pioneer  couple,  was  born  in  Cambria  county, 
Pennsylvania.  July  12,  1831,  and  was  only  nine  years  old  when  brought  by 
his  parents  to  Putnam  county.  As  he  grew  up  he  had  all  the  rough  expe- 
riences of  a  pioneer  boy,  including  much  work  and  little  play.  He  assisted 
on  the  faiTn.  from  early  in  the  spring  until  late  in  the  fall,  and  then  put  in  a 
few   weeks  at  the  subscription   school  held  in   a  log  cabin  near  his   home. 


PUTNAM   COU-N'TY,   INDIANA.  5II 

After  he  became  of  age  he  began  farming  in  Madison  township  on  three 
hundred  and  ten  acres  of  land,  which  he  operated  for  seventeen  years.  Then 
he  removed  to  Washington  townsiiip,  near  Hamrick  Station,  where  he  had 
four  hundred  acres,  and  was  there  for  twenty-five  years.  In  1892  he  removed 
to  Greencastle,  Hving  for  a  time  in  the  eastern  part  of  the  city,  but  in  1896 
moving  to  his  present  residence  on  the  southern  outskirts  of  the  town. 
Though  a  Democrat  in  politics,  he  never  sought  office,  but  about  1888  was 
appointed  trustee  of  Washington  township,  and  served  to  the  entire  satis- 
faction of  the  people. 

August  10,  185 1,  yiv.  Houck  married  Rachel  Talley.  by  whom  he  had 
seven  children:  Jonathan,  James  Edward.  Elizabeth,  Henry  T.  (deceased), 
Oliver.  Xelson.  William  M.  and  Anthony  (deceased).  Elizabeth  became  the 
wife  of  Lennox  M.  Boone  and  lives  in  Eureka,  Kansas,  the  other  members 
of  the  family  residing  in  Putnam  county.  The  mother  having  died.  Air. 
Houck  married  Mrs.  Martha  A.  (Penny)  Houck,  daughter  of  [ohn  and 
Henrietta  (Wood)  Penny,  and  an  old  pioneer  family,  the  former  a  native  of 
Pennsylvania  and  the  latter  of  \'irginia.  Mrs.  Houck  was  born  in  Monroe 
township.  September  29,  1834.  and  had  pre\-iously  been  the  wife  of  Anthony 
Houck.  brother  of  the  subject  and  who  died  at  the  age  of  twentv-six  years, 
and  b}'  wliom  she  had  four  children,  namely;  Joseph  H.,  who  died  at  the 
age  of  eighteen  years:  John  William,  who  lives  at  Muskogee,  Oklalioma; 
James  A.,  of  Indianapolis;  Anna,  the  wife  of  Francis  Lyon,  a  lawver  of 
Greencastle. 


THOMAS  XEWGEXT. 

The  Xewgent  family  is  traced  back  to  pre-Revolutionary  davs  and 
members  of  the  same  have  figured  prominently  in  A'irginia,  Kentucky, 
Pennsylvania  and  Indiana.  William,  George  and  Edward  X'ewgent  emi- 
grated to  Roanoke,  \'irginia,  before  the  war  for  American  independence. 
William  and  George  went  on  to  Pennsyhania ;  Edw'ard  to  Fauquier  county, 
\'irginia ;  he  bought  two  emigrants  from  an  ocean  vessel  who  had  readily 
sold  themseKes  for  passage  and  induced  them  to  enter  the  army  with  him. 
Edward  married  a  Miss  Conway,  by  whom  he  had  three  sons  and  one  daugh- 
ter. Thomas  Xewgent,  of  Putnam  county,  one  of  the  sons,  was  born  in  Fau- 
quier county.  \'irginia,  June  10.  1770,  and  when  eighteen  years  of  age  he 
crossed  the  mountains  to  Kentucky  with  a  surveying  party.  He  married 
Philadelphia  Spillman.  who  was  born  July  30.  1772,  and  who  died  August 
10,  1823:  she  was  the  daughter  of  John  Spillman,  of  Culpeper  county,  Vir- 


512  WEIK  S    HISTORY    OF 

ginia,  and  they  were  the  parents  of  ele\en  cliikh"en.  all  of  whom  lived  to  be 
past  fifty-four  years  of  age.  all  becoming  heads  of  families.  Following 
were  among  them:  Charles  lived  in  Parke  county,  Indiana;  Frances  came  to 
Indiana,  a  widow,  and  here  married  Thomas  Boswell  and  lived  to  an  old  age, 
dying  at  Portland  Mills;  Sarah  married  James  Collings  and  in  alx)ut  1878 
she  was  killed  by  a  ninaway  team;  they  lived  in  Clinton  township,  where 
Air.  Collings  died  in  the  fifties;  her  only  daughter  was  Edna  Collings,  who  is 
still  living  on  the  old  homestead,  single.  Her  brother,  John  Holland  Col- 
lings, recently  deceased,  was  a  well-read  man,  owning  the  first  library  in  Put- 
nam county  outside  of  Greencastle.  Elizabeth,  the  eldest  daugihter  of 
Thomas  Xewgent.  lived  in  Parke  county;  Nancy  is  married  and  is  living  in 
Clinton  township.  Her  son.  Charles  E.  Webb,  lives  in  Clinton  Falls ;  Pollv 
and  her  husband  came  to  Clinton  township  and  she  died  in  Russell  township, 
but  left  no  children. 

In  1798  Thomas  Newgent  settled  in  Mercer  county.  Kentucky.  He 
was  a  surveyor  and  teacher.  In  the  war  of  1812  he  enlisted  from  Franklin 
county  and  was  a  scout  for  Gen.  William  Henry  Harrison.  In  the  battle  of 
Ft.  Meigs,  Frenchtown  and  Raisin  river  he  proved  a  gallant  fighter.  It  was 
interesting  to  hear  him  give  a  graphic  description  of  the  fights  and  Indian 
massacres  he  witnessed.  His  wife  died  in  Shelby  county,  Kentucky,  in  1823. 
He  later  came  to  Putnam  county,  Indiana,  and  was  the  first  teacher  here,  the 
school  he  first  taught  being  located  where  Xo.  3,  in  Clinton  township,  now 
stands.  The  death  of  this  sterling  pioneer  and  useful  first  settler  occurred 
on  Februarv  4.  1863,  when  he  had  reached  the  advanced  age  of  ninety-two 
years,  seven  months  and  twenty-four  days.  He  was  a  member  of  the  Meth- 
odist church. 


\VALTER  R.  HUTCHESOX,  M.  D.  ' 

One  of  the  leading  physicians  of  Putnam  county  of  the  younger  genera- 
tion is  Dr.  Walter  R.  Hutcheson.  a  worthy  son  of  a  worthy  sire,  for  Philip 
Hutche'son.  one  of  the  venerable  residents  of  the  county,  is  a  man  well  known 
and  highlv  honored  for  his  past  life  of  consecutive  endeavor  along  legitimate 
and  useful  lines.  His  forbears  are  belie\-ed  to  have  been  among  the  early 
pioneers  of  Kentucky,  from  which  state  came  Randolph  Hutcheson,  founder 
of  the  Hutcheson  family  in  Putnam  county,  Indiana,  whither  he  came  as 
earlv  as  1827.  locating  in  Madison  township,  removing  a  few  years  later  to 
Washington  township.     Thus  the   Hutchesons  have  been   residents  of  this 


(J/.Q^^^^^ 


PCTXAM   COUNTY,    INDIANA. 


513 


county  for  over  ninety  years  and  their  names  are  deftly  intertwined  with  the 
various  phases  of  its  history  from  pioneer  days  to  the  present.  Randolph 
Hutcheson  married  EHzabeth  Woner,  also  a  native  of  Kentuckv,  where  she 
was  reared  and  where,  in  Ganett  county,  she  married  Mr.  Hutcheson.  By 
this  union  there  were  three  sons,  Payton,  Henn.-  and  Philip,  father  of  Doctor 
Hutcheson  of  this  review. 

Philip  Hutcheson  was  born  in  Madison  township.  Putnam  county, 
October  27,  1830.  and  he  has  lived  on  the  fami  which  he  now  owns  since  he 
was  four  years  old,  now  being  eighty  years  of  age,  being  the  "grand  old  man'' 
of  Washington  township.  The  surrounding  countrv-  was  all  in  woods  in 
those  days  and  he  did  not  have  much  time  to  pour  over  text-books,  for  it  fell 
to  his  lot  to  assist  in  clearing  and  developing  the  farm,  and  he  took  care  of 
his  parents  in  their  old  age,  his  father,  Randolph  Hutcheson,  surviving 
until  1864.  He  fanned  all  his  life,  held  no  public  oftice,  but  was  a  member 
of  the  Christian  church  at  Manhattan.  Their  family  consisted  of  twelve 
children,  all  reaching  maturity  but  one,  only  three  of  whom  are  now  living, 
two  sisters  in  Missouri  and  Philip,  the  only  one  of  the  children  left  in  Put- 
nam county.  The  latter  has  ahvays  been  a  farmer  and  he  built  his  present 
home  in  18S7.  The  old  homestead  contained  eighty  acres;  this  Philip  has 
added  to  until  he  now  has  one  hundred  acres  in  this  place  and  other  lands, 
all  making  several  hundred  acres. 

On  June  25.  1857.  Philip  Hutclieson  married  Louisa  Bence.  sister  of 
Doctor  Bence  of  Greencastle  and  John  Bence  of  Washington  township.  She 
was  born  in  Jefferson  county.  Kentucky.  April  12.  1840,  being  seventeen 
years  of  age  at  her  marriage.  She  is  of  German  extraction,  and  she  is  still 
living,  being  a  woman  of  fine  Christian  characteristics.  The  following  child- 
ren were  born  to  them :  Izora  H.  is  living  at  home  caring  for  his  parents :  Ida 
married  Luther  Easter,  of  Warren  township,  this  county:  Laura  married 
Frank  Daggy.  of  Washin,gton  township;  Maggie  married  Fred  Stoner.  of 
Washington  township:  Daniel  married  Gertrude  King  of  Washington  town- 
ship ;  Philip  B.  married  Stella  Zaring  and  he  is  superintendent  of  the  Roach- 
dale  schools:  Dr.  Walter  R..  the  immediate  subject  of  this  review;  Charles 
married  Jennie  Gamer  and  is  living  in  Washington  township  on  the  old  Boone 
homestead. 

Phdip  Hutcheson,  father  of  these  children,  has  never  been  an  aspirant 
for  public  honors;  however  he  at  one  time  served  as  supervisor  of  his  town- 
ship.    He  is  a  Democrat  and  a  member  of  the  Christian  church,  having  been 
a  leader  in  the  building  of  the  .Antioch  church,  which  is  near  his  farm,  and 
i33) 


514 


WEIK  S    HISTORY   OF 


he  is  one  of  its  main  supporters,  his  home  being  the  frequent  gathering  place 
for  the  ministers  -who  preach  here.  He  is  a  quiet  home  man,  devoted  to 
plain,  simple  virtues,  highly  honored  by  all.  He  has  taken  a  great  deal  of 
pains  in  educating  his  children.  Now  in  his  advanced  age  he  is  hale  and 
hearty  owing  to  his  past  life  of  clean  wholesome  living. 

Dr.  Walter  R.  Hutcheson  was  born  in  Washington  township,  this  county, 
October  2,  1874.  He  was  reared  on  the  farm  and  made  his  home  there  until 
1898,  meantime  attending  the  district  schools.  Later  he  spent  terms  at  the 
Central  Normal  School  at  Danville  and  the  State  Normal  at  Terre  Haute, 
and  at  DePauw  University.  In  1895  he  entered  the  Medical  College  of  In- 
diana and  was  graduated  therefrom  in  1898.  April  7th  of  the  same  year  he 
began  practice  at  Greencastle  and  since  then  has  devoted  himself  assiduously 
to  his  profession.  In  1907  he  took  a  post-graduate  course  at  the  New  York 
Post-Graduate  Medical  School  and  Hospital.  He  is  a  surgeon  for  the  Monon 
railroad  and  the  Terre  Haute,  Indianapolis  &  Eastern  Interurban  railway. 

Doctor  Hutcheson  is  a  member  of  the  American,  State  and  Putnam 
Countv  Medical  Societies,  and  he  has  served  very  acceptably  as  health  officer 
both  for  the  citv  and  county,  for  he  ranks  well  in  his  profession,  in  which  he 
has  made  steady  progress,  and  enjoys  the  general  esteem  of  all  who  know 
him.  Fraternallv,  he  is  a  member  of  the  Knights  of  Pythias  and  the  Benevo- 
lent and  Protective  Order  of  Elks.  Politically  he  is  an  unswerving  Demo- 
crat, taking  an  interest  in  his  party's  success. 

The  Doctor  is  married  to  a  lady  of  singular  refinement,  known  in  her 
maidenhood  as  Adda  Louise,  daughter  of  Thomas  and  Alice  (Hazelett) 
Farmer,  a  well  known  Greencastle  family.  The  date  of  their  wedding  was 
October  15,  1902.     This  union  has  been  without  issue. 


THO:\IAS  BENTON  F.\RMER. 

The  name  of  Thomas  Benton  Farmer  should  not  be  omitted  from  any 
historical  work  of  Putnam  county,  Indiana,  owing  to  the  fact  that  Mr. 
Farmer,  who  is  now  living  in  honorable  retirement  in  Greencastle,  surrounded 
bv  the  manv  substantial  evidences  of  thrift  of  his  former  years  of  industry, 
has  long  been  one  of  the  leading  citizens  of  the  county,  always  ready  to 
assist  in  any  wav  possible  the  upbuilding  of  the  vicinity  honored  by  his 
citizenship.  He  was  born  in  Greencastle,  August  12,  1836,  and,  unlike  many 
of  his  contemporaries  who  sought  uncertain  fortune  in  other  fields,  he  desired 


PUTXA-M    COUNTY,    INDIANA.  515 

to  remain  at  home,  believing  that  better  business  chances  were  to  be  found 
right  at  his  own  door,  and,  judging  from  the  eminent  success  that  has  at- 
tended his  efforts  and  the  good  he  has  done  the  city,  he  was  wise  in  reaching 
this  conclusion.  He  is  one  of  the  few  connecting  links  between  the  pioneer 
days  and  the  present  in  Putnam  county  and  it  is  indeed  interesting  to  hear 
him  tell  of  the  development  of  this  favored  region  since  his  boyhood  days. 
He  is  the  son  of  James  H.  and  Emily  (Parks)  Farmer,  the  latter  born  in 
Xorth  Carolina,  from  which  state  she  was  brought  by  her  parents.  Benjamin 
and  Olive  Parks,  to  ^Monroe  county.  Indiana,  then  being  eight  years  of  age. 
She  married  in  that  county  and  her  parents  came  on  to  Putnam,  locating 
near  Putnamville,  where  they  spent  the  remaining  years  of  their  lives,  the 
father  dying  in  1849  o''  iSjO-  when  about  sixty  years  old,  his  widow  sur- 
viving him  thirty  years,  reaching  the  advanced  age  of  ninety-two  years. 
Benjamin  Parks  was  a  Primitive  Baptist  minister  and  continued  to  preach 
until  his  death.  He  preached  regularly  for  many  years  at  Deer  Creek  and 
other  places  and  was  a  power  for  good  in  those  early  days. 

James  H.  Farmer  was  born  near  Shelbyville,  Shelby  county,  Kentucky. 
When  sixteen  years  of  age  his  mother  brought  him  to  Monroe  county,  Indi- 
ana, his  father  having  died  when  he  was  ten  years  of  age.  When  twenty-two 
years  of  age,  was  married,  his  wife,  Emily  Parks,  being  about  the  same  age. 
He  worked  for  one  year  after  this  event  in  Monroe  county  at  the  plasterer's 
trade,  then  came  to  Greencastle  where  he  continued  his  trade,  being  very 
highly  skilled  and  consequently  he  usually  had  plenty  of  work.  He  worked 
on  the  old  college  and  on  many  of  the  other  early  buildings  in  the  county, 
including  the  present  ^vlissionary  Baptist  church.  About  1S40  or  1841  he 
moved  to  a  farm  near  ]\fount  Meridian,  on  Deer  creek.  Marion  township,  six 
miles  southeast  of  Greencastle,  moving  into  the  woods,  only  a  small  portion 
of  the  place  having  been  cleared.  He  farmed  and  continued  to  work  at  his 
trade  whenever  practical.  He  also  had  a  lime  kiln  on  his  farm  and  there  he 
burned  the  lime  that  went  into  the  construction  of  the  old  court  house,  and 
he  hauled  lime  to  Indianapolis  to  market  for  ten  or  twelve  years,  spending 
the  rest  of  his  life  on  the  farm.  He  placed  a  fine  farm  of  four  or  five  hun- 
dred acres  under  cultivation,  the  old  house  erected  there  in  the  forties  still 
standing,  after  being  used  sixty-five  years  and  is  still  serviceable.  Frank 
Farmer,  son  of  Thomas  B.  Farmer,  now  operates  the  place,  two  hundred 
and  seventy  acres  of  it.  Thomas  Farmer  still  owning  part  of  it. 

James  H.  Farmer  died  November  11,  1876.  at  the  age  of  seventy-one 
years,  his  widow  surviving  him  until  January  27,  1887.  With  the  assistance 
of  two  grandsons,  she  had  operated  the  farm  after  her  husband's  death  and 


5i6  weik's  history  of 

an  evidence  of  her  gooil  management  is  seen  by  her  earning  the  sum  of 
seven  thousand  dollars — in  fact,  she  really  made  the  farm  what  it  was,  one 
of  the  best  in  the  township.  By  the  side  of  her  husband  she  sleeps  in  the 
Deer  Creek  cemetery,  near  the  little  church  which  they  loved  to  attend.  Their 
children  are  as  follows :  Benjamin  followed  the  plasterer's  trade  in  Putnam 
county,  dying  when  past  seventy  years  of  age;  Mary  .\nn  married  Alexander 
^IcCarthy.  M.  D.,  who  moved  to  Iowa,  later  to  Oregon,  where  he  died; 
Matilda  married  John  Nosier,  an  attorney  who  became  a  judge  after  moving 
to  Oregon,  where  Mrs.  Nosier  was  killed  by  a  team  backing  over  an  embank- 
ment:  Louisa  married  Joseph  Ruark,  of  Marion  township,  where  they  both 
died:  Thomas  Benton,  of  this  review;  Nancy  is  the  widow  of  James  Raines, 
living  at  Cloverdale;  Cynthia  married  Dr.  Thomas  Bryan,  and  they  both 
died  while  living  in  Missouri;  Samuel  died  about  1897,  at  the  age  of  fifty- 
seven,  having  been  a  farmer  in  Putnam  county,  which  he  served  as  county 
commissioner,  while  living  in  Jefiferson  township;  James  married  a  Miss 
Ruark,  moved  to  Iowa,  then  to  Arkansas  and  his  death  occurred  in  Oklahoma 
at  the  age  of  fifty-five  years;  Ellen  married  Andrew  J.  Ruark,  brother  of 
Joseph  Ruark.  both  retired  fanners  living  in  Greencastle. 

Thomas  Benton  Farmer  was  reared  on  the  old  homestead,  which  he 
began  working  when  quite  young,  attending  the  district  schools  a  short  time 
during  the  winter  months.  He  learned  the  plasterer's  trade,  which  he  worked 
in  company  with  Samuel  Farmer.  He  was  married  on  September  17,  1857, 
to  Catherine  Sherrill,  who  was  reared  by  her  grandfather,  Thomas  McCarthy, 
in  Warren  township,  her  mother  having  died  when  she  was  an  infant. 

Mr.  Farmer  went  to  Ringgold  county,  Iowa,  in  1859,  where  he  remained 
for  a  period  of  four  years,  until  1863,  improving  a  new  prairie  farm.  Re- 
turning to  Putnam  county,  he  purchased  one  hundred  acres  east  of  and  ad- 
joining that  of  his  father's.  He  has  proved  to  be  an  excellent  manager  and 
a  modern  agriculturist,  consequently  has  prospered  and  is  now  the  owner  of 
six  hundred  acres  of  as  valuable  land  as  the  county  afifords.  all  in  a  body  with 
the  exception  of  one  hundred  and  eighty  acres  in  Jefferson  township,  two 
miles  from  his  other  land.  It  is  practically  all  under  excellent  improvement 
and  a  high  state  of  cultivation.  About  one  hundred  acres  of  his  father's  old 
place  are  included  in  his  holdings ;  at  one  time  he  owned  about  all  the  old 
place,  but  sold  a  part  to  his  son.  Frank.  Much  of  Mr.  Farmer's  attention 
has  been  directed  to  the  successful  handling  of  livestock,  of  which  he  seems 
to  be  an  exceptionally  good  judge,  having  long  kept  his  place  well  stocked 
with  cattle,  hogs  and  horses,  also  mules,  having  shipped  horses  and  mules  to 
market  in  large  numbers,  acquiring  a  large  part  of  his  ample  competency  in 


PCTXAM    COUNTY,   INDIANA.  5I7 

this  manner.  He  continued  to  operate  his  farm,  giving  it  almost  his  e.xclu- 
sive  attention  until  about  1892  when  he  moved  to  Greencastle  and  has  since 
lived  practically  retired,  spending  some  of  his  time  looking  after  his  small 
place  near  the  city.  He  has  an  attractive  and  comfortable  home  in  the  best 
residence  district  of  the  city. 

Mrs.  Farmer  was  called  to  her  reward  in  1S75.  Four  children  were  born 
to  this  union,  namely :  Alice  married  Henry  Runyan.  living  at  Mt.  Meridian, 
Putnam  county ;  Albert  was  a  commercial  salesman  for  a  hardware  house  in 
Terre  Haute,  and  he  died  at  the  age  of  thirty-two  years,  leaving  a  widow  and 
one  child.  Zella.  at  Greenca.stle :  Frank  owns  the  old  Farmer  homestead  and 
lives  in  Greencastle  township:  Samuel  Edward  is  married  and  is  operating 
his  father's  farm  in  IMarion  township. 

Thomas  B.  Farmer's  second  marriage  was  in  1S77  to  Alice  Hazlett, 
daughter  of  Richard  and  ^lelvina  (Bunten)  Hazlett.  and  she  is  next  to  the 
youngest  member  of  the  family,  having  been  born  in  Marion  township,  this 
county.  This  family  came  to  their  present  commodious  thirteen- roomed 
house  in  1868.  Four  children  were  also  born  to  this  second  union,  named  as 
follows;  Addie  married  Doctor  Hutcheson,  of  Greencastle;  Claude  is  a 
railroad  employe  in  Indianapolis;  ^Mary  married  Nathaniel  Hammond,  who 
is  living  on  his  father's  farm;  Jennie  is  being  educated  in  DePauw  Univer- 
sity. 

Politically  Mr.  Farmer  is  a  Democrat,  and  while  he  has  always  been 
deeply  concerned  regarding  the  welfare  of  Putnam  county  politically  and 
every  other  way,  he  has  not  been  an  aspirant  to  public  office.  He  is  well- 
known  and  highly  respected  throughout  this  part  of  the  state,  for  his  life 
has  been  an  exemplary  one. 


DANIEL  EVANS  SHOEMAKER. 

A  man  who  boldly  faces  the  responsibilities  of  life  and  by  determined 
and  untiring  energy  carv^es  out  for  himself  an  honorable  success  exerts  a 
powerful  influence  upon  the  lives  of  all  who  follow  them.  Such  men  con- 
stitute the  foundation  of  our  republican  institutions  and  are  the  pride  of  our 
civihzation.  To  them  life  is  so  real  that  they  find  no  time  to  plot  either  mis- 
chief or  vice.  Their  lives  are  bound  up  in  their  duties,  they  feel  the  weight 
of  their  citizenship,  and  take  pleasure  in  sowing  the  seeds  of  uprightness. 
Such  has  been  the  career  of  the  subject  of  this  sketch. 


5i8  weik's  history  of 

Daniel  E.  Shoemaker  was  bom  in  Wayne  county,  Indiana,  on  the  23d 
day  of  September,  1836,  and  is  a 'son  of  James  and  EHzabeth  (Howren) 
Shoemaker,  the  former  of  whom  was  born  July  30.  181 3.  and  the  latter 
May  4,  1 814.  They  were  of  stanch  old  Quaker  stock  and  the  father  was  a 
man  of  splendid  qualifications  and  high  standing,  being  universally  known  as 
"Squire"  Shoemaker.  He  was  one  of  the  early  pioneers  of  Wayne  county, 
this  state,  and  came  to  Putnam  county  in  1840.  Here  he  devoted  his  attention 
to  farming  and  attained  to  a  fair  measure  of  success.  He  possessed  a  strong 
religious  spirit  and  was  a  forceful  and  effective  public  speaker. 

The  subject  was  reared  under  parental  care  and  secured  his  education 
in  the  old  log  school  houses  of  that  early  period,  at  which  time  educational 
methods  and  equipment  were  somewhat  primitive.  He  was  reared  to  the 
life  of  a  farmer,  and  has  never  left  the  occupation  of  his  first  choice.  He 
is  the  owner  of  one  hundred  and  twenty-five  acres  of  land  and  has  been  suc- 
cessful to  a  gratifying  degree  in  the  operation  of  this  land.  Of  practical 
ideas  and  progressive  methods,  he  has  kept  in  close  touch  with  advanced 
ideas  relating  to  the  science  of  agriculture  and  his  labor  is  rewarded  with 
abundant  returns. 

At  the  age  of  fiftv-three  years  Mr.  Shoemaker  received  distinct  religious 
impressions  and  from  that  time  forward  has  to  the  best  of  his  ability  lived  a 
consistent  Christian  life.  He  has  for  many  years  been  a  persistent  and 
thoughtful  student  of  the  holy  writings  and  is  considered  an  authority  on 
the  Bible  and  its  teachings.  He  has  strong  and  definite  convictions  regard- 
ing the  great  truths  of  God  and  stands  squarely  on  his  honest  and  con- 
scientious beliefs.  His  life  has  been  as  an  open  book  to  all  who  know  him 
and  no  man  in  the  community  enjoys  to  a  greater  degree  the  respect  and 
confidence  of  the  people. 

On  October  10.  i860.  Mr.  Shoemaker  was  united  in  marriage  to  Louisa 
Stobaugh.  the  daughter  of  Jacob  and  Ursula  Stobaugh  and  who  was  born 
on  July  27.  1840.  Jacob  Stobaugh  was  one  of  the  first  settlers  in  the  state 
of  Indiana.  To  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Shoemaker  were  born  the  following  chil- 
dren:  Lillie  D..  born  October  18.  1861.  is  the  wife  of  Marion  Graver,  living 
in  Boone  county,  this  state:  Jacob  H..  bom  April  8.  1863,  a  farmer  of  Floyd 
township,  married  Lula  Mason;  Arminda  B.,  born  March  12.  1865.  died 
at  the  age  of  fifteen  years;  Josephine,  born  August  3,  1876.  became  the  wife 
of  Sherman  Goffer;  Worley  V..  born  December  14.  1880.  is  single  and  is 
living  at  home.  He  has  been  reared  to  the  honest  life  of  a  farmer  and  takes 
much  pride  in  livestock  and  has  become  a  regular  dealer  in  feeding  and 
handling  stock  for  market. 


PUTXAM   COrXTY.   INDIANA.  5^9 


ARCH  ALLEX. 


Over  four  score  years  have  been  dissolved  in  the  mists  of  time  since 
the  venerable  and  highly  honored  gentleman  whose  name  appears  above 
first  saw  the  light  of  day,  and  heaven  has  bounteously  lengthened  out  his  life 
through  the  most  momentous  epoch  in  the  world's  history,  bringing  him 
down  to  the  mell(,nv  Indian  summer  of  his  years  without  regret  for  a  career 
that  has  been  strenuous  yet  satisfactory,  a  career  which  has  resulted  in  great 
good  to  himself  and  immediate  family  and  also  scores  who  have  had  the 
pleasure  of  knowing  him.  He  has  witnessed  many  wonderful  changes 
in  this  country  since  his  bovhood  days,  has  seen  it  advance  from  a  wild 
wilderness  filled  with  all  kinds  of  untamed  beasts  to  a  highly  cultivated  and 
wealthy  region  where  happiness  and  plenty  abound  as  against  poverty  and 
hardships  in  the  long  ago. 

Arch  Allen,  who  is  known  to  every  resident  of  Monroe  township, 
like  many  of  the  good  citizens  of  Putnam  county,  is  a  native  of  the  state  of 
Kentucky,  having  been  born  in  IMontgomery  county,  July  ii,  1827,  the  son 
of  James  and  Sarah  ( Tones)  Allen,  the  father  of  Virginia  and  the  mother 
of  Kentucky.  James  Allen  lived  for  some  time  in  the  last-named  state,  from 
which  he  came  to  Putnam  county,  Indiana,  in  1849-  In  Kentucky  he  had 
been  among  the  men  who  had  braved  the  dangers  of  a  primitive  countiy, 
which  was  still  the  domain  of  the  red  man.  but  here  he  erected  his  log 
cabin  and  lived  in  comfort,  such  comfort  as   was  to  be  obtained   in  those 

days. 

Arch  Allen  spent  his  youth  in  Kentucky,  working  on  the  farm,  and  tor 
a  very  limited  time  attended  the  old-time  country  schools,  and  it  was  not 
until  1851  that  he  came  to  Putnam  county,  Indiana,  first  settling  in  Monroe 
township  where  he  soon  had  a  good  start  and  where  to  obtain  the  same 

he  labored  hard. 

On  May  17.  1848.  ^Ir.  Allen  was  married,  while  living  m  Bourbon 
countv,  Kentucky,  near  Paris,  to  Matilda  Trimble,  daughter  of  Fergus 
Trimble,  who  was  a  native  of  Bourbon  county.  Kentucky,  where  he  spent 
his  entire  life.  His  father,  a  native  of  Virginia,  was  a  soldier  m  the  war 
of  1812, 

The  following  children  were  born  to  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Arch  Allen:  James 
T.  married  Blanche  Riggs,  of  Greencastle.  who  was  a  daughter  of  Daniel 
and  Mary  (Parsons)  Riggs,  Mr.  Riggs  being  a  contractor  ot  this  city; 
Mr.  and  Mrs.  James  T.  Allen  are  the  parents  of  two  children.  Hazel  and 
Marie.      William   H.    Allen   is   deceased:   Mollie   married    Braxton    Ellis,    a 


520  WEIK  S   HISTORY   OF 

merchant,  of  Bainbridge :  Billie  and  Rolla  are  deceased;  Lilly  lives  in  Loiiis- 
ville.  Kentucky. 

Arch  Allen  has  been  a  \ery  successful  fanner  and  stockman  and 
has  probably  handled,  bought  and  sold  more  mules  and  cattle  than  any 
other  man  in  the  county,  and  he  is  widely  known  throughout  the  county 
and  in  adjoining  counties,  having  long  been  regarded  as  one  of  the  best 
authorities  on  livestock  in  this  locality.  He  has  spent  over  sixty  years  in 
the  saddle,  buying  cattle  and  mules,  having  made  this  his  chief  life  work 
from  early  youth,  and  there  is  not  much  of  this  countn,-  that  he  has  not 
ridden  over  and  is  perfectly  familiar  with.  But  notwithstanding  his  very 
busy  life  'n  the  handling  of  stock,  he  has  found  time  to  be  an  extensive 
agriculturist  and  at  one  time  he  owned  fourteen  hundred  acres  of  land.  He 
paid  two  thousand  dollars  in  gold  for  the  first  land  he  purchased.  He 
gave  over  five  hundred  acres  of  land  to  his  children.  He  has  been  a  very 
close  obser\er,  believed  in  keeping  abreast  of  the  times  and  leaving  no  stone 
unturned  whereby  he  couM  advance  his  interests  in  a  legitimate  way. 

]\Ir.  Allen  is  a  Southern  Democrat  of  the  old  school  and  has  been  ever 
loyal  to  its  basic  principles,  but  he  has  never  been  a  seeker  after  public  office. 
He  has  long  been  one  of  the  pillars  of  the  Christian  church  at  Fincastle, 
which  he  helped  to  build  and  of  which  he  has  been  a  liberal  supporter. 
He  is  a  fine  character,  a  man  whom  to  know  is  both  to  respect  and  admire, 
for  his  life  has  been  lived  along  proper  lines  and  has  been  one  of  honor  and 
success. 


JOHN  ANDREW  HUFF^IAX. 

Through  all  the  gradations  of  life  recognition  should  be  had  of  the  true 
values,  and  then  should  full  appreciation  be  manifestetl.  for,  if  it  be  done 
jnstlv,  there  can  be  no  impropriety  in  scanning  the  acts  of  any  man  as  they 
affect  his  public,  social  and  business  relations.  In  the  collection  of  materia! 
for  the  biographical  department  of  this  publication  there  has  been  a  constant 
aim  to  use  a  wise  discrimination  in  regard  to  the  selection  of  subjects 
and  to  exclude  none  worthy  of  representation  in  its  pages.  Among  the 
worthv  citizens  of  various  vocations  is  found  the  name  of  John  Andrew 
Huffman,  who  has  made  a  success  of  his  chosen  life  work  and  at  the  same 
time  established  a  reputation  for  uprightness  in  all  relations  of  life. 

Mr.  Huffman  was  born  in  Washington  township.  Putnam  county. 
January  lo.  1855.  He  is  the  fifth  son  of  Edmond  and  Loui.sa  A.  (Rightsell) 
Huffman.     A  full  sketch  of  this  well  established  and  highly  respected  family 


PUTNAM    COL'XTY,  INDIANA.  52 1 

is  to  be  found  on  another  page  of  this  work  under  the  caption  of  Douglas 
Huffman,  brother  of  John  A.,  to  which  the  interested  reader  is  referred. 

John  A.  Huffman  spent  his  early  youth  on  the  home  farm,  which  he 
worked  during  crop  seasons,  attending  the  district  schools  during  the  winter 
months,  remaining  under  the  parental  roof  until  he  was  thirty  years  old, 
ha\'ing  for  many  years  previously  been  successfully  engaged  in  stock  feeding 
and  shipping,  becoming  widely  known  in  this  line  of  endeavor.  At  the  age 
meiitioneil  alwve  he  was  married  to  Lucy  Smith,  daughter  of  Lyman  B. 
and  Louisa  (^^hirphy)  Smith,  of  Reelsville.  fomierly  a  well  known  timber 
dealer,  now  deceased.     Mrs.  Huffman  was  bom  in  Washington  township. 

Mr.  Huft'man  has  become  the  owner  of  a  splendid  farm  of  one  hundred 
sixty-eight  and  one-half  acres,  and  also  owns  eighty  acres  that  was  formerly 
a  part  of  the  old  home  place.  He  has  for  years  been  a  grower  of  excellent 
crops  of  all  kinds,  but  stock  raising  and  feeding  has  claimed  a  great  deal 
of  his  attention.  He  is  a  breeder  of  high-grade  stock  which  is  admired 
by  all  who  see  the  sleek,  well-cared- for  animals  that  are  to  be  found  con- 
stantly on  his  place.  He  usually  feeds  a  car  load  of  cattle  at  a  time  and  a 
large  number  of  hogs.  About  seventy-five  acres  of  his  land  is  bottom  land 
along  the  Walnut,  on  which  he  erected  his  present  fine  house  in  1903,  from 
which  may  be  had  a  splendid  view,  it  being  located  on  the  edge  of  a  hill  of 
the  Walnut  creek  bottoms. 

To  Mr.  and  ^Irs.  Huffman  five  children  have  been  born,  two  of  whom 
died  in  infancy  and  one  in  childhood:  two  are  living,  Carl  A.,  graduated 
from  the  local  high  school,  in  which  Lora  H.  is  now  a  student. 

Mr.  Huft'man  has  kept  out  of  politics,  having  been  too  busy  with  his 
private  aft'airs  to  seek  public  office.  He  is  a  veiy  progressive  business  man 
and  has.  by  his  own  efforts,  become  well  fixed,  and  is  deserving  of  the  suc- 
cess that  has  attended  his  efforts  and  of  the  high  esteem  in  which  he  is  held 
bv  all  his  neighbors  and  friends  throughout  the  countv. 


ISRAEL  KXAUER. 


One  of  Clinton  township's  aged  and  highly  respected  citizens  is  Israel 
Knauer.  who.  despite  his  years,  is  hale  and  hearty  as  a  result  of  the  con- 
sistent life  he  has  led.  a  life  of  steady  habits  and  correct  living  and  thinking 
and  one  that  has  resulted  in  great  good  to  all  who  have  come  in  contact  with 
him.     He  hails   from  the  old  Kevstonc  state,  having  been  bom  in  Chester 


WEIK  S    HISTORY   OF 


county,  Pennsylvania,  April  2,  1837,  the  son  of  Jacob  and  Ann  (Hudson) 
Knauer.  the  father  a  native  of  Germany.  Israel  was  one  year  old  when 
the  family  emigrated  west,  1838,  and  located  in  Clinton  township.  Putnam 
county,  three- fourths  of  a  mile  east  of  Israel's  present  home,  where  they 
began  life  in  true  first-settler  fashion,  moving  to  the  present  Knauer  home 
about  1854,  the  parents  dying  in  the  latter  place;  the  house  they  occupied  is 
still  standing.  Jacob  Knauer  prospered  and  became  the  owner  of  two  hun- 
dred acres  in  the  first  place  and  eighty  acres  in  the  latter,  also  owned  sixty- 
two  acres  in  ?^ladison  township,  also  four  hundred  and  eighty  acres  in 
Xemaha  county,  Kansas,  having  entered  the  latter  in  1861.  This  he  later 
deeded  to  his  eldest  son.  having  divided  part  of  his  property  among  his 
children  himself.  He  lived  to  a  good  old  age,  dying  in  1873  at  eighty-three 
years.  His  faculties  were  acute  to  the  last  and  he  kept  matters  in  his  own 
hands,  looking  after  every  detail  of  his  business.  He  was  always  a  hard 
working,  persisting  man,  and  he  cleared  out  and  improved  a  great  deal  of 
land.  Politicallv  he  was  a  Democrat,  but  did  not  aspire  to  political  offices. 
He  was  a  good  and  useful  man  in  his  community  and  highly  respected.  His 
wife  preceded  him  to  the  grave  by  seven  years.  Their  family  consisted  of 
five  children  :  Martha  married  George  Cricks,  whose  sketch  appears  herein ; 
Elizabeth,  who  died  in  old  age,  had  lived  most  of  her  life  at  the  old  home- 
stead;  Franklin  remained  at  the  old  home  and  died  a  bachelor  at  the  age 
of  seventy;  Clement  B..  who  was  given  the  Kansas  land,  lived  in  Madison 
township,  Putnam  county;  Israel,  of  this  review,  is  the  only  survivor. 

Israel  Knauer  lived  at  home  until  he  was  twenty-three  years  of  age, 
assisting  with  the  work  of  clearing  the  farm;  after  a  respite  of  a  few  years, 
he  returned  to  the  home  farm  in  1873,  buying  his  father's  old  place,  his 
parents  living  with  him  the  rest  of  their  lives.  Prior  to  that  time  he  had 
purchased  the  original  two  hundred  acres  of  his  father,  latter  adding  the 
one  hundred  acres.  He  now  owns  the  sixty-two  acres  his  father  owned  in 
Madison  township.  He  also  owns  ninety-six  acres  in  Clinton  township  and 
two  hundred  and  forty  acres  in  Madison  township,  besides  what  his  father 
owned.  He  also  owns  about  four  hundred  acres  of  valuable  land  in  Parke 
countv.  some  four  miles  distant,  and  one  hundred  and  thirty-two  acres  in 
another  section  of  Parke  county,  or  a  grand  total  of  over  twelve  hundred 
acres.  He  has  made  excellent  improvements  on  all  these  places  and  his  able 
management  results  in  abundant  yields  of  general  crops,  besides  he  raises 
various  kinds  of  livestock  which  forms  no  small  part  of  his  annual  income. 
He  erected  his  present  substantial  and  attractive  home  in  1884.  and  he  has 
modern  outbuildings  and  everything  about  his  place  shows  thrift  and  pros- 


PL'TXA.M   COUNTY.   INDIANA.  533 

perit}-  and  that  a  gentleman  of  excellent  taste  and  good  judgment  has  their 
management  in  hand.  He  depends  a  great  deal  on  grass  and  has  many  broad 
acres  in  grass  where  roam  scores  of  cattle  and  hogs.  He  has  paid  as  high 
as  fift\'-t\vo  dollars  an  acre  for  land,  which  is  now  worth  a  much  higher 
figure. 

Politicallv  Mr.  Knauer  is  a  Democrat,  but  he  has  never  aspired  to  offices 
of  public  trust,  preferring  to  devote  his  attention  exclusively  to  his  individual 
affairs. 

Mr.  Knauer  was  married  when  twenty-three  years  of  age.  1861,  to 
Elizabeth  Hood,  daughter  of  Reeves  Hood,  of  Jackson  township.  Parke 
county.  Indiana,  who  came  here  from  Kentucky.  This  family  has  long  been 
well  known  and  influential  in  Parke  county.  To  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Knauer 
twelve  children  have  been  bom.  namely:  Rebecca  Ann  married  Rev.  John 
McHargue,  of  Illinois:  Jane  married  Frank  Carmichael.  of  Parke  county, 
Indiana;  John  H.  lives  in  Madison  township;  Sarah  married  Thomas 
Brothers,  of  Greencastle;  Israel  lives  in  Clinton  township;  Daniel  lives  at 
home  assisting  his  father  with  the  work  on  the  farm ;  Jesse  lives  in  Madison 
township;  Allie  married  Edgar  Perkins,  of  Clinton  township;  Noah  lives 
in  Jackson  township.  Parke  county ;  Lillie  married  George  Slavens  and  died 
in  North  Dakota  when  twenty-two  years  of  age:  William  lives  in  Union 
township.  Parke  county;  Grace  married  Levi  Hasty,  of  Madison  township. 

In  evervdav  life.  Israel  Knauer  is  known  to  be  a  man  whose  word  is  as 
good,  if  not  better,  than  the  bond  of  many.  Honesty  and  integrity  are  no 
meaningless  tenns  with  him  and  his  record  as  a  man  and  citizen  are  without 
blemish.  He  is  generous,  well  informed  on  current  questions  of  the  day 
and  is  known  throughout  the  countv  as  one  of  her  best  citizens. 


TAMES  G.  BITS. 


Among  the  citizens  of  Mill  Creek  township.  Putnam  county,  who, 
through  their  own  persistent  and  well-directed  efforts,  have  achieved  a 
gratifying  measure  of  success  in  their  vocation,  is  the  gentleman  whose 
name  appears  at  the  head  of  this  sketch.  With  little  outside  assistance,  he 
has  steadilv  forged  to  the  front,  overcoming  obstacles  and  unfavorable  cir- 
cumstances, until  today  he  is  numbered  among  the  successful  men  of  his 
community. 

Tames  G.  Buis  is  a  native  of  the  county  in  which  he  lives,  having  been 
born  in  Mill  Creek  township  on  the  2d  day  of  February.   1856.     He  is  a 


524  weik's  history  of 

son  of  Lewis  M.  and  Rebecca  (Wallace)  Buis,  the  former  of  whom  was 
born  in  Jefferson  township.  Putnam  county.  May  15,  1837,  and  died  June 
4,  1905,  at  Stilesville,  Hendricks  county.  The  subject's  paternal  grandfather 
was  Caleb  Buis.  who  came  to  this  county  from  Tennessee  in  1822.  His 
wife  was  Margaret  (generally  called  Peggy)  Hurst,  and  for  her  ancestry 
the  reader  is  directed  to  the  record  of  the  Hurst  generalogy,  elsewhere  in 
this  volume.  Rebecca  Wallace,  the  subject's  mother,  was  a  daughter  of 
Enoch  and  Winnie  (Xorton)  Wallace,  who  came  from  Tennessee  to  Hen- 
dricks county,  Indiana,  at  an  early  day.  Lewis  'SI.  Buis  lived  practically  all 
his  life  in  Jefferson  and  Mill  Creek  townships,  or  until  a  short  time  prior  to 
his  death,  when  he  moved  to  Stilesville.  He  formerly  owned  a  fami  in 
Jefferson  township,  but  later  traded  it  for  one  hundred  and  seventy-seven 
acres  in  [Mill  Creek  township.  He  was  a  prominent  man  in  the  communities 
where  he  resided  and  at  one  time  served  as  trustee  of  Jefferson  township. 
To  him  and  his  wife  were  born  eleven  children,  namely :  Albert,  who  resides 
in  Indianapolis ;  James  G.  is  the  immediate  subject  of  this  sketch ;  Alonzo 
lives  at  Stilesville;  Florence  died  in  young  womanhood;  Reason  lives  at 
Martinsville :  Lawrence  lives  at  Stilesville ;  Luellen  died  at  the  age  of  seven- 
teen years :  William  resides  at  Stilesville ;  Lewis  died  in  childhood :  Alpha 
became  the  wife  of  Charles  Cox  and  lives  in  Hendricks  county,  this  state; 
Pearlie  Myrtle,  deceased,  was  the  wife  of  John  H.  Williams,  of  Mill  Creek 
township. 

James  G.  Buis  was  reared  to  manhood  in  Jefferson  township,  Putnam 
county,  being  at  an  early  age  inured  to  the  hard  labors  of  the  farm.  He 
received  his  education  in  the  common  schools,  supplementing  his  school 
discipline  by  lifelong  habits  of  close  observation  and  years  of  practical  expe- 
rience. At  the  time  of  his  marriage,  in  1875,  he  rented  a  farm  in  section  32, 
[Mill  Creek  township,  and  during  several  subsequent  years  he  rented  farming 
land  at  dift'erent  places  in  Mill  Creek,  Jefferson  and  Marion  townships.  He 
was  energetic  in  his  efforts  and  a  good  manager  and  in  1890  was  enabled  to 
buv  thirty-five  acres  of  bottom  land,  where  he  had  first  rented  in  Mill  Creek 
township,  which  has  been  his  home  ever  since.  Soon  afterwards  he  bought 
forty  acres  and  has  made  other  additions  to  his  first  holdings,  having  pur- 
chased eighty-six  acres  of  the  old  Beddle  farm,  south  of  his  home,  and  sixty- 
one  acres,  located  north  of  the  Ellett  farm.  He  thus  has  two  hundred  and 
seventy-three  acres  in  his  home  farm,  and  he  has  recently  bought  eighty  acres 
of  e.xcellent  land  in  Morgan  county,  this  state,  making  his  total  holdings  three 
hundred  and  fifty-three  acres.  This  has  all  been  acquired  by  Mr.  Buis  solely 
through  his  own  indomitable  efforts  and  he  is  to  be  commended  for  the  per- 


PLT-VAM   COU-XTY.   INDIANA.  525 

sistent  and  well-directed  efforts  which  have  wrought  this  result.  He  is  a 
thoroughly  practical  farmer  and  has  kept  in  close  touch  with  every  detail 
of  his  business,  keeping  his  property  up  to  the  highest  standard  of  excel- 
lence. He  has  raised  all  the  crops  common  to  this  section  of  the  country, 
and  has  also,  with  gratifying  results,  given  considerable  attention  to  the 
raising  of  livestock.  He  is  now  to  some  extent  abstaining  from  the  hardest 
of  the  work  which  had  through  the  acti\'e  years  of  his  life  characterized 
his  efforts  and  is  enjoying  that  ease  which  comes  as  a  reward  for  honest 
and  earnest  effort. 

In  1S75  -^fi"-  Buis  married  Mary  C.  Smith,  daughter  of  John  and  Louisa 
(  Vaughn )  Smith.  She  was  born  in  Garrard  county,  Kentucky,  and  accom- 
panied her  parents  to  Indiana  during  the  Civil  war,  they  locating  in  Hen- 
dricks county,  just  across  the  line  from  Mill  Creek  township,  this  county. 
Subsequently  they  moved  to  Belle  Union.  Jefferson  township,  this  county, 
where  the  father  died  on  December  29,  1909.  To  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Buis  were 
born  seven  children,  namely;  Ernest  and  Velva  died  in  childhood;  Flossie 
was  the  wife  of  Orville  Wallace  and  died  on  August  19,  1909,  leaving  two 
children.  Hazel  and  Clarence;  Mettie  is  the  wife  of  Shelton  Ray,  of  Stiles- 
ville;  Luellen  is  the  wife  of  Ernest  V.  Ellett,  of  Jefferson  township,  and 
they  ha\e  two  children.  Pearl  and  Metta;  Cornie  Lewis  married  Lena  Sech- 
man,  lives  on  a  farm  adjoining  his  father  on  the  north,  and  is  the  father  of 
three  children.  Frank,  Lucile  and  James  Mahlen ;  \'ita,  the  youngest  of  the 
children,  is  at  home  with  her  parents.  Mr.  Buis  has  never  had  much  time 
for  public  affairs,  but  during  the  nineties  he  served  six  years  as  trustee  of 
Mill  Creek  township.  gi\ing  a  very  satisfactory  and  efficient  administration 
of  the  duties  of  the  office.  He  possesses  a  genial  disposition,  the  spirit  of 
hospitality  being  in  constant  evidence  in  his  home,  and  he  is  well  liked  by 
all  who  know  him.  lie  is  a  strong  Democrat,  but  has  not  been  an  aspirant 
for  office  or  public  notoriety. 


JESSE  THOM.AS  HORN. 

One  of  Putnam  county's  highly  respected  citizens  was  Jesse  Thomas 
Horn,  who  was  born  in  Wayne  county.  North  Carolina,  November  25.  1848. 
In  the  winter  of  1855  his  parents.  John  and  Celia  (Bogue)  Horn,  came  to 
Indiana  and  located  near  Winchester.  Randolph  county,  and  in  1856  moved 
to   Cloverdale   township.   Putnam  county.    He   began   teaching  school   when 


526  weik's  history  of 

seventeen  years  old  and  taught  several  terms.  His  father  died  in  186S  and 
Jesse  then  engaged  in  the  mercantile  business  in  Cloverdale  until  1877,  part 
of  the  time  as  a  partner  with  Frank  Bandy.  In  1879  ^e  went  to  Greencastle 
and  clerked  in  the  Walnut  Street  Hotel  for  several  months,  then  spent  some 
time  in  the  old  home  in  Xorth  Carolina,  returning  to  Greencastle  and  made  a 
trip  to  Tennessee  by  team.  In  September,  1880,  he  engaged  in  the  hardware 
business  in  Cloverdale,  selling  out  in  1881,  then  moved  to  Owen  county,  In- 
diana, buying  a  farm  in  Jackson  township,  where  he  remained  until  August, 
1886,  when  he  rented  his  place  and  returned  to  Greencastle,  and  entered  the 
real  estate  business  with  \V.  S.  Cox. 

Air.  Horn  married  Nancy  Cox  in  1867;  she  was  the  daughter  of  Wil- 
liam yi.  and  Hannah  Cox,  of  this  county,  and  her  death  occurred  in  1875, 
leaving  two  children,  Rosa  E.,  wife  of  Jesse  Hubbard,  and  Annie  F.,  de- 
ceased. In  1878  Mr.  Horn  married  Lizzie  ]M.  Hubbard,  daughter  of  Wil- 
liam and  Catherine  Hubbard,  of  Putnam  county;  she  died  in  1881  without 
issue.  Mr.  Horn  was  again  married  in  1883,  to  Hilary  H.  Hubbard,  a  sister 
of  his  second  wife,  and  they  have  four  children,  Viola  C,  Ora  Catherine, 
Joseph  Howard  and  Jacob. 

Jesse  Horn  was  a  member  of  Cloverdale  Lodge  of  Masons,  of  which 
he  was  secretary  for  several  years.  He  was  also  past  noble  grand  of  the 
Independent  Order  of  Odd  Fellows  at  Cloverdale.  His  father  was  born  near 
Goldsboro.  North  Carolina,  in  1820  and  in  1855  the  family  moved  to  Indiana, 
locating  in  the  northeast  part  of  Cloverdale  township,  Putnam  county,  where 
Mr.  Horn  died  February  16,  1862,  at  the  age  of  forty-two  years.  He  was  a 
member  of  the  Methodist  church  from  early  youth  until  his  death. 

Mr.  Horn's  mother  was  born  near  Stauntonsburg,  North  Carolina,  and 
came  to  Indiana  with  her  family  about  1855.  After  the  death  of  her  hus- 
band she  remained  on  the  farm  and  managed  it  without  aid  of  administrator 
or  guardian  for  her  children.  When  her  husband  died,  all  but  one  of  her 
nine  children  were  sick  with  measles ;  that  son,  taking  the  measles  three  days 
after  his  father's  death,  did  not  recover.  The  mother  bore  her  burdens  with 
Christian  fortitude  and  by  judicious  management  kept  the  children  together, 
giving  them  a  pleasant  home  and  rearing  them  in  comfort  and  respectability 
until  thev  could  go  out  into  the  world  for  themselves.  She  was  a  devout 
and  earnest  Christian. 

Mr.  Horn  was  a  man  whom  everybody  respected,  for  he  lived  a  con- 
scientious and  straightforward  life,  was  kind,  neighborly  and  always  ready 
to  do  his  duty  in  all  lines  of  citizenship. 


PUTNAM    COUXTV.   INDIANA.  527 


XATHAX  \V.  ADER. 


The  career  of  Xathan  W.  A'ler  happily  ilhistrates  the  fact  that  if  a 
voung  man  possesses  the  proper  attributes  of  mind  and  heart,  with  the 
abihty  to  direct  the  same  in  proper  channels,  he  can  attain  for  himself  not 
only  material  success  but  gain  an  honored  place  among  the  factors  that  shape 
the  destinies  of  communities.  His  life  proved  that  true  success  in  this  world 
depends  upon  personal  efforts  and  consecutive  industry  in  the  pursuit  of 
some  specific  and  honorable  purpose;  it  also  demonstrated  that  the  road  to 
positions  of  influence  among  men.  whatever  the  relation  of  life  may  be.  is 
open  to  all  who  may  possess  the  courage  to  tread  its  pathway,  besides  serv- 
ing as  an  incentive  to  the  young  of  the  present  generation,  teaching  by  in- 
controvertible facts  that  true  excellence  in  any  worthy  undertaking  is  ambi- 
tion's legitimate  answer. 

Mr.  Ader  was  born  in  Putnam  county.  January  22.  1S48.  the  son  of 
David  and  Elizabeth  f  Aldridge)  Ader.  a  complete  sketch  of  whom  is  to  be 
found  in  another  part  of  this  work. 

Mr.  Ader  was  educated  in  the  common  schools  and  the  Ladoga  Acad- 
emy, later  attended  Phillips  Aca<Jemy  at  Andover.  :\[assachusetts.  He  was 
a  very  close  student  and  recei\ed  a  splendid  education  and  he  always  kept 
well  abreast  of  the  times  in  matters  of  not  only  current  import,  but  also 
literary  and  scientific. 

Believing  that  merchandising  offered  special  inducements  for  him,  he 
accordinglv  opened  a  dr}-  goods  store  at  Bainbridge,  this  county,  in  1869, 
which  he  conducted  in  a  very  successful  manner  until  1879.  becoming  known 
during  that  decade  as  one  of  the  leading  merchants  of  this  locality.  In  1872 
he  erected  a  substantial  brick  block  in  Bainbridge. 

In  1881  Mr.  Ader  went  to  Florida,  remaining  there  several  years,  meet- 
ing with  varied  successes,  returning  to  Putnam  county  at  the  death  of  his 
father.  He  later  became  the  owner  of  a  part  of  the  old  family  homestead, 
which  he  placed  under  modern  improvements  and  on  which  he  erected  a  very 
attractive,  commodious  and  nicely  furnished  residence,  surrounded  by  a  well- 
kept  lawn,  and  standing  at  proper  convenience  are  numerous  substantial  out- 
buildings. He  kept  some  good  stock  of  various  kinds,  being  especially  fond 
of  good  horses.  There  is  a  fine  flowing  well  on  the  place.  All  in  all,  the 
farm  is  one  of  the  most  desirable  in  the  township  and  it  has  been  so  well 
managed  that  its  soil  is  as  fertile  as  ever. 

Mr.  Ader  married  Mollie  Nelson,  daughter  of  a  highly  respected  family. 


528  weik's  history  of 

and  she  herself  a  lady  of  refinement  and  such  engaging  traits  as  to  be  a 
favorite  with  a  large  circle  of  friends.  This  union  resulted  in  the  birth  of 
two  children,  namely:  Lily  R.,  born  Xovember  19,  1876,  now  living  in 
South  Dakota;  Charles  E.,  born  May  11.  1870,  and  now  living  in  California. 

Mr.  Ader's  second  wife  was  known  in  her  maidenhood  as  Martha  A. 
McKee,  whom  he  married  on  November  15,  1883.  She  is  the  daughter  of 
AVilliam  and  Lucinda  (Yates)  McKee,  a  fine  old  pioneer  family.  Mrs. 
Ader's  grandfather,  Samuel  McKee,  was  a  soldier  in  the  Revolutionary  war, 
and  Mrs.  Ader  is  a  member  of  the  noted  organization,  Daughters  of  the 
American  Revolution.  Her  brother,  Melvin  McKee,  was  a  circuit  clerk  of 
Putnam  county  for  a  period  of  eight  years,  during  which  time  he  won  wide 
notoriety.  Mrs.  Ader  is  a  well  educated,  refined  and  affable  woman,  who 
makes  friends  readily  and  always  retains  their  good  will.  Mr.  Ader's  death 
occurred  suddenly,  on  May  10,  191  o,  at  Indianapolis,  while  he  was  seated, 
resting,  in  a  store  in  that  city. 

Mr.  Ader,  in  his  fraternal  relations,  was  a  member  of  the  Free  and 
Accepted  Masons,  Lodge  No.  542,  at  Groveland,  this  county,  having  become  a 
Mason  in  1872,  joining  Bainbridge  Lodge,  No.  75.  He  filled  all  the  offices 
from  tyler  up ;  he  was  also  a  Royal  Arch  Mason  and  had  attained  the  degree 
of  Knight  Templar.  He  took  an  abiding  interest  in  Masonry  and  stood  high 
in  its  circles,  which  is  criterion  enough  that  he  was  a  man  of  proper  principles 
and  that  his  neighbors  and  friends  were  justified  in  placing  explicit  confidence 
in  him,  without  fear  of  having  it  betraved. 


JAMES  P.  HUGHES. 


Putnam  county  figures  as  one  of  the  most  attractive,  progressive  and 
prosperous  divisions  of  the  western  part  of  the  great  Hoosier  commonwealth, 
justlv  claiming  a  high  order  of  citizenship  and  a  spirit  of  enterprise  which  is 
certain  to  conserve  consecutive  development  and  marked  advancement  in  the 
material  upbuilding  of  this  section.  The  county  has  been  and  is  signally  favored 
in  the  class  of  men  who  have  controlled  its  affairs  in  official  capacity,  and  in 
this  connection  James  P.  Hughes,-  one  of  the  best  known  attorneys  of  this 
section  of  the  state,  demands  representation,  as  he  is  serving  this  county 
faithfully  and  well  in  a  position  of  distinct  trust  and  responsibility,  being  an 
active,  vigilant  and  potent  factor  in  the  local  body  politic.  While  yet  a 
vouns:  man  he  has  achieved  a  brilliant  record  at  the  bar,  at  the  same  time  win- 


PUTXAM    COUXTY,   IXDIAXA.  529 

ning  a  reputation  for  industry  and  integrity.  He  is  a  close  student,  solidly 
intrenched  in  the  principles,  routine,  technicalities  and  the  complicated  ma- 
chinery of  the  law,  careful,  painstaking  and  conscientious,  his  creed  being 
that  professional  success  depends  on  work — hard,  unremitting,  indefatigable 
work.  He  always  stands  upon  a  logical  outlook ;  is  a  reasoner,  dissector  and 
analyst,  and  to  such  as  he  the  future  augurs  much  in  the  way  of  success  and 
honor;  yet  with  all  his  ability  he  is  entirely  unassuming. 

In  the  early  part  of  the  last  century,  among  the  many  conscientious  and 
liberty-loving  people  who  came  to  this  country  to  escape  the  intolerable  civil 
and  religious  conditions  of  Ireland,  there  was  a  boy  named  Peter  Hughes. 
When  he  first  came  to  this  country  he  worked  as  a  stone-mason  on  the  Na- 
tional road,  which  was  then  being  built  through  this  county,  and  many  of 
the  fine  arches  which  are  yet  standing  were  partly  the  work  of  his  hands. 
He  later  settled  on  a  farm  about  six  miles  east  of  the  city  of  Terre  Haute, 
and  at  the  time  of  his  death,  in  1893.  was  the  owner  of  the  valuable  tract  of 
land  upon  which  he  had  lived  for  many  years.  He  married  Ellen  Dickerson, 
a  daughter  of  one  of  the  early  pioneers  of  Vigo  county,  who  was  a  native  of 
Ohio.  The  Dickerson  family  was  prominent  in  Vigo  county  and  had  much 
to  do  with  the  making  of  its  history.  Eleven  children  were  born  to  Peter 
and  Ellen  Hughes  and  of  these  eleven,  one  was  named  George  \V.,  who  was 
born  in  1846. 

Gei^rge  W.  Plughes,  at  the  age  of  seventeen  years,  enlisted  as  a  soldier 
in  the  Eleventh  Indiana  Cavalry  and  the  One  Hundred  and  Twenty-sixth 
Regiment.  He  served  imtil  the  close  of  the  war  and  at  the  time  of  his  dis- 
charge was  first  lieutenant.  In  1869  he  was  married  to  Hessie  Ferrel,  daugh- 
ter of  James  and  Nancy  Ferrel.  who  at  that  time  lived  near  Cloverdale,  this 
county.  Tames  Ferrel  was  a  native  of  Ohio.  He  came  to  this  state,  in  the 
early  part  of  the  last  centun,'.  with  his  parents,  who  settled  near  Terre  Haute. 
Xancy  Ferrel  is  a  daughter  of  John  P.  Sinclair,  one  of  the  pioneers  of  this 
county,  who  came  here  from  Kentucky  in  1823  and  that  year  Nancy  Sinclair 
Ferrel  was  born  on  what  is  now  known  as  the  Frank  Allee  farm  in  Warren 
township,  and  which  is  located  about  two  and  one-half  miles  north  of  Clover- 
dale.  Mrs.  Nancy  Ferrel  is  still  living  and  resides  part  of  the  time  with  her 
daughter.  Hessie  Hughes,  on  the  Hughes  farm  north  of  Cloverdale  and  with- 
in one  mile  of  the  spot  where  she  was  born  eighty-seven  years  ago.  She  is 
no  doubt  the  oldest  native-born  citizen  of  this  county. 

After  the  marriage  of  George  W.  Hughes  and  Hessie  Ferrel  they  went 
to  housekeeping  on  what  is  now  known  as  the  Hulman  farm  just  east  of  Terre 

(3.4) 


530 


WEIK  S    HISTORY   OF 


Haute.  They  lived  in  Vigo  county  until  1875,  at  which  time  they  moved  to 
Putnam  county  and  located  on  a  farm  three  miles  south  of  Cloverdale.  In 
1880  Mr.  Hughes  bought  a  large  tract  of  ground  one  and  one-half  miles  north 
of  Cloverdale  and  resided  on  this  fann  until  1893.  I"  November.  1892,  he 
was  elected  treasurer  of  Putnam  county  and  re-elected  in  1894.  He  served  as 
treasurer  from  September,  1893.  to  January,  189S.  Mr.  Hughes  was  one  of 
the  most  popular  and  efficient  officers  Putnam  county  ever  had  and  was  widely 
known  as  a  man  of  honor  and  integrity.  After  he  retired  from  office  he 
mo\ed  to  his  farm  and  lived  there  for  a  few  years  and  again  moved  to  Green- 
castle  and  died  here  on  the  9th  day  of  April,  1905,  leaving  as  his  heirs, 
Hessie  Hughes,  his  widow;  and  Minnie  \V.,  wife  of  D.  B.  F.  Hurst;  Curtis 
K.,  assistant  cashier  of  the  Central  National  Bank;  James  P..  whose  name 
forms  the  heading  of  this  article;  Forest,  who  has  a  position  with  the  Terre 
Haute,  Indianapolis  &  Eastern  Traction  Company;  and.  Birch,  who  is  a 
student  in  DePauw  University. 

James  P.  Hughes  was  born  in  Vigo  county,  December  18,  1874,  and 
spent  his  youth  on  his  father's  farm  near  Cloverdale.  After  obtaining  a 
good  primary  education,  he  entered  DePauw  University,  from  which  he  was 
graduated  in  1898  with  the  degree  of  Bachelor  of  Philosophy.  Shortly 
afterward  he  became  a  student  in  the  Indiana  Law  School  and  was  graduated 
from  this  institution  with  the  degree  of  Bachelor  of  Laws.  It  is  thus  seen 
that  Mr.  Hughes  has  a  thorough  training  for  his  profession.  In  October  of 
1900  he  was  admitted  to  the  bar  of  Putnam  county  and  immediately  entered 
into  the  active  practice  of  his  profession,  to  which  he  has  since  devoted  him- 
self exclusivelv.  In  March,  1902,  the  county  commissioners  appointed  him 
court  attorney,  which  position  he  held  for  three  years.  From  1905  to  1907 
he  was  deputy  prosecutor  under  Prosecuting  Attorney  Curtis  G.  Scofield  and 
he  was  elected  prosecutor  for  the  thirteenth  judicial  circuit  in  November, 
1906,  and  re-elected  in  November,  1908.  by  the  largest  majority  that  any  can- 
didate for  prosecutor  of  this  district  had  ever  had  up  to  that  date,  which  fact 
testifies  to  the  popularity  of  Mr.  Hughes  as  an  officer.  His  term  of  office 
will  expire  January  i,  191 1. 

In  April,  1908,  Mr.  Hughes  formed  a  partnership  for  the  practice  of 
law  with  John  P.  Allee,  under  the  firm  name  of  Allee  &  Hughes.  This  firm  is 
known  as  one  of  the  strong  legal  firms  of  this  community  and  it  has  a  large 
and  extensive  practice.  Mr.  Allee  and  Mr.  Hughes  are  both  recognized  as 
strong  and  able  lawyers. 

On  January  17,  1907,  ^Ir.  Hughes  was  married  to  Alayme  Gainer,  daugh- 
ter of  Tohn  Gainer,  deceased,  and  a  native  of  Greencastle.     She  is  a  charming 


PUTNAJl    COUNTY,   INDIANA.  53I 

woman  in  the  home,  and  is  also  a  woman  of  business  ability,  having  for  four 
years  held  the  position  of  deputy  auditor  under  County  Auditor  C.  C.  Hurst. 
Mr.  and  Mrs.  Hughes  have  one  child,  James  G.,  who  was  bom  May  24,  1909. 
JNIr.  Hughes  is  a  member  of  the  Methodist  church  and  INIrs.  Hughes  belongs 
to  the  Catholic  church.  He  is  a  member  of  the  ^lasonic  order,  the  Elks  and 
Knights  of  Pythias  and  has  held  the  highest  offices  in  these  orders.  He  also 
belongs  to  the  Delta  Upsilon  fraternity,  a  college  order,  and  in  politics  is  an 
enthusiastic  Democrat. 


GILBERT  SINCLAIR. 

Among  those  citizens  of  Marion  township,  Putnam  county,  who  have, 
by  lives  of  persistent  and  well-directed  effort,  not  only  achieved  a  definite 
measure  of  material  success,  but,  what  is  of  greater  value,  have  gained  the 
respect  and  confidence  of  their  fellow  men,  the  subject  of  this  sketch  is 
conspicuous. 

Gilbert  Sinclair  was  born  on  the  23d  day  of  April,  1840,  on  his  father's 
farm  situated  where  the  town  of  Fillmore  now  stands,  and  is  a  son  of  Rich- 
ard and  Katherine  (Hedden)  Sinclair.  These  parents  were  natives  of 
Shelby  county,  Kentucky,  but  came  to  Indiana  in  1840,  and  bought  eighty 
acres  of  land,  comprising  the  farm  abo\'e  referred  to,  and  for  which  he  paid 
five  dollars  per  acre.  Here  he  established  his  pioneer  home  in  a  log  cabin 
and  vigorously  applied  himself  to  the  development  of  the  new  farm,  which 
was  in  many  respects  a  strenuous  task.  He  had  in  his  native  state  learned 
the  trade  of  a  wheelwright  and  this  practical  knowledge  stood  him  in  good 
stead  in  his  new  home,  his  services  in  this  capacity  being  of  great  value  to 
many  in  the  surrounding  country.  In  1850  the  Vandalia  railroad  was  sur- 
veyed through  his  farm  and,  not  liking  the  proposition,  he  sold  the  land,  for 
ten  dollars  per  acre.  Pie  then  bought  one  hundred  and  ten  acres  of  land  ad- 
joining his  former  farm,  for  which  he  paid  the  same  price  per  acre,  the  place 
being  well  improved  with  good  buildings.  Subsequently,  as  he  was  pros- 
pered, he  bought  other  adjoining  land,  until  eventually  his  land  holdings 
amounted  to  three  hundred  and  twenty  acres.  He  was  a  man  of  many 
excellent  qualities  of  head  and  heart  and  he  enjoyed  in  a  large  degree  the 
respect  of  all  who  knew  him.  His  death  occurred  in  1899  and  his  wife  died 
in  1895,  their  remains  being  interred  in  the  Fillmore  cemetery,  which  land 
was  donated  by  ]\fr.  Sinclair  for  cemeteiy  purposes.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Sinclair 
were  members  of  the  Baptist  denomination,  belonging  to  the  Salem  church. 


53- 


WEIK  S    HISTORY   OF 


near  Fillmore.  Politically  Mr.  Sinclair  was  an  ardent  Democrat.  These 
parents  had  five  children,  namely:  Gilbert,  the  subject  of  this  sketch;  Mary 
F.,  the  deceased  wife  of  W.  H.  Cowgill ;  Emily  died  young;  James  W.  and 
Marion,  who  also  are  deceased. 

Gilbert  Sinclair  was  reared  on  the  parental  farmstead  and  secured  a 
good  practical  education  in  the  common  schools.  At  the  time  of  his  marriage, 
in  i860,  he  went  to  housekeeping  in  a  log  house  on  his  father's  farm,  and  he 
has  throughout  his  life  devoted  himself  to  the  cultivation  of  the  soil,  in  which 
he  has  met  with  a  gratifying  degree  of  success.  His  first  purchase  was 
forty  acres,  and  in  1875  he  purchased  a  forty-acre  tract  adjoining,  onto  which 
he  moved.  His  energy  and  determination  were  rewarded  as  the  years  passed 
and  he  eventually  became  the  owner  of  a  large  and  valuable  farm.  He  has 
given  to  each  of  his  children  a  farm  and  there  still  remains  in  the  home  farm 
four  hundred  and  fifty  acres  of  as  good  land  as  can  be  found  in  this  part 
of  Putnam  county.  Mr.  Sinclair  has  carried  on  general  farming  and  has 
also  given  considerable  attention  to  the  raising  of  livestock,  which  also  he  has 
found  a  profitable  line.  Mr.  Sinclair  has  long  occupied  a  leading  place 
in  the  community  and  he  has  served  as  administrator  in  the  settlement  of  a 
number  of  estates  and  as  an  arbitrator  in  the  settlement  of  disputes  between 
fellow  citizens. 

Politically  Mr.  Sinclair  gives  an  ardent  support  to  the  Democratic  party, 
while  in  religious  matters  he  gives  a  liberal  support  to  all  churches,  having 
contributed  to  the  erection  and  support  of  several. 

On  March  29.  i860.  Mr.  Sinclair  was  united  in  marriage  to  Susan 
Kinsler.  a  daughter  of  Thomas  and  Rebecca  Kinsler.  of  this  county,  and  to 
this  union  have  been  born  two  children,  namely:  Richard  R.  and  John. 
Richard  R.,  who  resides  on  a  fine  farm  of  one  hundred  and  five  acres  in 
Marion  township,  received  a  good  public  school  education,  after  which  he 
attended  two  vears  each  at  the  State  Normal  and  the  Danville  Normal 
Schools,  after  which  he  engaged  in  teaching,  being  now  employed  in  the 
schools  of  Greencastle.  He  is  a  member  of  the  Christian  church  at  Fillmore. 
On  October  14.  1887.  he  married  Lizzie  Campbell  and  they  are  the  parents 
of  two  children.  Courtland  C.  and  Irene.  Courtland  graduated  from  the 
high  school  at  Greencastle.  and  is  now  a  student  at  DePauw  University. 
John,  after  completing  the  common  school  course,  attended  two  years  each 
at  the  State  and  Danville  Nomials,  and  is  now  devoting  himself  to  the  cul- 
tivation of  his  fami  of  fifty  acres,  adjoining  the  old  homestead.  On  August 
4.  1904.  he  married  Laura  Browning,  of  Montgomery  county,  this  state,  and 


PUTNAM   COUNTY.   INDIANA.  533 

they  have  two  children,  Helen  and  Paul  G.  Besides  the  children  mentioned 
Mr.  and  Mrs.  Sinclair  reared  Cora  B.  Flynn,  aged  four  years,  a  niece 
of  Mrs.  Sinclair,  and  she  has  been  a  member  of  the  family  for  thirty  years, 
receiving  the  same  care  and  affection  accorded  to  their  own  children. 


WILLIAM  L.  TORR. 


The  founder  of  this  family  in  America  was  William  Torr.  who  came 
from  England  and  settled  in  Virginia.  His  son.  of  the  same  name,  migrated 
to  Kentucky  where  he  became  a  farmer,  married  and  reared  a  family.  His 
son.  \\"illiam.  w  as  born  in  Shelby  county,  Kentucky,  where  he  married  Maria 
Kimberlin  and  in  i8:;8  came  to  Putnam  county.  He  located  on  land  in 
\\'ashington  township,  one  mile  south  of  the  present  homestead.  James 
Torr,  a  brother  of  William,  followed  the  latter  to  Putnam  county  some 
years  after  his  arrival,  later  went  to  Ohio,  married  and  then  came  back  to 
Putnam  county  and  entered  eighty  acres  of  land.  He  cleared  and  cultivated 
this  tract,  but  later  bought  the  farm  in  Madison  township  which  became  his 
well  known  homestead.  William  Torr  died  in  December,  1842,  leaving  his 
widow  with  six  children,  the  eldest  fifteen  years  old.  The  widow  remained 
on  the  fami.  w  here  she  reared  her  children.  She  was  a  fine  business  woman, 
quick  witted  and  well  read.  She  was  a  member  of  the  Baptist  church,  hav- 
ing joined  in  Kentucky,  and  was  broad-minded  and  liberal  in  her  views, 
refusing  to  belie\e  that  part  of  the  human  race  was  created  to  be  saved  and 
part  lost.  She  lived  a  widow-  for  thirty  years  and  died  at  the  age  of  eighty 
years  with  her  mind  clear  to  the  last.  Xancy,  eldest  of  her  children,  mar- 
ried John  Raw-ley,  father  of  the  district  judge  of  the  same  name.  She  spent 
most  of  her  life  in  Clay  county,  but  is  now  living  with  a  son.  Frank  S.,  ex- 
judge,  at  Terre  Llaute.  James  H.  was  William  Torr's  second  child:  the 
third  was  America,  who  married  Alfred  Miller,  of  Parke  county,  and  died 
at  the  age  of  sixty-six  years;  Eliza,  the  fourth  child,  married  Benjamin 
Leatherman  and  removed  to  Humboldt.  Nebraska,  where  she  still  resides  in 
aged  widowhood:  Xiles  H.,  who  was  a  soldier,  died  in  Parke  county  when 
forty  years  old. 

\\'illiam  L.  Torr,  youngest  of  the  family,  was  born  in  IMadison  town- 
ship, Putnam  county.  Indiana,  :\Iarch  4,  1839.  He  remained  with  his 
mother  until  thirty-four  years  okl  and  from  his  sixteenth  year  had  charge 
of  the   farm.      \\'hen  twentv-six  vears   old  he  married  Ellen,   daughter  of 


534 


WEIK  S    HISTORY   OF 


A'olney  Smitli,  of  Alanhattan,  whose  father  came  to  the  county  when  a  boy, 
was  appointed  postmaster  at  Manhattan  and  was  the  oldest  postmaster  in 
the  state  at  the  time  of  his  death.  [Mr.  Torr  by  degrees  bought  out  the 
interests  of  the  lieirs  in  one  liundred  and  sixty  acres  of  the  home  place  and 
when  his  mother  died  he  bought  the  entire  estate  of  two  hundred  and  forty 
acres,  of  which  he  still  retains  one  hundred  and  seventy-five  acres.  He  has 
made  a  fine  farm  of  the  place  which  as  a  boy  he  helped  to  clear.  Seventy 
acres  of  his  holdings  consist  of  fine  bottom  lands.  Mr.  Torr  has  always  been 
a  general  farmer,  raising  the  cereal  crops  appropriate  to  this  section  and 
keeping  as  much  stock  as  his  land  would  justify.  He  feeds  all  his  own  grain 
and  makes  a  specialty  of  hogs,  of  which  he  fattens  a  large  number  for  mar- 
ket every  year.  He  has  devoted  his  whole  life  to  his  farm,  expended  on  it 
much  thought  and  labor  and  has  made  a  success  and  ranks  high  among  the 
best  farmers  of  Putnam  county.  His  father  was  a  Whig  and  he  himself 
has  been  a  lifelong  Republican,  casting  his  first  vote  for  Abraham  Lincoln. 
He  has  always  enthusiastically  supported  the  principles  of  the  Republican 
partv  and  for  twenty  years  served  on  the  election  board.  His  first  wife  died 
February  13,  1893,  and  on  September  i.  1896,  Mr.  Torr  married  Mrs.  Mary 
A.  Cochran,  nee  Neier,  of  Owen  county.  Mr.  Torr's  children  by  his  first 
wife  are  as  follows:  William  V.,  a  resident  of  Washington  township,  has 
three  children,  Lola,  Lela  and  Dorothy;  Maggie  married  Albert  Stoner,  of 
Sullivan  county,  and  has  two  children,  Russell  and  Estel :  Anna  M..  educated 
at  the  Terre  Haute  Xonnal  and  Danville  Normal,  taught  for  thirteen  years 
in  Putnam  county,  including  several  terms  in  the  Greencastle  schools,  and 
died  September  12,  1909,  aged  thirty-eight  years:  Arthur  D..  a  resident  of 
Farmersburg.  Indiana,  has  five  children,  Raymond.  Stanley,  Donald,  Frances 
and  Helen ;  Minnie,  a  graduate  of  DePauw  University,  has  for  six  years  been 
a  teacher  of  histon.-  in  the  Connersville  high  school:  Ross,  a  resident  of 
Farmersburg,  has  three  children,  Irene,  Glenn  and  Gladys  Marie:  Emma 
married  J.  H.  Pitchford,  telegraph  operator  for  the  Big  Four  railroad  at 
Fillmore.  Indiana,  and  has  two  children.  :\Iinnie  Almeda  and  Mildred  Ellen; 
Edwin,  on  the  farm  with  his  father,  married  Martha  Best  and  has  two  chil- 
dren. Margaret  Ellen  and  Ma.hd  Grace.  Mr.  Torr  has  been  a  member  of  the 
Methodist  Episcopal  church  at  ^It.  Olive  for  fifty  years,  and  has  always  taken 
an  interest  in  religious  work.  With  the  exception  of  Philip  Hutcheson.  Mr. 
Torr  has  lived  longest  of  any  man  in  this  vicinity.  He  is  a  fine  type  of  the 
best  class  of  the  old-time  citizen  and  understands  the  farming  business  from 
the  ground  up.  During  his  long  life  he  has  proven  himself  a  dutiful  son.  a 
kind  neighbor  and  true   friend,   fulfilling  all  duties  Ijoth  public  and  private. 


PCTXAM    COUNTY.   IXDIANA.  535 


ISAIAFI   \'ERMILIOX. 

Few  pioneers  of  this  \icinitv  so  indelibly  impressed  their  personalities 
upon  their  felK^w  men  or  did  more  for  the  ,£reneral  uplift  of  Putnam  countv 
than  the  late  Isaiali  X'ermilion.  who  was  duly  homered  and  respected  by  all 
whii  knew  him  for  his  long  life  of  industry  and  straightforward  dealings 
with  his  fellow  men,  and  it  \\as  a  rare  treat  to  \isit  his  hospitable  fireside 
during  his  last  }"ears  and  listen  to  his  interesting  reminiscences  of  the  past 
histoiy  of  this  localitv  which  he  saw  and  helped  develop  from  practically  a 
wilderness  to  one  of  the  thriving  communities  of  the  great  commonwealth 
of  Indiana.  He  was  born  five  miles  northwest  of  Greencastle,  December  2. 
1838.  the  son  of  Joel  and  Xancy  (Shaw)  Vermilion,  the  father  a  native  of 
Tennessee,  from  which  state  he  came  to  Putnam  county.  Indiana,  as  early 
as  1830.  He  was  a  minister  of  the  Baptist  church,  in  which  noble  work  he 
became  known  to  all  the  old  settlers,  and  he  did  not  collect  a  penny  for  his 
services,  being  one  of  those  few  and  noble  spirits  who  delight  to  ser\-e  others 
even  at  the  expense  of  their  own  interests.  His  death  occurred  in  1873,  his 
widow  surviving  until  December  4.  1874.  They  were  the  parents  of  a  large 
family,  rearing  eight  children  to  maturity. 

Isaiah  \'ermilion  farmed  until  he  was  nineteen  years  of  age.  gaining  a 
somewhat  limited  education  in  the  schools  of  his  day.  He  started  on  liis 
inisiness  career  with  only  twenty-five  cents,  and,  by  thrift,  industry  and 
economv.  he  accumulatetl  rapidly  and  his  latter  years  were  spent  in  comfort 
and  in  the  nn'dst  of  such  life's  luxuries  as  he  desired.  He  began  the  dry 
goods  business  with  his  brother.  Thomas,  in  1857.  under  the  fimi  name  of 
Vermilion  Brothers,  in  Mt.  ^leridian,  just  half  way  between  Terre  Haute 
and  Indianapolis,  on  the  National  road.  This  was  a  successful  venture,  but, 
desiring  a  broader  field  for  his  operations,  Mr.  Vermilion  came  to  Green- 
castle in  1868  and  embarked  in  business,  buying  an  interest  with  Xeese  & 
Elliott,  the  firm  then  changing  to  Xeese.  Elliott  &  Vennilion.  which  met 
with  varied  success  until  1871.  when  Wilds  Jones  purchased  the  holdings  of 
Xeese  and  Elliott,  the  firm  then  changing  to  \'emiillion  &  Jones.  In  1875  J. 
P.  Allen  purchased  the  interest  of  Mr.  Jones,  then  the  style  of  the  firm  was 
Vermilion  &  .Alien,  the  fonner  selling  out  in  his  interest  to  the  latter  in  1879. 
In  that  year  he  opened  business  in  South  Greencastle  with  \\'.  H.  Howe  as 
Howe  &  \'ermilion.  In  1881  Xelson  Wood  bought  Mr.  Howe's  interest  and 
in  1883  ^It.  Vermilion  sold  out  to  Mr.  Wood.  In  that  year  he  re-engaged  in 
the  dry  goods  business  at  X'o.  22  West  \\'ashington  street,  where  he  remained 


536  weik's  history  of 

with  his  usual  success  until  his  death,  which  occurred  September  5,  1908, 
ha\ing  been  engaged  in  business  in  one  place  for  a  period  of  twenty-five  years 
consecutively.  He  was  one  of  the  best  known  merchants  in  this  and  adjoin- 
ing counties  and  his  customers  were  his  friends  owing  to  his  uniform  kind- 
ness and  his  honesty  in  dealing  with  everyone. 

Mr.  V'ermilion  was  a  noted  church  worker  and  the  local  Baptist  congre- 
gation owed  much  to  his  liberality  of  both  means  and  time  in  forwarding  the 
interest  of  the  church,  always  taking  a  dehght  in  its  affairs.  Being  an  earn- 
est worker,  he  held  all  the  offices  in  the  church  and  he  never  missed  a  meet- 
ing. He  carried  his  religion  into  his  business  and  his  every-day  life  and  his 
genuine  honesty  and  sincerity  was  never  questioned.  He  was  a  member  of 
the  Masonic  fraternity  and  he  was  a  Democrat  in  politics,  but  never  sought 
office. 

Mr.  Vermilion  married,  on  January  12,  1865,  Caroline  E.  Elliott,  daugh- 
ter of  McCamy  and  Harriett  (Sherrel)  Elliott.  She  was  born  in  Putnam 
county,  October  12,  1847.  Her  parents  came  from  North  Carolina;  her 
father,  also,  was  a  Baptist  minister;  he  lived  to  the  advanced  age  of  ninety-six 
years,  dying  February  15,  1906.  his  wife  having  preceded  him  to  the  grave 
on  December  24,  1892. 

^Irs.  Vermilion  was  called  to  her  rest  in  1893.  She  was  an  excellent 
woman  and  took  a  great  interest  in  religious  affairs.  Seven  children  were 
born  to  ]\Ir.  and  Mrs.  Isaiah  Vermilion,,  four  of  whom  are  deceased;  those 
living  are.  Miss  Claude,  of  Greencastle;  James  E.,  of  Greencastle,  and  Flossie, 
wife  of  Charles  Hausfhland.  of  Greencastle. 


THOMAS  J.  McKEEHAX. 

Some  of  the  best  improved  farms  in  Putnam  county  are  to  be  found  in 
Monroe  township,  the  owners  of  which  are  men  of  indefatigable  industry, 
practical  ideas  and  progressive  methods.  Among  the  successful  agricultur- 
ists of  the  township  is  numbered  the  gentleman  whose  name  appears  at  the 
head  of  this  sketch.  He  has  by  his  earnest  and  consecutive  efforts  brought 
his  farm  to  a  high  standard  of  excellence  and  is  looked  upon  as  one  of  the 
reliable  citizens  of  the  township. 

Thomas  T.  McKeehan  was  born  in  Whitley  county.  Kentucky.  Novem- 
ber 3.  1862.  and  is  a  son  of  Peter  and  Lida  (Hart)  McKeehan.  He  was 
reared   and  educated  in  his  native  county,   his  education  being  obtained  in 


PUTXAM    COUNTY,   IXDIAXA.  537 

the  common  schools.  He  was  engaged  successfully  in  teaching  school  there 
for  a  time,  and  in  1886  he  came  to  Putnam  county,  where  he  has  since  re- 
sided. He  and  his  wife  are  the  owners  of  one  hundred  and  seventy  acres  of 
fine  and  fertile  land,  eligibly  located,  and  on  which  are  raised  all  the  crops 
common  to  this  section  of  the  country.  This  land  was  inherited  by  Mrs. 
McKeehan  from  her  father,  the  late  Jacob  Huffman,  one  of  the  prominent 
and  well-known  old  pioneers  of  the  county.  The  farm  contains  many  excel- 
lent improvements,  including  a  comfortable  and  attractive  residence,  a  com- 
modious and  well  arranged  barn  and  other  necessary  outbuildings,  while  the 
well  kept  fences  and  other  improvements  indicate  Mr.  McKeehan  to  be  a  man 
of  excellent  taste  and  sound  judgment. 

On  Januar}^  22,  1893.  Mr.  McKeehan  was  united  in  inarriage  with  Alice 
Huffman,  a  daughter  of  Jacob  and  Sarah  Ellen  (Stadler)  Huffman,  and  to 
them  have  been  born  four  children,  namely :  Frederick,  bom  September  27, 
1895  :  Paul,  born  Januan.-  29,  1897:  Frank  T..  born  July  2(),  1900;  Lawrence, 
born  August  17,  1905. 

In  politics  ^tr.  McKeehan  gives  a  stanch  support  to  the  Republican 
part}-  and  takes  an  acti\'e  interest  in  local  public  affairs,  though  not  a  seeker 
after  pul)Iic  office.  Religiously  he  and  his  wife  are  members  of  the  Chris- 
tian church,  to  which  they  give  an  earnest  and  liberal  support.  Fraternally 
he  is  a  member  of  Bainliridge  Lodge,  Xo.  75.  Free  and  Accepted  Masons,  of 
which  he  is  a  past  master.  Possessing  marked  social  qualities,  he  easily 
makes  acc|uaintances  and  wherever  kno\\n  he  has  many  warm  personal 
friends,  who  respect  him  for  his  genuine  worth. 


AAROX  TEXT. 


This  is  an  age  in  which  the  farmer  stands  pre-eminently  above  any 
other  class  as  a  producer  of  wealth.  He  simply  takes  advantage  of  the 
winds,  the  warm  air,  the  bright  sunshine  and  the  refreshing  rains,  and, 
applying  his  own  hands  and  skill  to  nature's  gifts,  he  creates  grain,  hay,  live- 
stock, etc.,  all  of  which  are  ab.solute  necessaries  to  the  inhabitants  of  the 
world.  The  commercial  world  has  come  to  realize  his  importance  and  has 
surrounded  him  with  many  conveniences  not  thought  of  fifty  years  ago.  The 
inventor  has  given  him  the  self-binder,  the  riding  plow,  the  steam  thresher, 
and  many  other  labor-saving  devices.  And  the  fanner  has  not  been  slow  to 
take  advantage  of  the  improvements  thus  offered.     Among  the  up-to-date 


538  WEIK  S    HISTORY    OF 

farmers  of  Putnam  county  is  the  subject  of  this  review,  who  resides  in  a  com- 
fortable and  attractive  home  in  Floyd  township. 

Aaron  Jent  was  born  July  10,  1849,  ^"*^  '^  ^  ^o"  °^'  Lemuel  and  Eliza- 
beth (Connor)  Jent,  who  were  natives  of  the  state  of  Kentucky,  where  they 
were  reared  and  married.  Subsequently  they  came  to  Putnam  county.  Indi- 
ana, being  numbered  among  the  early  pioneers  of  this  locality.  The  father 
died  on  March  4,  1859,  and  the  mother  on  June  i.  1903.  They  became  the 
parents  of  eleven  children,  of  whom  but  six  now  survive,  namely:  John, 
]Nfarv,  Mrs.  .\nn  Perkins,  Mrs.  Susan  Coverdell.  Aaron,  the  subject,  and 
Louisa  E..  who,  with  the  subject,  occupies  the  old  homestead. 

Aaron  Tent  was  reared  under  the  parental  roof  and  secured  his  educa- 
tion in  the  common  schools  of  the  locality,  the  schools  of  that  early  day  being 
far  inferior  in  many  respects  to  those  of  today.  He  was  early  inured  to  the 
labors  of  the  farm  and  has  devoted  practically  his  entire  life  to  agriculture, 
in  wliich  he  has  been  fairly  successful.  He  and  his  sister  Marv-  are  now  re- 
siding on  a  fine  farm  of  one  hundred  and  eighty  acres  in  Floyd  township, 
they  having  inherited  this  land  from  their  mother.  They  have  applied  them- 
selves assiduously  to  its  cultivation  and  have  maintained  the  place  at  a  high 
standard  of  excellence.  !vlr.  Jent  has  been  a  hard  working  man  and  has 
made  many  permanent  and  substantial  improvements  on  the  place,  not  the 
least  of  which  is  a  comfortable  and  attractive  residence,  which  has  recently 
been  completed  and  which  contains  many  modern  conveniences  and  which 
is  considered  one  of  the  best  homes  in  the  community. 

Politically  Mr.  Jent  gives  a  stanch  support  to  the  Democratic  party,  but 
is  in  no  sense  a  seeker  after  public  office,  preferring  to  devote  his  aitention 
to  his  business  affairs.  He  is  a  man  of  splendid  parts  and  stands  high  ii: 
the  estimation  of  his  neighbors  and  acquaintances. 


ELIJAH  COOPER  ^^•ALN. 

Among  the  members  of  the  older  generation  of  famiers  in  Putnam 
county,  Indiana,  none  occupy  a  higher  standing  in  their  community  than 
the  gentleman  whose  name  appears  at  the  head  of  this  sketch.  Long  resi- 
dence here  has  but  served  to  strengthen  the  hold  which  he  has  enjoyed  for 
many  years  in  the  hearts  of  those  who  know  him  and  now.  in  the  golden 
sunset  of  his  life,  he  is  enjoying  the  rest  which  his  former  years  of  toil 
have  so  richlv  entitled  him  to. 


PLTXA.M    COUN'TY,   INDIANA.  539 

Elijah  Cooper  Wain  is  a  nati\e  of  the  old  Buckeye  state,  ha\ing  first 
seen  the  light  of  day  in  Highland  county.  Ohio,  on  March  7,  183S.  He  is  a 
son  of  John  and  ^Martha  (Wilkinson)  Wain.  The  father  was  a  native 
of  \'irginia  and  was  a  pioneer  settler  in  both  Ohio  and  Indiana,  coining  to 
the  latter  state  in  1839  and  locating  in  Putnam  county,  where  he  took  up 
the  pursuit  of  agriculture,  in  which  he  was  engaged  up  to  the  time  of  his 
death,  which  occurred  in  August,  18S9;  his  wife  died  in  August,  189J.  Po- 
litically he  was  first  a  Whig  and  on  the  dissolution  of  that  party  he  became 
a  Republican  to  which  party  he  gave  an  earnest  supp(5rt.  His  religious  mem- 
bership was  with  the  Christian  church,  in  the  various  activities  of  which  he 
took  a  prominent  part.  To  John  and  Martha  Wain  were  born  the  following 
children:  Samuel,  who  died  in  infancy;  Elizabeth,  born  February  19,  1836, 
who  became  the  wife  of  Allen  Huffman,  of  Hamilton  county,  Ohio;  Elijah 
C.  the  subject  of  this  sketch;  Mary  J.,  born  January  23,  185J,  is  the  wife  of 
John  S.  Black  and  li\es  at  Bainbridge,  this  county. 

Elijah  C.  Wain  received  his  education  in  the  schools  of  Flo\d  township, 
where  he  has  resided  continuousl}-  since  coming  to  Indiana — in  fact,  he  has 
never  lived  more  than  one  and  a  half  miles  from  the  spot  where  his  par- 
ents first  located  in  this  county.  The  school  house  in  which  he  studied,  and 
to  which  he  was  compelled  to  walk  three  miles,  was  built  of  logs  and  was 
furnished  in  the  typical  style  of  that  period,  the  furniture  consisting  mainly 
of  puncheon  seats  and  a  rude  desk  for  the  teacher.  But  the  lessons  were  well 
learned  there,  despite  the  unfavorable  surroundings  and  Mr.  \\'aln  laid  there 
the  foundation  for  a  good  fund  of  information,  being  now  considered  a  well 
informed  and  intelligent  man.  He  early  became  an  assistant  to  his  father 
in  the  work  of  the  farmstead  and  he  wisely  concluded  that  in  husbandry 
lay  his  life  work.  At  the  age  of  twenty-three  years  he  bought  sixty-one 
acres  of  land,  to  the  cultivation  of  which  he  devoted  his  energies  with  such 
success  that  he  was  enabled  to  buy  other  land  until  at  one  time  his  estate 
aggregated  two  hundred  and  forty-two  acres.  He  has  since  disposed  of  some 
land,  being  now-  the  owner  of  one  hundred  and  sixty  acres,  which  is  most 
eligibly  located,  a  magnificent  view  of  the  surrounding  country  being  pos- 
sible from  the  homestead.  The  latter  is  a  comfortable  and  attractive  brick 
building,  located  on  a  pretty  knoll,  and  about  it  there  is  an  air  of  comfort 
and  a  spirit  of  hospitality  is  ever  there  in  evidence.  Mr.  Wain  gives  his  at- 
tention to  general  farming  operations  and  stock  raising,  in  both  of  which 
lines  he  has  been  successful  to  a  gratifying  degree. 

During  the  Civil  war  Mr.  Wain  gave  practical  evidence  of  his  patriotic 
spirit  by  enlisting  in  the  Seventy-eighth   Regiment   Indiana   A'olunteer   In- 


540  WEIK  S   HISTORY   OF 

fantry,  with  which  he  served  sixty'  days,  his  services  consisting  mainly  of 
picket  duty.  He  keeps  aHve  his  old  army  associations  by  membership  in  the 
Grand  xAnny  of  the  RepubHc,  belonging  to  the  post  at  Bainbridge,  of  which 
he  has  served  as  junior  commander. 

In  politics  Mr.  Wain  renders  a  stanch  allegiance  to  the  Republican  party, 
as  did  his  father  before  him,  and  he  has  at  all  times  evinced  a  commendable 
interest  in  local  public  affairs,  in  which  he  has  played  an  influential  part, 
though  never  a  seeker  after  official  honor. 

Mr.  Wain  has  been  married  twice,  first  on  January  8,  1862.  to  Man.'  R. 
Coffman.  the  daughter  of  Nicholas  and  Lavina  (Dicks)  Coffman,  natives 
of  Kentucky.  To  this  union  have  been  born  nine  children,  of  whom  seven 
are  dead,  namely:  Samuel,  Marguerite  (widow  of  Joseph  M.  Case,  who  died 
April  17.  1906,  leaving  two  daughters),  Bessie,  Mattie,  Olive,  Grace,  John, 
Leonard  and  Mary.  The  mother  of  these  children,  who  was  a  member  of 
the  Methodist  Episcopal  church,  died  on  November  26,  1894,  and  on  the  20th 
of  April,  1898.  Mr.  Wain  married  Rebecca  J.  Davis,  of  Hamilton  county, 
Ohio,  there  being  no  children  by  the  last  marriage.  Mr.  Wain's  life  has 
been  characterized  by  high  ideals,  strict  integrity,  indomitable  industry  and 
amicable  relations  with  all,  being  thus  deserving  of  the  respect  and  esteem 
which  is  universally  accorded  him  throughout  the  community. 


JOHN  HUFFMAN. 


An  enterprising  farmer  and  representative  citizen  of  Putnam  county  is 
John  Huffman,  who  is  known  as  a  man  who,  in  all  business  affairs,  is  ener- 
getic, prompt  and  notably  reliable,  justice  having  ever  been  maintained  by 
him  in  his  relations  with  his  neighbors  and  all  others  with  whom  he  has  had 
transactions,  and  while  he  has  been  watchful  of  his  business  and  of  all  indi- 
cations pointing  to  prosperity  along  his  chosen  line  of  work — agriculture  and 
stock  raising — his  efforts  resulting  in  the  acquirement  of  a  very  satisfacton.' 
competence;  yet  this  has  not  been  alone  the  goal  for  which  he  has  striven, 
for  he  belongs  to  that  class  of  representative  American  citizens  who  promote 
the  general  prosperity  while  advancing  individual  interests. 

John  Huffman  was  Iwrn  in  Putnam  county,  Indiana,  March  26,  1868. 
the  son  of  Jacob  and  Sarah  Ellen  fStadler)  Huffman,  A  sketch  of  these 
parents  is  to  be  found  elsewhere  in  this  volume. 

John  Huffman  attended  the  common  schools  in  Floyd  and  Monroe  town- 
ships, receiving  a  verv  good  education.     He  worked  on  the  home  farm  dur- 


PUTNAM   COUNTY,   INDIANA.  54I 

ing  the  summer  months  and  thus  learned  how  to  manage  crops  while  a  ver\' 
young  man.  and  having  followed  this  line  of  work  all  his  life  he  now  finds 
himself  ver}-  comfortably  fixed  in  reference  to  material  affairs.  He  now 
owns  over  two  hundred  and  sixty  acres  of  first-class  land  in  Monroe  town- 
ship, the  vicinity  where  the  Huffmans  have  so  long  resided:  his  land  has  been 
very  highly  improved  and  from  it  abundant  harvests  are  reaped  from  vear 
to  year.  It  is  well  fenced,  drained  and  is  kept  clean  and  always  attracts  the 
attention  of  the  passerby.  He  has  a  well  located,  modern  and  comfortable 
dwelling  and  substantial  and  numerous  outbuildings,  together  with  the  latest 
impro\'ed   farming  machinen,'. 

Mr.  Huffman  is  well  known  as  a  stock  breeder  and  raiser,  always  keep- 
ing some  e-Kcellent  stock  on  hand  which  finds  a  read}-  market  owing  to  its 
excellent  quality,  for  he  certainly  understands  every  detail  of  the  stock 
business  as  is  evidenced  by  his  continued  success  in  handling  stock  for  many 
■years. 

On  September  26.  1894,  Mr.  Huffman  married  ^lary  Buis,  daughter 
of  George  W.  and  Polly  (Patterson)  Buis.  a  well  known  family  of  this 
township,  where  they  came  from  tlie  state  of  Kentuckv'.  of  which  they  were 
nati\'es.  To  Mr.  and  ^Irs.  Huffman  two  children  ha\-e  been  born,  namely: 
Walter  A.'s  birth  occurred  on  June  2,  1896;  he  is  attending  school  at  Bain- 
bridge;  John  Morris  was  born  June  22.  1906. 

Mr.  Huffman  is  a  Democrat  and  he  takes  more  or  less  interest  in  the 
affairs  of  his  party.  At  one  time  he  served  very  acceptably  as  county  road 
supervisor. 


JOHN  HEXRY  NICHOLS. 

Reared  to  the  sturdy  discipline  of  the  homestead  farm,  during  all  the 
succeeding  years  of  his  life  John  H.  Nichols  has  not  wavered  in  his  al- 
legiance to  the  great  basic  art  of  agriculture.  To  the  public  .schools  he  is 
indebted  for  the  early  educational  privileges  which  were  his,  and  he  duly 
availed  himself  of  the  same,  while  he  has  effectively  broadened  his  knowL 
edge  through  active  association  with  men  and  affairs  in  practical  business 
life  which  has  placed  him  well  in  the  front  rank  of  citizens  of  Marion  town- 
ship. Putnam  county. 

John  H.  Nichols  was  born  October  10.  1863.  and  is  a  son  of  Harvey  and 
Jemima  T Clark)  Nichols.  His  paternal  grandparents  were  Adam  and  Anna 
Nichols,  who  came  to  Putnam  countv  about  1830  and  built  a  log  cabin  on  an 


542  WEIK  S   HISTORY   OF 

eighty-acre  tract  of  land  which  he  had  entered.  This  land  he  cleared  and 
eventually  developed  into  a  good  farm,  the  tract  lying  about  a  half  mile 
northwest  of  Mount  Meridian,  Marion  township.  Here  they  continue  to 
make  their  home  in  the  old  log  house,  depriving  themselves  of  the  comfort 
of  a  more  modern  house  that  they  might  be  better  able  to  contribute  to  the 
building  of  churches  and  other  religious  and  charitable  objects.  Adam 
Nichols  died  at  the  age  of  seventy-seven  years  and  his  wife  at  the  age  of 
fifty  years,  their  remains  being  laid  to  rest  in  the  family  burying  ground  at 
Mount  Carmel.  this  county.  They  were  the  parents  of  seven  children, 
namely:  Harvey,  Margaret.  Elizabeth,  Henry,  Anderson,  Martin  and 
Samuel. 

Harvey  Nichols  was  reared  under  the  paternal  roof  and  began  his  active 
life  on  his  own  account  on  a  rented  farm,  which  he  continued  to  operate 
until  near  the  close  of  the  Civil  war.  when  he  offered  his  services  to  his 
country,  remaining  in  the  army  until  the  close  of  the  struggle.  On  his  re- 
turn home  he  bought  a  lifetime  right  in  a  forty-acre  farm  and  engaged  in 
its  cultivation.  His  earthly  career  was,  however,  cut  short,  his  death  oc- 
curring at  the  early  age  of  thirty-seven  years,  in  187 1.  His  widow,  in  1879, 
became  the  wife  of  Leonard  H.  Fortune,  of  this  county. 

John  H.  Nichols  spent  the  years  of  his  youth  and  young  manhood  on 
the  parental  farmstead,  receiving  his  education  in  the  common  schools.  On 
the  death  of  his  father  the  management  of  the  farm  devolved  upon  the 
subject  and  his  mother.  Subsequently  he  bought  his  mother's  interest  in 
the  fai-m.  on  which  he  has  continued  to  engage  in  farming  and  stock  rais- 
ing, in  which  he  has  uniformly  met  with  the  most  gratifying  success.  He  has 
acquired  the  ownership  of  adjoining  land  and  now  has  one  hundred  and 
ninetv  acres  of  as  good  land  as  can  be  found  in  the  township.  The  place 
contains  improvements  of  a  high  order,  comprising  a  modern  and  attractive 
residence,  substantial  barn  and  outbuildings  and  well-kept  fences,  the  gen- 
eral appearance  of  the  place  indicating  the  owner  to  be  a  man  of  good  judg- 
ment and  taste. 

On  March  31,  r886,  Mr.  Nichols  was  united  in  marriage  to  Nancy  Cath- 
erine Arnold,  a  daughter  of  James  and  Sally  Ann  Arnold,  and  they  have  be- 
come the  parents  of  the  following  children :  Ira  U..  who  married  Nellie 
Zeiner,  and  they  have  one  child,  Orla  Glenn:  Delia  O.  is  the  wife  of  Elisha 
Zeiner,  a  farmer  in  Flovd  township;  Ada  E.,  Harvey  C.  and  James  Russell 
are  at  home.  Religiously,  J\Ir.  and  Mrs.  Nichols  are  members  of  the  Chris- 
tian church  and  he  is  a  member  of  the  official  board  of  the  same,  being  a 


PUTNAM   COUNTY,   INDIANA.  543 

deacon,  and  also  secretary  and  treasurer.  In  every  avenue  of  life's  activities 
in  which  he  has  engaged  Mr.  Nichols  has  performed  his  full  part  and  be- 
cause of  his  splendid  personal  qualities  he  holds  the  confidence  of  all  who 
know  him. 


JOHN  \V.  HANKS. 


The  science  of  agriculture— for  it  is  a  science  as  well  a?  an  art— finds  an 
able  demonstrator  as  well  as  a  successful  practitioner  in  the  person  of  John 
W.  Hanks,  who  is  widely  known  in  central  Putnam  county,  both  as  an 
up-to-date  agriculturist  and  a  saw-mill  and  lumber  man.  He  comes  of  a  well 
known  and  highly  honored  pioneer  family,  a  detailed  history  of  which  is  to 
be  found  on  another  page  of  this  volume,  under  the  caption  of  Alvin  B. 
Hanks,  brother  of  John  W.,  of  this  review,  hence  it  is  deemed  unnecessary 
to  repeat  the  latter's  genealogy  here. 

Tohn  W.  Flanks  was  born  in  Kentucky,  November  22.  1844,  and  came 
to  this  vicinity  with  his  father  in  the  fall  of  1851,  when  seven  years  old.  He 
^\  as  soon  put  to  school  in  the  subscription  school,  held  in  the  old  log  school- 
house  nearby  and  gained  there  the  rudiments  of  an  education  which  has  since 
been  considerably  supplemented  by  general  reading  and  observation.  His 
first  schooling  was  gained  at  Mechanic's  Point,  and  later  he  attended  the 
old  Hopewell  school.  He  worked  on  the  parental  fann  during  the  major 
part  of  the  vear  and  thus  learned  the  basic  principles  of  agriculture  early  in 
life,  and  he  has  continued  to  follow  the  independent  life  of  the  husbandman. 
Prospering  as  the  years  advanced,  he  is  now  the  owner  of  an  excellent  farm 
of  two  hundred  acres,  the  original  old  homestead  of  his  father,  which  he 
has  brought  to  a  high  state  of  improvement  and  development  and  on  which 
stands  a  substantial,  large  dwelling  and  such  modern  outbuildings  as  to 
meet  all  his  requirements.  He  was  formerly  in  the  saw-mill  business  for  a 
period  of  twentv  years,  during  which  time  he  sawed  an  immense  amount  of 
hardwood  lumber  throughout  this  section  of  the  state  and  became  widely 
known  and  fairly  successful  in  this  line  of  work.  His  locations  while  thus 
engaged  were  principally  at  Whitesville.  Colfax  and  Newmarket. 

Mr.  Hanks  was  married  on  April  2j.  1865.  to  :Mary  Elizabeth  Everson, 
bom  in  :Montgomer}'  county,  Indiana,  February  27.  1845.  daughter  of 
George  W.  and  Rachael  CHankins)  Everson,  whose  father  was  one  of  the 
prominent  residents  of  Fayette  county,  Pennsylvania.  :Mrs.  Hank's  grand- 
father, on  the  paternal  side.  Jacob  Evers<:m.  was  one  of  the  earliest  pioneers 


544 


WEIK  S   HISTORY  OF 


of  Indiana,  having  entered  land  from  the  government  and  settled  here  as 
early  as  18J4. 

To  ^Ir.  and  Airs.  John  W.  Hanks  the  following  children  have  been 
born :  Laura,  who  lives  in  Roachdale.  this  county,  married  first,  Pierce 
Rittinger,  no  children  being  born  of  this  union,  and  her  second  husband  was 
Willard  Gough ;  Cora  is  still  a  member  of  the  home  circle;  Jesse  M.,  who 
died  at  the  age  of  twenty-eight  years,  married  Cora  Oliver;  Zadia  married 
Earl  Crosby  and  they  live  in  Putnam  county ;  John  married  Bert  Reeves  and 
he  is  successfully  engaged  in  the  hardware  business  at  Bainbridge;  Ross  mar- 
ried Elsie  Lewis  and  they  reside  in  this  county;  Ira  is  single  and  is  living 
at  home  assisting  his  father  with  the  work  on  the  farm;  Daisy,  who  mar- 
ried Lawrence  Friend,  is  now  deceased;  Roy  died  at  the  age  of  twenty-two 
years,  single. 

Mr.  Hanks  is  a  member  of  the  Independent  Order  of  Odd  Fellows,  and 
politicallv  he  is  a  Democrat,  but  he  does  not  find  time  or  have  the  inclina- 
tion to  mingle  much  in  party  affairs.  He  is  a  member  of  the  Christian 
church,  in  support  of  which  he  is  not  sparing  of  his  means — in  fact  he  is 
alwavs  to  be  found  on  the  right  side  of  all  questions  looking  to  the  good 
of  his  communitv. 


DANIEL  V.  MOFFETT. 

The  ^Moffetts  are  a  Kentucky  product,  the  family  having  been  founded 
in  that  state  over  a  year  ago  and  ramified  from  there  to  many  parts  of  the 
\^"est.  Daniel  Moffett  was  first  to  cross  the  Ohio  river  into  Illinois  and 
he  found  his  way  to  the  state  when  it  was  undeveloped  and  had  little  to  offer 
to  the  first  arrivals.  Daniel,  however,  like  all  the  early  pioneers,  was  brave 
and  not  to  be  daunted  by  bayous,  swamps  or  rank  prairie  sod.  He  located 
in  Edgar  county,  which,  though  somewhat  forbidding  at  that  time,  has  since 
been  made  an  agricultural  paradise.  Along  with  the  old  pioneer  came  his 
boy.  Silas  H.  Aloffett.  who  developed  into  a  typical  farm  lad  and  helped  on 
the  farm  until  he  reached  his  majority.  In  early  manhood  he  became  relig- 
ious, joined  church  and  gradually  became  one  of  the  primitive  Baptist  minis- 
ters, whose  unselfish  work  so  greatly  benefited  the  moral  status  of  the  rude 
pioneers.  Between  farming  and  preaching  he  made  a  living  and  for  years 
before  his  death  his  voice  was  familiar  in  the  pulpits  of  his  church  in  Edgar 
county.  He  passed  away  June  2.  1905,  after  he  had  completed  his  seventy- 
eighth  year,  and  all  agreed  that  his  life  had  been  both  useful  and  blameless. 
He  married  Eliza  Barr,  bv  whom  he  had  three  children.      F.  P.  :\[offett,  the 


PUTXAM    COUXTY,   IXDIAXA.  545 

eldest  of  these,  is  president  of  the  Bainbridge  Bank,  at  Eainbridge.  Putnam 
county.  Indiana.  ]\I.  B.  Moffett,  the  second  son,  is  a  preacher  and  dealer  in 
insurance  at  Paris.  Illinois.  Susan,  the  only  daughter,  married  Mr.  Brinker- 
hoff  and  resides  at  Kansas.  Illinois.  The  mother  of  these  children  having 
died,  the  father  married  Xancy  Da\is,  of  Edgar  county,  Illinois.  The  eight 
children  by  this  union  are  as  follows:  Eliza  J.,  wife  of  N.  R.  Bennett,  presi- 
dent of  The  Bank  of  Westfield,  Clark  county,  Illinois:  Lucinda,  wife  of  G.  W. 
Kirkpatrick.  president  of  a  bank  at  Oakland.  Coles  county,  Illinois:  Daniel 
\  . ;  Thomas,  who  married  Lou  Grubb,  of  Oakland.  Illinois,  and  died  in  1887; 
Rector  married  Anna  Zimmerly.  of  Paris.  Illinois,  and  is  engaged  in  the  in- 
surance business:  May  married  W.  Gill,  cashier  of  the  bank  at  Cloverdale. 
Indiana;  Alinnie  is  the  wife  of  W.  H.  Miller,  in  the  real  estate  business  at 
Terre  Haute;  John  H..  who  married  Jessie  Cash,  of  Oakland.  Illinois,  is  in 
the  livestock  commission  business  at  the  Union  stock  yards,  in  Chicago. 

Daniel  \'.  ^loffett.  third  of  the  second  set  of  children,  was  born  west  of 
Paris.  Edgar  county.  Illinois,  June  11,  1863.  He  lived  on  a  farm  in  his 
native  county  until  the  completion  of  his  twentieth  year,  when  he  began  to 
feel  the  impulse  that  stirs  all  ambitious  young  men  to  find  a  home  and  career 
for  himself.  In  1883  he  came  to  Putnam  county  and  located  in  Jefferson 
township,  near  Mount  Meridian,  on  a  farm,  where  he  lived  until  1903,  when 
he  removed  to  Cloverdale  and  became  president  of  a  bank  in  that  place,  a 
position  which  he  has  since  held.  He  was  nominated  as  candidate  for  countv 
auditor  on  the  Democratic  ticket  and  was  elected  and  took  office  on  January 
I,  1908.  He  is  making  a  popular  official  and  discharging  all  his  duties  in  a 
way  to  disarm  criticism. 

The  Bank  of  Cloverdale.  of  which  Mr.  ^loffett  is  president,  has  a  capital 
stock  of  ten  thousand  dollars,  of  which  he  owns  one-third.  He  also  takes  a 
deep  interest  in  agriculture,  owning  two  hundred  and  sixty  acres  of  splendid 
land  in  Teft'erson  and  [Marion  townships,  this  county,  which  is  devoted  to 
diversified  farming. 

On  September  6.  1883.  ]V[r.  Moffett  married  ^lary  J.,  daughter  of  Jeft'er- 
.son  Hurst,  one  of  the  well  knowm  men  of  the  county.  She  is  one  of  eight 
children,  as  follows:  ^Morton  C.  Levi.  William.  Squire  J..  James  H..  George 
\V..  Dr.  B.  F.  and  3>Iary  J.  (Mrs.  Moffett).  The  mother  having  died  at 
about  the  age  of  forty.  Mr.  Hurst  married  again  and  by  this  union  had  two 
children.  Joseph  B.  and  Flossie  M.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Moffett  have  one  child. 
D.  Ora.  born  September  6.  18C9.  and  who  is  now  deputy  auditor  in  his 
father's  office.  [Mr.  Moffett  is  a  member  of  the  Masonic  fraternity,  and  he 
and  his  wife  belong  to  the  Baptist  church. 
(35) 


546 


WEIK  S   HISTORY   OF 


ENOCH  JEREMIAH  ISAIAH  PROCTOR. 

Agriculture  has  been  an  honored  vocation  from  the  earliest  ages  and 
usuallv  men  of  proper  impulses  as  well  as  those  of  energ>-  and  thrift,  have 
been  patrons  of  husbandry.  The  free  outdoor  life  of  the  farm  has  a  tend- 
ancy  to  foster  and  develop  that  independence  of  mind  and  self  reliance  which 
characterize  true  manhood,  and  no  greater  blessing  can  befall  a  boy  than  to 
be  reared  in  close  touch  with  nature,  in  the  healthful,  life-inspiring  labor  of 
the  fields.  It  has  always  been  the  fruitful  soil  from  which  ha\e  sprung  the 
moral  bone  and  sinew  of  the  country,  and  the  majority  of  our  nation's  brave 
warriors,  renowned  statesmen,  famous  authors  and  profound  scholars  were 
born  on  the  farm  and  were  indebted  to  its  early  influences  for  the  distinction 
which  they  have  attained. 

Althouo-h  E.  I.  I.  Proctor,  of  Monroe  township.  Putnam  county,  has 
not  attained  national  distinction  in  any  phase  of  human  endeavor,  he  came 
from  the  farm  and  has  spent  his  life  in  this  desirable  line  of  endeavor, 
achieving  success  for  himself  and  making  his  influence  for  good  felt  in  his 
communitv.  thus  fulfilling  his  mission  in  the  world  just  the  same  as  if  his 
nr.me  was  written  high  upon  the  scroll  of  fame.  He  is  a  native  of  Decatur 
county.  Indiana,  born  December  5.  1859.  the  son  of  W.  A.  and  Mary  A.  J. 
(Burch)  Proctor,  the  father  a  native  of  Ohio,  born  January  22.  1823.  and 
died  October  9,  1902,  reaching  an  old  age  from  which  he  could  look  back  over 
a  well  spent  life,  replete  with  success.  He  came  to  Putnam  county.  Indiana, 
in  1877.  His  wife,  who  was  a  native  of  Franklin  county.  Indiana,  preceded 
him  to  the  grave  on  January  2.   1899. 

E.  J.  I.  Proctor  was  educated  in  the  common  schools  of  his  native  com- 
munitv, receiving  a  ver}-  good  education.  On  August  4.  18S0.  he  mar- 
ried Marv  lane  Huffman,  daughter  of  Jacob  and  Sarah  Ellen  (Stadler) 
Huffman,  an  excellent  old  pioneer  family,  a  complete  sketch  of  whom  appears 
elsewhere  in  this  work.  This  union  has  resulted  in  the  birth  of  five  children, 
named  as  follows:  Jasper  E.,  born  July  17,  1881  ;  Verna  E..  born  June  3, 
i88\  married  William  Zeiner,  a  farmer,  and  lives  in  Floyd  township:  Mary 
E..  born  November  16.  1884.  maried  Roy  E.  Priest  and  lives  in  California; 
Matilda  E..  born  May  26.  1890.  married  J.  R.  Sallust.  a  farmer,  and  is 
living  in  Monroe  township:  Lola  E.,  born  April  19.  1897,  is  attending  school. 
Mr.  Proctor  has  been  a  fanner  all  his  life,  as  has  been  before  stated, 
and  is  now  the  owner  of  a  very  \aluable  farm  of  two  hundred  and  forty 
acres,   which  are  well   improved  m  every   respect  and   which  have  been   so 


PL'TN'AM    COrXTV.   INDIANA.  ■  547 

well  tilled  that  this  place  ranks  with  the  \ery  best  in  the  township.  On  it 
stands  a  very  comfortable  and  well  arranged  dwelling  and  numerous  sub- 
stantial outliuildings.  a  good  orchard,  garden,  and  all  that  goes  to  make  life 
on  the  farm  desirable.  He  devotes  considerable  time  to  stock  raising  and  has 
heen  ver\-  successful  in  this  line,  always  keeping  a  good  grade  of  various 
stock.  For  a  time  'Siv.  Proctor  li\ed  in  Madsion  county,  Iowa,  where  he 
married,  but  returned  to  his  native  community  and  resumed  farming  here. 

Politically  he  is  a  Democrat,  and  he  is  a  member  of  the  Christian  church 
at  Fillinore.  Fraterna!l\-  he  belongs  to  the  Free  and  Accepted  Masons, 
Lodge  Xo.  55.  also  of  the  Knights  Templar,  being  at  present  treasurer 
of  the  latter,  of  which  he  has  held  all  the  offices  in  the  local  organization. 
He  has  long  taken  a  deep  interest  in  lodge  work  and  his  daily  life  would 
indicate  that  he  I)elie^■es  in  carrying  the  humanitarian  and  altruistic  prin- 
ciples which  the}'  seek  to  inculcate,  into  his  every-day  affairs. 

Mr.  Proctor's  paternal  grandfather,  Joel  Proctor,  was  born  in  Maine, 
and  came  to  Ohio  about  1820.  He  settled  in  Butler  county,  where  he  reared 
his  family  and  where  he  died.  He  entered  the  war  of  1812  in  Maine  and 
served  through  that  war  with  distinction  and  honor.  Politically  a  Whig,  he 
never  aspired  to  office  nor  public  notoriety.  Fie  was  well  known  and  highly 
respected,  his  honor  and  integrity  being  a])o\e  reproach.  His  children  were 
W.  .-\..  father  of  the  subject,  born  January  23.  1823:  Isaiah:  Eliza- 
beth died  single:  Enoch,  Jeremiah.  Matilda,  Mrs.  Thomas  Hay  ward ; 
Michael  was  killed  in  the  Ci\il  war.  .-Ml  of  these  seven  came  to 
Indiana  and  though  the\-  were  in  limited  means,  all  accumulated  large  es- 
tates. William  .\.  and  wife  were  worthy  members  of  the  Christian  church, 
he  being  also  a  worth}-  member  of  the  Alasonic  fraternity.  William  A. 
Proctor  married  Mar}-  .\.  J.  Burch.  who  was  born  in  Franklin  county.  In- 
diana, December  15,  1824.,  a  daughter  of  \\"illiam  and  Sarah  (McXutt) 
Burch.  These  parents  were  married  in  Virginia  in  an  early  da}-.  The  Mc- 
X'utt  family  came  from  Ireland  and  the  Burch  family  from  England.  Thev 
can-ie  to  Ohio  and  came  to  Indiana  about  1812,  settling  in  Franklin  county, 
where  Indians  and  wild  beasts  roamed  at  will.  He  improved  a  farm  from 
land  he  entered  in  1812  and  the  farm  is  yet  in  the  Burch  family.  Both  he 
and  his  wife  died  at  the  old  Burch  homestead  in  Infliana.  Their  children 
w-ere,  ^klargaret,  ^Irs.  Edwin  Barusley :  Charles:  Martha,  Mrs.  L.  Thurston: 
Sarah.  Mrs.  Robert  Xoah :  John  .\.  J.:  Mary  A.  J.,  mother  of  the  sub- 
ject. Born  to  William  Proctor  were:  George,  a  fan-ner  of  Iowa:  John,  who 
died  in  infancy:  Sarah.  Mrs.  Joseph  Scott,  first,  and  second  Lewis  Zeigler: 
Mary.  Mrs.  Joseph  Ogle:  William  B.,  of  Indianapolis:  E.  J.  I.,  the  subject, 
and  Matilda,  who  died  vouns:. 


548 


WEIK  S    HISTORY   OF 


IVAN  HUFFMAN. 


Conspicuous  among  the  enterprising  farmers  and  stock  raisers  of  Put- 
nam county  is  the  gentleman  whose  name  introduces  this  sketch,  a  man 
whose  life-long  residence  in  the  township  honored  by  his  citizenship  and  his 
success  in  the  vocation  to  which  his  energies  have  been  devoted  have  gained 
for  him  a  prominent  place  in  the  ranks  of  those  to  whom  Indiana  is  so  deeply 
indebted  for  her  honorable  position  among  her  sister  states  of  the  Union. 
Ivan  Huffman  belongs  to  one  of  the  old  and  respected  families  of  Putnam 
county,  being  the  fourth  son  and  the  sixth  child  of  Edmund  and  Louisa  A. 
(Rightsell)  Huffman,  who  were  among  the  early  pioneers  of  Washington 
township  and  a  notice  of  whom  appears  elsewhere  in  this  work. 

On  the  old  family  homestead  in  the  above  township,  where  his  brother 
Jack  Huffman  now  lives,  the  subject  of  this  review  first  saw  the  light  of 
day,  the  event  having  occurred  on  July  31,  1859.  In  common  with  the 
majority  of  country  lads,  his  early  experiences  amid  the  bracing  airs  and 
healthful  exercises  of  outdoor  life  were  conducive  to  sound  and  symmetri- 
cal phvsical  development  and  he  grew  up  strong  in  body  and  able  while  still 
a  vouth  to  bear  his  proportionate  share  of  the  labor  of  the  farm.  Reared 
under  excellent  home-training,  he  contracted  good  habits  and  his  life  was 
exemplary  and,  like  a  dutiful  son.  he  assisted  his  father  in  the  cultivation 
of  the  farm  until  his  twenty-second  year  when  he  took  to  himself  a  wife  and 
helpmate  and  began  making  his  own  way  in  the  world.  The  young  lady 
who  agreed  to  share  his  labors  and  his  fortunes  and  to  whom  he  was  united 
in  the  holy  bonds  of  matrimony  in  1881.  was  ^lary,  daughter  of  Michael 
Baumunk,  a  native  of  Owen  county,  and  twenty  years  old  at  the  time  of  be- 
coming the  subject's  wife. 

Immediatelv  after  his  marriage  ^Ir.  Huft'man  moved  to  the  farm  on 
which  he  still  lives  and  which  with  certain  other  lands  fell  to  him  upon  the 
division  of  his  father's  property  in  1896.  The  place  is  locally  known  as  the 
Athev  farm  from  the  fact  of  its  having  been  entered  by  James  Athey,  grand- 
father of  Lawrence  Athey,  the  present  recorder  of  Putnam  county,  the 
patent,  which  was  issued  in  October,  1825,  bearing  the  signature  of  John 
Ouincv  Adams,  at  the  time  President  of  the  United  States.  The  locality 
is  not  onlv  the  scene  of  one  of  the  earliest  settlements  in  the  county,  but  is 
interesting  from  a  historical  point  of  view  as  well,  the  first  court  after  the 
countv  organization  went  into  effect  having  been  held  in  an  old  sheep-shed 


PUTNAM    COUNTY,   INDIANA. 


549 


on  the  Athey   farm  which  had  been  cleared  out  and  fitted  up  for  the  pur- 
pose. 

From  his  marriage  until  the  division  of  the  estate,  as  noted  above,  IMr. 
Huffman  managed  the  fami  for  his  father,  but  since  that  time  he  has  car- 
ried on  agriculture  and  stock  raising  for  himself  and  with  such  success  and 
profit  that  he  is  today  one  of  the  leading  men  of  his  vocation  in  the  township. 
Originally  he  received  as  his  share  two  hundred  acres  of  the  above  place  and 
an  additional  hundred  acres  of  land  on  the  opposite  side  of  the  river.  Later 
he  sold  forty  acres  of  the  home  farm. 

The  residence  which  the  family  now  occupy  was  erected  by  a  former 
owner  of  the  farm,  hut  about  five  years  ago  Mr.  Huffman  rebuilt  and  re- 
modeled the  edifice,  furnishing  it  with  all  the  modern  improvements  and 
converting  it  into  one  of  the  most  beautiful  and  attractive  rural  homes  in 
the  county.  Standing  on  an  imposing  eminence  about  eighty  feet  above  the 
bottom  land  skirting  the  river,  the  building  is  a  noticeable  structure  and 
from  it  one  can  obtain  a  view  of  the  surrounding  country  for  many  miles. 
Nothing  has  been  spared  in  making  it  a  comfortable  and  first-class  home 
in  every  respect.  Air.  Huffman  raises  a  great  deal  of  corn  which  he  feeds 
to  his  livestock,  and  his  high-grade  cattle,  hogs  and  horses  are  among  the 
finest  and  most  valuable  in  this  part  of  the  state.  From  the  sale  of  his  do- 
mestic animals  he  derives  the  large  share  of  his  income  which  for  a  number 
of  years  has  been  quite  liberal  and,  as  stated  in  the  preceding  paragraph,  he 
is  fortunately  situated,  being  independent  financially  and  among  the  sub- 
stantial men  and  progressive  citizens  of  the  township  in  which  he  has  alwavs 
lived.  Mr.  Huffman  takes  little  interest  in  political  matters,  although  well 
informed  on  public  questions  and  ever  ready  to  give  his  support  and  influence 
to  enterprises  having  for  their  object  the  welfare  of  his  fellow-  men.  He 
stands  high  in  the  Afasonic  order,  belonging  to  the  blue  lodge  at  Knights ville, 
and  the  chapter  and  commandery  at  Greencastle. 

Mr.  and  Mrs.  Huft'man  are  the  parents  of  three  children,  the  oldest  being 
Roscoe.  who  married  Beulah  Pallom  and  lives  in  the  township  of  Washing- 
ton;  he  is  a  farmer  by  occupation  and  a  member  of  the  Masonic  fraternity; 
they  are  the  parents  of  one  son,  Lawrence  Edmund.  Glem  G..  the  second 
of  the  family,  married  Jessie  Ozment  and  they  have  one  child,  Dorothy;  he 
is  interested  with  his  father  in  agriculture  and  stock  raising  and  lives  on  the 
home  farm.  Lois  Clara,  the  youngest  of  the  family,  is  a  graduate  of  the 
public  schools  and  li\es  at  home  assisting  her  mother  with  the  duties  of  the 
household. 


550  WEIK  S   HISTORY   OF 


JESSE  M.  JONES. 

The  hard  and  confining  toil  of  the  farm  is  greatly  relieved  by  varying 
it  with  stock  raising.  The  growth  of  the  cities  has  been  so  great — in  other 
words,  the  growth  of  the  nonproducers  has  been  so  great — that  the  prod- 
ucts of  the  farm  command  a  much  higher  price  than  ever  before.  This  is 
notablv  so  with  livestock.  The  farmer  now  makes  most  any  grade  of  live- 
stock raising  pay  him  for  his  labor.  His  work  then  will  consist,  in  part,  in 
growing  hay  and  corn  for  his  animals  and  in  marketing  the  latter.  Orchard 
and  garden  products  may  be  grown  as  side  ventures,  and  many  other  prod- 
ucts may  be  raised  for  the  prices  they  will  bring.  Among  the  progressive 
agriculturists  and  stock  men  of  Putnam  county,  who  have  made  an  intelli- 
gent studv  of  these  lines  with  the  best  results  in  view  and  have  concluded 
that  greater  profits  can  be  made  in  the  careful  raising  of  good  grades  of 
stock  than  in  anything  else  to  which  the  farmer  can  turn  his  attention,  is 
Jesse  M.  Jones,  who  owns  a  valuable  landed  estate  in  Monroe  township. 
His  birth  occurred  on  October  17.  1863,  in  the  locality  where  he  has  spent 
his  life.  He  is  the  son  of  Hiram  and  Hannah  (McCorkle)  Jones.  Grand- 
father Jones  came  to  Putnam  county  in  1840.  from  Kentucky,  where  he  was 
born,  and  he  spent  his  remaining  years  in  this  county.  His  son.  Hiram, 
grew  up  on  the  fann  here  and  spent  his  life  in  farm  work,  dying  February 
15,  1870,  when  his  son,  Jesse  M..  of  this  review,  was  a  small  boy.  Jesse  M. 
Jones,  who  was  the  only  child  of  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Hiram  Jones,  spent  his 
youth  with  his  grandfather.  Mathew  S.  McCorkle.  and  he  is  at  present  living 
on  the  farm  which  was  entered  by  Mr.  McCorkle,  who  was  a  nati\-e  of 
Fleming  county,  Kentucky,  and  who  was  one  of  the  first  settlers  in  Putnam 
county.  When  he  came  here  he  had  the  sum  of  one  hundred  dollars  which 
enabled  him  to  enter  eighty  acres  of  land  from  the  government. 

Jesse  M.  Jones  had  the  advantages  of  the  usual  common  school  edu- 
cation, gained  at  intervals  with  farming  on  the  home  place.  On  December 
II.  1884,  he  married  May  Allen,  born  in  Putnam  county.  June  2.  1866.  the 
daughter  of  Robert  and  Mary  E.  (Slavens)  Allen,  whose  maternal  grand- 
father, Dr.  John  Slavens,  was  bom  in  Montgomer\-  county,  Kentucky,  March 
I,  i8ri.  He  came  to  Putnam  county.  Indiana,  in  1826.  and  was  one  of  the 
earlv  physicians  here,  known  throughout  the  country. 

Three  children  have  been  born  to  'Sir.  and  ]\[rs.  Jones,  named  as  fol- 
lows:  Edna  Zella.  born  October  i.  1885:  Glenn  S..  born  February  9.  1887: 
Lucius  Chapin.  born  June  -'5.  1889. 


PUTXAM    COUXTY,   IXDIAXA.  55I 

^[r.  Jones  began  life  in  a  rather  humble  manner,  but  he  was  always 
inclined  to  hard  work :  this,  in  connection  with  good  management,  soon 
ga\'e  him  a  good  foothold  and  he  rapidly  accumulated  property  until  now  he 
is  the  owner  of  one  of  the  best  and  most  \aluable  fanns  of  Monroe  town- 
ship, consisting  of  three  hundred  acres,  which  he  tills  in  such  an  adroit  man- 
ner as  t(i  make  it  yield  a  handsome  income  from  year  to  year,  but  the  chief 
occupation  of  Mr.  Jones  is  in  stock  raising,  at  which  he  is  regarded  by  all 
as  being  \ery  atlej)!  and  on  his  place  some  fine  specimens  of  all  kinds  of 
stock  are  to  be  found  at  all  sea.sons;  he  feeds  the  products  of  his  place  very 
largelv  to  his  stock,  preparing  them  for  market  where  they  seldom  fail  to 
bring  fancy  prices.  He  recently  sold  seventy- four  head  of  hogs  at  eight 
dollars  and  eighty  cents  per  hundred,  or  a  total  of  one  thousand  five  hundred 
fortv-six  dollars  and  nine  cents,  which  is  considered  a  record  for  the  county, 
in  which  he  is  regarded  by  everyone  as  one  of  the  leading  and  progressive 
stock   raisers. 

Politicallv  he  is  a  Republican — indeed,  there  never  was  a  Democrat  in 
his  familv.  He  has  a  neat  and  attractively  located  home  and  everything 
about  his  place  shows  thrift  and  prosperity  and  that  a  gentleman  of  excel- 
lent taste  and   foresight  has  its  management  in  hand. 


J.XCOB  HUFFM.VX.  Jr. 

The  subject  oi  biogra])hy  yields  to  no  other  in  jjoint  of  interest  and 
{jrofit.  It  tells  of  the  success  and  defeats  of  men.  the  difficulties  they  have 
encountered,  and  gives  an  insight  into  the  methods  and  plans  which  they 
have  pursued.  The  obvious  lessons  therein  taught  will  prove  of  great  bene- 
fit if  followed,  and  the  example  of  the  self-made  man  should  certainly  en- 
courage others  into  whose  cradle  smiling  fortune  has  cast  no  glittering 
crown  to  press  forward  to  nobler  aims  and  higher  ideals.  A  man  who 
]M-()fited  liy  the  worthy  example  of  father  and  grandfather,  both  shining 
examples  of  the  noble  self-made  American,  is  Jacob  Huffman,  an  enterpris- 
ing young  farmer,  living  near  Bainbridge.  Putnam  county,  where  he  is  well 
established  on  paternal  acres  and  where  he  is  carrying  on  the  various  phases 
of  agricultural  work  in  a  manner  that  would  do  credit  to  the  veteran  farmer 
who  had  studied  the  condition  of  climate,  soils,  seed-time  and  harvest  for  a 
much  longer  period  than  has  he. 

Mr.  Huffman  is  a  native  of  Putnam  county,  born  Januaiy  28.  1880, 
the  son  of  Jacob  and  Sarah  Ellen  (  Stadler )   Huffman,  one  of  the  best  known 


552  WEIK  S   HISTORY   OF 

of  the  old  pioneer  families  of  this  conmiunity.  a  complete  record  of  which 
is  to  be  found  elsewhere  in  this  volume,  hence  will  not  be  duplicated  here, 
except  to  mention  their  children,  as  follows;  Mary,  ATrs.  E.  J.  I.  Proctor; 
Charles,  of  Greencastle;  Allen,  of  Greencastle ;  John,  a  farmer;  Meriam, 
of  Los  Angeles,  California;  Alice,  ]\Irs.  T.  I.  McKeehan;  Minnie.  Mrs,  G. 
O.  Gorham,  of  Portland,  Oregon;  Ida,  !Mrs.  Jeff  Bugg,  and  Jacob,  the  sub- 
ject of  this  sketch, 

Jacob  Huffman  spent  his  boyhood  days  much  like  other  lads  born  on 
the  fami— working  during  the  crop  seasons  as  soon  as  he  was  old  enough 
and  attending  the  district  schools  during  the  winter  months,  until  he  had 
accjuired  a  very-  serviceable  education.  He  took  quite  naturallv  to  fanning 
and  stock  raising  and  decided  to  devote  his  life  energies  to  this  line  of  en- 
deavor, and,  although  yet  quite  a  young  man,  he  has  succeeded  remarkably 
well  and  the  future  will  no  doubt  amply  reward  such  painstaking  and  per- 
sistent efforts  as  he  is  now  putting  forth.  He  is  very  comfortably  situated 
on  his  father's  old  homestead  of  one  hundred  and  fifty-seven  acres,  where  he 
is  carrying  on  general  farming  and  where  he  has  so  labored  as  to  now 
have  a  well-improved  and  well-kept  place  that  is  on  a  par  with  any  in  the 
community.  He  has  a  neat  and  comfortable  dwelling  and  his  place  is  well 
stocked. 

Mr.  Huffman  was  married  on  October  17,  1900,  to  Lizzie  Pearl  Chadd. 
a  young  woman  of  splendid  tastes,  the  daughter  of  Thomas  and  Amanda 
(Browning)  Chadd.  a  well  known  family  of  Putnam  county.  This  union  has 
resulted  in  the  birth  of  one  winsome  daughter.  Hertha  Huffman,  born  No- 
^■ember  13,  1904.  The  Chadd  family  was  early  and  prominentlv  identified 
with  the  development  of  the  farming  interests  of  Putnam  countv.  and  Mrs. 
Huff'man's  parents  yet  reside  on  a  fami  four  miles  east  of  Greencastle.  Their 
children  are.  Samuel  and  Otho.  of  Greencastle;  Alva  and  Orphus.  farmers; 
Lydia,  unmarried:  Elizabeth  P.,  wife  of  the  subject.  The  subject's  paternal 
grandfather.  Jacob  Huft'man.  was  a  native  of  Xew  England,  and.  starting 
out  on  his  own  account,  drifted  into  Kentucky,  where  he  married  Catherine 
Sellers,  a  native  of  \'irginia.  In  1829  he  came  to  Putnam  count\-  and  en- 
tered the  land  where  the  subject  now  resides :  here  he  reared  his  family 
and  he  and  his  good  wife  died  here. 

^[r.  Huffman  is  a  Democrat  in  his  political  relations,  but  he  has  ne\er 
sought  or  held  public  office.  He  is  justly  proud  of  the  fact  that  three  gen- 
erations of  the  Huffman  family  have  lived  on  the  land  he  now  owns.  He 
is  a  young  man  of  excellent  character  and  is  well  liked  among  his  neighbors. 
Both  he  and  his  wife  are  members  of  the  Christian  church  at  Fillmore. 


PUTXAM    COUXTV,   IXDIAXA.  553 


JACOB  HUFFAIAX,  Sr. 

In  all  the  relations  of  life  Jacob  Huffman.  Sr.,  who  has  long  since 
passed  to  his  reward  in  the  great  beyond,  proved  himself  equal  to  the  re- 
sponsibihties  which  were  thrown  upon  him  and  because  of  his  many  sterling 
qualities  he  won  the  regard  of  the  entire  community  in  which  he  so  long 
lived  in  Putnam  county.  His  career  was  one  of  unceasing  activity  and  it 
presented  much  that  is  pleasing  as  well  as  profitable  to  the  young  man  just 
starting  out  in  life. 

Mr.  Huffman  was  bom  in  Harrison  county,  Kentucky,  March  21,  1824, 
the  son  of  Jacob  and  Catherine  (Sellers)  Huffman,  the  former  a  native  of 
New  England  and  the  latter  of  Virginia.  Catherine,  born  July  17,  1792.  died 
Februaiy  24.  1879.  Their  children  were.  Polly,  Mrs.  William  Coffman; 
F.sther,  Mrs.  Stephen  Ross:  John:  Susanna.  Mrs.  James  Berg:  Elizabeth, 
who  died  unmarried;  Jacob:  Sarelda.  Mrs.  Michael  Smith:  Hiram.  When 
a  small  boy  he  came  with  his  father.  Jacob  Huffman,  in  1829  to  Putnam 
county.  Indiana,  and  was  thus  one  of  the  early  pioneers  here.  The  elder 
Huffman  entered  land  in  section  36.  Monroe  township,  from  the  government, 
which  is  still  in  the  possession  of  his  descendants  and  has  been  so  skill- 
fullv  tilled  by  each  succeeding  member  of  the  family  that  the  land  has  in 
no  way  lost  its  original  strength  and  fertility.  Here,  in  the  forest,  which 
up  to  the  coming  of  the  Huffmans  had  scarcely  heard  the  ring  of  a  wood- 
man's ax.  the  elder  Huffman  began  clearing  a  spot  for  his  cabin  and  started 
life  anew,  soon  having  a  comfortable  home,  but  not  without  the  hardest 
toil.  His  son  Jacob  assisted  him  as  soon  as  he  was  old  enough,  and  for  a 
short  time  during  the  winter  months  he  attended  the  little  log  schoolhouse 
in  that  neighborhood,  receiving  a  meager  text-book  training.  He  grew  to 
be  a  hardy  man,  unusually  strong  physically,  standing  six  feet  and  weighing 
two  hundred  pounds.  He  was,  of  course,  a  very  hard  worker  and  never 
stopped  for  obstacles,  and  he  became  very  well-to-do  as  a  result  of  his  close 
attention  to  fanning,  owning  at  tlie  time  of  his  death  several  hundred 
acres  of  good  land,  and  having  owned  at  one  time  about  fourteen  hundred 
acres. 

Politically  he  was  a  Democrat,  but  never  sought  office,  and  in  religious 
matters  he  was  a  Primitive  Baptist  in  belief,  but  not  a  member  of  any 
church.  He  was  regarded  by  all  as  a  good,  honest,  kind-hearted  man,  of 
whom  no  one  could  say  any  harm,  his  integrity  and  honor  jjeing  above  re- 
proach.    Jacob  Huffman  married   Sarah   Ellen    Stadler,    the    daughter    of 


554 


WEIK  S    HISTORY   OF 


Marshall  W.  and  Elizabeth  (Ross)  Stadler,  natives  of  Kentucky,  the  former 
born  July  2S.  1805.  Her  father  was  a  pioneer  herb  doctor  in  Indiana  and 
a  prominent  farmer,  and  his  children  were:  Mary  A.,  Margaret  E.,  Susanna 
E.,  Sarah  Ellen,  Xancy  J.,  Martha  B.,  Armelda  A.  and  James  F.  In  this 
countv  Sarah  Ellen  Stadler  grew  up  and  was  educated,  like  her  husband,  in 
ti.e  earlv  schools  of  her  neighborhood.  The  following  children  were  born 
to  them:  Marv,  Jane,  Charles.  Allen,  John.  Meriani.  Alice.  Minnie.  Ida. 
Jacob,  all  living  in  Putnam  county  with  the  exception  of  Meriam  and  Minnie. 
the  former  being  in  California  and  the  latter  in  Oregon. 

Mr.  Huffman's  death  occurred  on  November  2,  1905,  having  passed 
his  fourscore  milestones,  and  was  hale  and  hearty  even  during  the  last 
Years  of  his  life. 


WILLIAM  WOOD. 


One  of  Putnam  county's  hardy  pioneers  who  has  long  since  joined  "the 
innumerable  caravan  that  moves  to  the  pale  realms  of  shade,"  but  who  left 
a  rich  inheritance  behind  him,  not  so  much  in  worldly  goods  but  in  the 
remembrance  of  good  deeds  and  a  clean  life,  was  William  Wood,  who  was 
born  in  Botetourt  county.  'Virginia,  in  1780,  where  he  grew  to  maturity  and 

married  Sarah  ,  and  it  was  in  1828  that  they  emigrated  to  Putnam 

county,  Indiana,  locating  near  the  present  Brick  Chapel.  Monroe  town- 
ship, having  made  the  long  trip  overland  on  horseback,  bringing  their  first 
born  four  children.  Entering  land  here,  they  began  life  in  true  pioneer 
fashion,  spending  the  balance  of  their  lives  on  this  farm,  ^Ir.  Wood  dying 
in  1843  and  Mrs.  Wood  in  1846.  They  were  Methodists  and  members  of 
the  first  class  organization  of  this  denomination  that  met  at  Brick  Chapel, 
and  they  are  buried  in  the  cemetery  there.  Their  family  consisted  of  seven 
children,  named  as  follows :  Susan  married  Edward  Rogers  and  lived  near 
Bainbridge  until  he  died :  she  died  in  this  county  when  past  eighty  years 
of  age:  \\'illiam  C. :  Sarah  married  Willis  Carter  and  lived  near  Rochester, 
Indiana,  both  dving  at  advanced  ages:  Polly,  Mrs.  Sam  Parker,  resided  in 
Fulton  countv.  Indiana,  and  is  buried  there:  Willis  Wood  died  unmarried: 
Nelson  Wood  married  first.  Millie  Vermillion  and  second.  Catherine 
Leatherman  :  he  had  f(nu-  children:  she  later  married  Mr.  Rundel :  Xancy 
Ann  married  William  McCray  and  they  both  died  in  Monroe  township,  the 
latter  in  1909.  at  the  advanced  age  of  ninety-two  years;  Dolph  Wood  lived  in 
this  county,  married  Rachael  Leathennan.  si.ster  of  Catherine,  aufl  lived  and 
died  in  Madison  township  when  past  seventy  years  of  age. 


PUTNAM    COUNTY,   INDIANA.  555 

William  Wood  was  born  July  22.  iSii.  in  Botetourt  county,  X'irginia, 
and  died  August  7,  1861.  He  married  Lucinda  Stark,  who  was  born  March 
30.  1823.  and  who  died  ^[ay  11,  1885,  February  14,  1839.  being  celebrated 
as  their  wedding  dav.  She  was  the  daughter  of  Thomas  and  Gatie  Stark, 
and  she  was  born  in  Bourbon  county,  Kentucky,  and  when  a  child  came 
to  Indiana,  Keating  near  the  Brick  Chapel  in  INlonroe  township.  Thomas 
Stark  was  born  October  2Q,  1791,  and  died  May  3,  1S59.  Under  the  old 
state  militia  order.  Governor  Combs  appointed  William  \\'ood  second  lieu- 
tenant of  a  company  in  Col.  James  Fish's  regiment.  Mrs.  William  Wood 
spent  her  life  in  Clinton  township  on  the  farm  of  which  the  present  Nelson 
place  is  a  part.  He  owned  one  hundred  and  si.xty-nine  acres  and  built  a  good 
house  near  a  fine  spring  and  there  William  Wood  lived  and  died,  being 
fairly  successful  as  a  farmer:  his  death  occurred  .August  7,  1861,  being  sur- 
vived by  his  wife  until  May  11,  1885.  They  were  Methodists  and  are  both 
buried  in  the  cemetery-  at  Brick  Chapel  in  the  same  lot  as  their  parents  on 
both  sides. 

Twelve  children  were  born  to  Mr.  ami  Mrs.  William  Wood,  ten  of 
whom  reached  maturity,  namely:  Sarah  A.  lives  with  Xelson  Wood:  .Arthur 
lives  in  Champaign,  Illinois:  Xelson,  whose  sketch  appears  in  another  page 
of  this  work:  Mary  married  Richard  Fisk  and  lives  in  \\'ilson  county, 
Kansas:  Jane  married  Aliller  Wilson  and  both  died  in  Indianapolis:  Andrew 
was  killed  when  eighteen  years  of  age  by  the  accidental  discharge  of  a  gun; 
Hayden  lives  in  Clinton  township:  Xancy  Ann  is  the  wife  of  William  Shonk- 
wiler,  of  Benton  county,  Indiana:  Susan  G.  married  Harvey  McDonald  and 
died  when  a  young  woman:  William  C.  died  when  sixteen  years  of  age; 
Benjamin  F.  died  in  childhood:  Lucinda  also  died  in  childhood. 

It  is  a  fact  worth  recording  that  in  1852  William  Wood,  then  town- 
ship supervisor  and  working  the  road  on  the  township  line  between  Monroe 
and  Clinton  townships  when  ex-county  commissioner,  Elisha  Cowgill  passed 
and  suggested  that  Mr.  \\'ood  name  the  hill  or  the  creek  and  that  he  would 
name  the  other,  giving  Mr,  Wood  his  choice,  and  the  latter  gave  the  name 
of  Big  Owl  to  the  creek,  which  it  still  bears.  Mr.  Cowgill  named  the  place 
Bunker  hill.  William  Wood  was  a  Whig  and  later  a  Republican,  being  well 
posted  on  all  public  affairs,  but  would  not  accept  office.  He  was  a  worthy 
Methodist,  also  a  worthy  member  of  the  Masonic  fraternity.  He  was 
charitable  to  the  afflicted  and  needy,  a  good  neighbor  and  friend.  He  was 
widely  known  and  highlv  respected,  his  integrity  and  honor  being  above 
reproach.  He  was  noted  for  his  kindness  in  sickness  and  went  far  and  near 
to  wait  on  the  afflicted. 


556  weik's  history  of 


NELSON  FRANKLIN  WOOD. 

One  of  the  progressive  and  substantial  farmers  and  stock  raisers  of 
Clinton  township  who  has  long  endeavored  to  promote  the  general  welfare 
of  the  community  while  advancing  his  own  interests  is  Nelson  Franklin 
Wood,  who  was  born  in  Monroe  township,  this  county,  April  23.  1843.  and 
when  an  infant  he  was  brought  to  the  place  where  he  now  resides.  A  full 
.sketch  of  his  parents  will  be  found  on  another  page  of  this  work.  He  re- 
mained at  home  until  he  felt  the  stirrings  of  patriotic  pride  which  promoted 
him  to  offer  his  services  in  defense  of  the  national  honor,  and  enlisted  in  the 
spring  of  1863  in  Company  F,  One  Hundred  and  Twenty-third  Regiment, 
Indiana  Volunteer  Infantry,  and  he  served  in  a  very  creditable  and  gallant 
manner,  enduring  all  the  vicissitudes  of  his  company  through  many  strenu- 
ous campaigns,  and  was  discharged  with  his  regiment  in  1865,  having  been 
retained  at  Charlotte,  North  Carolina,  for  some  time;  even  while  in  the  army 
he  was  his  mother's  main  support  and  he  always  took  a  delight  in  ministering 
to  her  every  want. 

Mr.  Wood  married,  on  September  5,  1866,  Amanda  L.  Hinkle,  widow 
of  William  ^vlorrison,  and  whose  parents  lived  in  Montgomery  county,  but 
she  was  born  at  Ladoga,  Indiana.  Her  father  came  here  from  Botetourt 
county,  \'irginia.  Mrs.  Wood  was  sixteen  years  old  at  her  first  marriage 
and  twentv-three  at  her  second.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Wood  lived  the  first  year  at 
the  former's  home.  He  erected  his  present  dwelling  about  that  time  and  has 
since  conducted  the  home  farm,  he  having  bought  out  all  the  other  heirs 
and  he  has  so  skillfully  tilled  the  place  that  it  is  just  as  productive  as  in  the 
days  when  his  father  first  began  to  till  it.  He  has  added  many  modern  im- 
provements and  has  an  excellent  farm.  He  keeps  some  good  stock  and 
poultry. 

One  son  was  born  to  ^fr.  and  Mrs.  \\'ood,  William  D..  who  died  when 
twenty  years  of  age.  being  a  young  man  of  much  promise.  An  invalid  sis- 
ter of  the  subject  has  made  her  home  with  him  for  years.  He  also  con- 
tinued to  care  for  his  mother  during  her  lifetime.  He  has  served  in  several 
township  offices  and  both  he  and  his  wife  are  members  of  the  Methodist 
church,  having  been  among  the  familiar  faces  at  the  L^nion  Chapel  for 
fortv  \-ears,  and  thev  are  regarded  as  among  the  leaders  in  the  congregation 
there.  Mr.  Wood  is  a  trustee  of  this  church  and  a  class  leader  in  the 
same.  Fraternallv  he  is  a  Mason,  having  been  identified  for  some  time  with 
Morton   Lodge.   No.   469:  the  chapter  and  the  commandery  at   Greencastle 


PUTNAM   COUNTY,   INDIANA.  557 

also  have  the  honor  of  his  membership.  He  belongs  to  the  local  post  of 
the  Grand  Armv  of  the  Republic.  He  is  a  man  in  whom  ever>-one  reposes 
the  utmost  confidence  and  he  has  numerous  warm  friends  throughout  the 
countv. 


ALVIX  B.  HANKS. 


Earnest  labor,  unabating  perseverance,  good  management  and  a  laud- 
able ambition  to  succeed— these  are  the  elements  that  have  brought  Alvin 
B.  Hanks  prosperitv  and  won  for  him  the  good  will  and  respect  of  all  with 
whom  he  has  come'  in  contact.  A  native  of  Putnam  county,  where  he  first 
saw  the  light  of  day  on  December  25,  185 1,  he  has  spent  the  major  part  of 
his  life  in  his  native  locality  and  is.  therefore,  well  known  here.  His  par- 
ents were  Stephen  E.  and  Eliza  M.  (Ketchins)  Hanks,  the  former  born 
August  29,  1813,  and  died  May  i,  1883;  the  mother  was  born  December 
11.^1811,  and  died  April  7,  1896.  They  were  for  many  years  num- 
bered among  the  well-known  and  highly  respected  residents  of  Putnam 
countv,  Indiana,  where  they  resided  from  the  fall  of  185 1,  when  the  father 
bought  a  tract  of  land,  which,  however,  he  did  not  enter  upon  until  the 
spring  of  18^2.  Stephen  Hanks  was  a  stanch  Democrat  in  his  political 
views"  and.  though  he  never  sought  public  office  for  himself,  he  took  an  in- 
telligent interest  in  current  public  affairs.  He  also  took  considerable  mterest 
in  church  work  as  a  member  of  the  Christian  church,  and  at  his  death  he 
was  buried  in  the  Brick  Chapel  cemeter>-.  The  Hanks  family  to  which  he 
belonged    was    closely   related   to    Xancy    Hanks,   the   mother   of   Abraham 

Lincoln. 

Alvin  B.  Hanks  was  born  but  a  few  months  after  the  arrival  of  his 
parents  in  Putnam  county,  and  he  is  the  third  in  order  of  birth  of  the  three 
children  which  now  survive  out  of  a  family  .of  nine  born  to  his  parents,  the 
other  survivors  being  Mrs.  Olivia  Priest,  of  this  county,  and  John.  Alvin  B. 
Hanks  received  his  education  in  the  common  schools,  having  attended  at  the 
Locust  Grove  school  house  and  he  early  took  an  active  part  in  the  opera- 
tion of  the  home  farm.  He  has  all  his  life  devoted  his  chief  attention  to 
the  time-honored  occupation  of  husbandry  and  in  this  line  of  effort  he  has 
achieved  a  definite  success.  He  is  the  owner  of  a  splendid  farm,  comprising 
one  hundred  and  seventy  acres  of  as  good  land  as  can  be  found  in  Afonroe 
township,  the  greater  part  of  which  is  in  cultivation.  He  carries  on  a  general 
line  of  fanning  and  also  devotes  some  attention  to  the  raising  of  livestock. 


558  weik's  history  of 

The  place  is  well  improved,  containing  a  comfortable  and  attractive  residence, 
commodious  barns  and  other  necessar\-  buildings,  the  general  appearance  of 
the  place  conveying  an  air  of  comfort  and  prosperity. 

On  December  24,  187J.  Mr.  Hanks  was  united  in  marriage  with  Helen 
Shumaker,  a  native  of  Floyd  township,  Putnam  county,  born  Xovember 
17,  1853,  and  this  union  has  been  blessed  with  four  children,  namely:  Aden 
B..  Pearl.  Belle  and  Eva.  Mrs.  Hanks  is  a  daughter  of  James  and  Eliza- 
beth (Howren)  Shumaker,  of  Ohio,  where  they  were  married  in  1834.  and 
two  children  were  born  to  them.  At  an  early  day  they  moved  to  Indiana 
and  settled  in  Floyd  township.  Putnam  county,  entering  land  and  improving 
a  farm.  Thev  remained  there  until  all  of  their  children  were  grown,  when 
they  sold  out  and  retired  to  Bainbridge.  Two  years  later  they  found  a  good 
home  here  with  their  daughter,  Mrs.  Hanks,  where  both  died,  he  on  August 
5.  1894.  and  she  on  February  4.  1897.  They  belonged  to  the  Bainbridge 
Christian  church.  He  was  a  Republican  and  filled  the  office  of  justice  of 
the  peace  a  number  of  years.  In  young  manhood  he  was  a  school  teacher. 
Their  children  were  Xewton.  Daniel,  Alvira  (Mrs.  King).  Henry,  Mary  J. 
(Mrs.  William  Herrod),  Lydia  (Mrs.  Winkinson),  Abner  died  young, 
Julia  (Airs.  Samuel  Walls),  Helen  (Mrs.  Hanks),  Monroe.  In  politics 
Mr.  Hanks  is  a  pronounced  Democrat  and  active  in  the  party  campaigns, 
though  the  only  public  ofifice  ever  held  by  him  was  that  of  truant  ofificer. 
Practical  and  progressive  in  his  farming  operations,  shrewd,  yet  absolutely 
honest  in  his  business  affairs,  courteous  to  his  acquaintances  and  of  a  strong 
social  disposition,  Mr.  Hanks  has  won  many  warm  friends  throughout  the 
community. 


WILLIA-M  DILLS. 


The  name  Dills  deserves  to.  rank  with  the  leading  families  of  Madison 
township,  for  ever  since  W^illiam  Dills  came  here  from  the  Buckeye  state 
he  has  been  a  leader  in  agricultural  affairs  and  has  taken  considerable  inter- 
est in  the  progress  of  the  county  in  general.  He  was  born  in  Shelby  county, 
Ohio.  August  19,  1840,  the  son  of  John  and  Agnes  (Moreland)  Dills.  In 
1845  '^he  family  moved  to  Putnam  county,  Indiana.  The  family  first  went 
from  Kentucky  to  Ohio,  making  their  long  journeys  through  rough  coun- 
tries in  old-fashioned  covered  wagons.  They  located  seven  miles  west 
of  Greencastle  on  the  state  road,  in  the  eastern  part  of  Madison  township. 
Soon  after  coming  here  the   father  died  leaving  a  widow  with   four  small 


PUTNAM    COUNTY,   INDIANA.  559 

children,  William,  of  this  review,  being  the  youngest;  Urasmus  D.,  born 
September  12,  1824.  died  in  early  life;  Martha  Jane,  born  December  13, 
182S,  died  Mav  5,  1833.  Two  other  children  were  also  sons,  so  the  mother 
kept  the  farm,  developed  it  as  best  she  could  until  the  children  were  large 
enough  to  work  it,  thus  keeping  the  family  together.  They  were  David  M., 
who  became  a  tanner  and  currier,  and  he  died  in  the  city  of  Cincinnati ; 
Caroline  has  remained  with  her  brother  William;  Watson  P.  married  and 
went  to  Iowa,  now  being  a  resident  of  Dallas  county.  The  mother,  after 
rearing  her  children  in  comfort  and  respectal^ilit}',  pr.ssed  to  her  rest  m 
1854.  when  fifty  years  of  age,  William  being  fourteen  years  of  age  at  that 
time.  He  was  then  compelled  to  care  for  himself,  consequently  he  received 
only  a  meager  schooling,  but  later  in  life  he  became  well  informed  by  general 
reading.  He  saved  his  wages  and  when  twenty-one  years  old  had  a  start 
and.  in  time,  he  added  more  land  to  the  home  place  and  gave  eveiy  evidence 
of  a  successful  future. 

When  twenty-four  years  of  age  ^Iv.  Dills  married  Serena  Wood, 
daughter  of  Xelson  and  Millie  Wood,  of  Madison  township,  she  being 
twentv-one  at  the  time  of  their  marriage.  Mr.  Dills  commenced  farming  on 
his  own  account  with  eighty  acres  of  land.  Continuing  to  prosper  he  added 
to  the  place  until  he  had  a  farm  of  about  three  hundred  acres.  Selling  out, 
he  purchased  a  fine  farm  on  the  Little  Walnut,  partly  bottom  land,  but  in  a 
few  vears  he  purchased  back  the  old  Dills  farm,  then  bought  the  Xelson 
Wood  farm  of  three  hundred  and  sixty  acres,  which  he  added  to  and  which 
he  still  owns.  About  twenty  years  ago  he  bought  his  present  well  improved 
farm  of.  two  hundred  acres,  having  been  formerly  owned  in  part  by  the 
widow  of  John  Tucker.  Mr.  Dills  has  rebuilt  the  dwelling  and  outbuildings 
and  in  many  ways  added  substantial  improvements,  and  in  connection  with 
this  farm  he  continued  to  operate  the  former  Wood  farm,  four  miles  distant. 
He  is  a  good  manager  of  crops  and  all  the  diversified  phases  of  agriculture, 
and  he  is  an  extensive  stock  raiser  and  dealer,  feeding  large  numbers  of 
hogs,  cattle  and  mules,  and  he  has  bred  some  good  shorthorn  and  Hereford 
cattle,  registered.  He  is  not  an  exhibitor,  but  breeds  up  his  own  stock, 
which  is  greatly  admired  by  all.  who  readily  concede  him  to  be  an  unusually 
good  judge  of  cattle.  He  has  paid  as  high  as  tifty-five  dollars  per  acre  for 
his  land  and  paid  thirty  dollars  for  most  of  it.  He  has  made  extensive  im- 
provements on  each  farm  he  has  owned,  laying  a  great  deal  of  tiling  and 
in  many  ways  bringing  his  farms  up  to  the  highest  standard.  He  is  a  firm 
believer  in  tiling.     He  has  a  verv  substantial,  attractive  and  well   furnished 


26o  weik's  history  of 

home  which  is  regarded  by  the  many  friends  of  the  family  as  a  place  of 
hospitality.  From  this  splendid  dwelling  an  inspiring  view  may  be  had  of 
the  surrounding  country. 

Mr.  Dills'  family  consists  of  four  children,  named  as  follows;  Otho  C, 
who  is  in  partnership  with  his  father;  Walter  S.,  who  is  farming  near 
Muskogee,  Oklahoma,  is  also  a  real  estate  and  sand  dealer;  Charles  E.  also 
lives  near  Muskogee,  Oklahoma;  Laura  M.  is  a  high  school  teacher  in  Bed- 
ford, Indiana,  a  special  and  accomplished  teacher  of  German,  having  gradu- 
ated from  DePauw  University,  and  her  first  teaching  was  German  in  the 
high  school;  when  not  in  the  regular  school  work  she  spends  her  time  at 
home.  The  mother  of  these  children,  a  woman  of  many  beautiful  traits  of 
character,  was  called  to  her  rest  on  March  29,  1909. 

Mr.  Dills  confines  himself  very  closely  to  his  business,  hence  his  abun- 
dant success:  ahhough  a  good  Democrat,  he  takes  no  part  in  public  life  and 
does  not  aspire  to  office ;  however,  he  is  ready  to  aid  in  placing  the  best  men 
in  the  local  offices  so  that  the  affairs  of  the  county  will  be  properly  managed 
at  all  times.  He  is  a  plain,  unassuming,  honest  and  industrious  farmer  and 
stock  man — one  of  Putnam's  honored  and  substantial  citizens. 


•  -    •  •         JACOB  C.  ROGERS. 

The  venerable  gentleman  whose  career  is  briefly  sketched  in  the  following 
lines  is  one  of  the  oldest  residents  of  Washington  township  now  living  and  his 
life  has  been  such  as  to  gain  the  confidence  and  good  will  of  the  people  of  his 
community  and  to  make  him  well  and  favorably  known  throughout  the  county 
of  which  he  has  so  long  been  an  honored  citizen.  In  the  highest  sense  of  the 
term  he  is  a  self-made  man  and  as  such  has  met  with  success  in  material  things 
such  as  few  attain  and  made  a  record  which  may  be  studied  with  profit  by  the 
young  men  of  the  rising  generation. 

Tacob  C.  Rogers  was  born  near  Portland  Mills,  Putnam  county,  Indiana, 
}ilarch  14,  1823,  from  which  date  to  the  present  time,  a  period  of  eighty- 
seven  years,  he  has  been  a  resident  of  the  county  and  actively  interested  in  its 
development  and  progress.  His  parents,  Asa  N.  Rogers  and  Polly  Crabtree, 
were  born  and  reared  in  Hardin  county,  Kentucky,  and  shortly  after  their 
marriage  came  to  Putnam  county,  Indiana,  locating  near  Portland  Alills  in 
what  is  now  Clinton  township,  where  Jacob  C,  their  oldest  son,  was  born  the 


MR.   AND  MRS.  JACOB  C.    ROGERS 


PL"TXAM    COUXTY,   INDIAXA.  56I 

year  following  their  arrival.  Subsequently  they  had  other  children,  sixteen 
in  all,  several  of  whom  died  in  infancy,  a  daughter,  Sarah,  dying  unmarried, 
all  the  others  excepting  the  subject  leaving  this  county  at  maturity  and  seek- 
ing their  fortunes  elsewhere. 

Asa  N.  Rogers  entered  the  land  on  which  they  settled  and  experienced  all 
the  vicissitudes  of  pioneer  life.  He  \\as  a  man  of  great  industry  and  energy 
and  an  excellent  citizen,  but  was  not  permitted  to  enjoy  much  of  the  fruits  of 
his  labors,  dying  one  month  and  four  days  after  the  sixty-fifth  anniversary  of 
his  birth,  his  good  wife  departing  this  life  the  same  year. 

Jacob  C.  Rogers  spent  his  childhood  and  youth  amid  the  stirring  scenes 
of  the  pioneer  period  and  was  put  to  work  in  the  woods  and  fields  as  soon  as 
his  services  could  be  utilized.  While  still  cjuite  young  he  became  an  expert 
with  the  ax  and  made  a  full  hand  at  clearing  and  all  kinds  of  farm  labor  sev- 
eral years  before  reaching  the  age  of  manhood.  This  active  out-door  life 
was  conducive  to  splendid  physical  development  anfl  he  grew  up  strong  in 
body  and  with  a  resolute  purpose  to  make  the  most  of  his  opportunities  and 
become  of  some  use  to  the  world.  When  nineteen  years  old  he  married  and 
begun  life  for  himself,  choosing  for  a  wife  and  helpmeet  ]^Iiss  Betsy  Legan, 
who  came  to  the  county  the  year  preceding  her  marriage  and  who  was  only  a 
few  days  younger  than  himself. 

The  land  in  Washington  township  on  which  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Rogers  set 
up  their  domestic  establishment  had  been  entered  a  number  of  years  before 
by  his  father,  and  at  the  time  indicated  the  only  improvements  consisted  of  a 
small  cabin,  which  with  the  few  acres  of  cleared  land  surrounding  appeared 
but  a  niche  in  the  midst  of  the  forest.  The  dwelling  was  of  round  logs,  with 
puncheon  floor,  a  "shake"  roof,  a  door  made  of  clap-boards  hung  on  wooden 
hinges,  light  being  admitted  to  the  one  room  by  means  of  the  removal  of  a 
section  of  a  log  from  one  of  the  walls.  The  furniture  used  by  the  young 
couple  was  of  the  most  primitive  kind,  in  keeping  with  the  surroundings,  their 
onh'  table  for  some  time  being  a  chest,  which  also  answered  for  a  cupboard, 
stools  taking  the  place  of  chairs  and  the  cooking  being  done  at  the  large  fire- 
place which  took  up  the  larger  part  of  one  side  of  the  apartment. 

Later  INlr.  Rogers  made  an  addition  to  the  building  and  otherwise  im- 
proved it  and  it  answered  the  purpose  of  a  dwelling  for  a  number  of  years, 
all  of  his  children  having  been  born  within  its  walls.  The  old  house  is  still 
standing  and  in  a  good  state  of  preservation,  being  a  forcible  and  eloquent 
reminder  of  a  time  forever  past  and  of  experiences  the  like  of  which  can  never 
again  occur. 
(36) 


56^ 


WEIK  S    HISTORY   OF 


When  Mr.  Rogers  moved  his  wife  to  their  new  home,  which  he  had 
purchased  from  his  father,  the  sum  total  of  his  available  cash  amounted  to 
only  two  dollars,  one-half  of  which  he  spent  for  flax  seed.  His  beginning  was 
indeetl  upon  a  modest  scale,  but  by  well-directed  industry,  prudent  management 
and  econoni}-  he  made  substantial  progress  and  in  due  time  had  a  good  farm  in 
successful  cultivation  and  was  on  the  high  road  to  prosperity.  He  added  to 
his  land  at  intervals  and  in  the  course  of  time  became  one  of  the  largest  holders 
of  real  estate  in  Putnam  county,  his  possessions  at  one  time  amounting  to 
considerable  in  excess  of  one  thousand  one  hundred  acres,  all  in  a  body  and 
admirablv  situated  in  one  of  the  richest  agricultural  districts  of  central  In- 
diana. 

Realizing  the  need  of  a  large  and  more  comfortable  home  than  the  log 
dwelling  which  the  family  had  so  long  occupied,  Mr.  Rogers  subsequently 
built  a  much  more  commodious  and  pretentious  frame  edifice  which  answered 
the  purposes  of  a  home  until  1890,  when  he  erected  his  present  beautiful  and 
attractive  residence,  which  stands  on  an  eminence  about  eight  miles  southwest 
of  Greencastle  and  commands  a  magnificent  view  of  the  surrounding  country 
in  every  direction,  including  the  county  seat  and  beyond.  Here,  amid  all  of 
the  comforts  and  luxuries  which  minister  to  man's  happiness,  he  is  spending 
the  closing  years  of  a  long  and  strenuous  as  well  as  eminently  successful  life, 
iDeing  independent  as  far  as  worldly  wealth  is  concerned  and  at  peace  with  his 
fellow  men,  his  conscience  and  his  God.  While  enterprising  as  a  farmer  and 
familiar  with  every  phase  of  modern  agriculture,  Mr.  Rogers  has  not  de- 
pended upon  the  soil  alone  for  his  income,  having  long  since  learned  that 
more  could  be  made  from  livestock  than  from  crops.  For  many  years  he  was 
largely  engaged  in  stock  raising,  having  had  at  one  time  as  high  as  one  thous- 
and five  hundred  sheep  on  his  place,  besides  a  large  number  of  fine  horses, 
cattle  and  hogs,  from  which  he  added  greatly  to  his  fortune.  In  his  young 
manhood  Mr.  Rogers  turned  his  hand  to  any  kind  of  honorable  work  he  could 
find  to  do.  He  is  proud  of  the  fact  of  having  cleared  and  improved  three 
hundred  acres  of  fine  land  with  his  own  hands  and  while  thus  engaged  he 
turned  his  leisure  to  good  account  by  working  at  blacksmithing,  which  trade 
he  had  learned  of  his  father,  his  services  as  a  mechanic  being  highly  prized 
bv  his  neighbors  as  well  as  profitable  to  himself.  Mrs.  Rogers  proved  an 
earnest  co-worker  with  her  husband  in  their  efforts  to  get  a  start  in  the  world 
and  added  to  their  earnings  by  spinning,  weaving  and  doing  other  kinds  of 
work  during  the  early  part  of  their  married  life.  Mr.  Rogers  now  contem- 
plates with  much  pleasure  those  early  experiences  when  life  was  new  and 
hopes  were  high  and  finds  in  his  past  little  to  regret  and  nuich  to  commend. 


PUTNAM    COUNTY,   INDIANA.  563 

On  ai"ri\ing  at  an  age  when  he  found  it  no  longer  necessary  to  prolong  the 
struggle  to  add  to  his  means,  having  accumulated  a  suiificiency  for  his  own 
future  comfort  besides  pro\-iding  comfortably  for  his  children,  he  discon- 
tinued active  labor  and.  as  already  indicated,  is  now  living  in  honorable  re- 
tirement on  the  beautiful  home  farm  of  three  hundred  and  fifty  acres  in 
Washington  township  which  he  reserved  for  his  own  use. 

'Sir.  Rogers  is  the  father  of  fifteen  children,  all  of  whom  grew  to  ma- 
turity and  all  but  one  married  and  reared  families,  thirteen  of  the  number 
li\'ing  at  the  present  time,  nine  being  residents  of  Putnam  county.  To  each 
of  these  children  he  gave  an  eighty-acre  farm,  or  its  equivalent  in  money,  and 
now  in  his  old  age  they  seem  to  vie  with  each  other  in  ministering  to  his  com- 
fort and  showing  him  honor,  being  obedient  sons  and  daughters  of  whom  any 
father  might  well  feel  proud.  After  a  long  and  mutually  happy  wedded  life 
of  fifty-four  years'  duration,  Mrs.  Rogers,  on  the  14th  of  ^larch.  1906,  was 
called  to  her  eternal  rest  and  on  Xo\'ember  8.  1908,  Mr.  Rogers  married  his 
present  wife.  IMrs.  Ellen  Reese,  widow  of  the  late  J.  C.  Reese,  of  Bowling 
Green,  this  state. 

The  following  are  the  names  of  the  children  born  to  Mr.  Rogers  and  his 
first  wife :  George  A\'..  a  soldier  in  the  Civil  war.  enlisting  at  sixteen  years  of 
age.  is  now  living  at  Los  Angeles,  California:  James  W.,  of  Washington  town- 
ship; Franklin,  a  farmer  of  Putnam  county;  Reuben,  a  blacksmith  by  trade; 
Jacob  Edgar,  who  owns  a  farm  adjoining  the  family  homestead;  Daniel,  who 
lives  on  a  farm  in  the  same  neighborhood;  Joseph  died  at  the  age  of  twenty- 
three,  leaving  a  widow;  Stephen,  who  departed  this  life  when  nineteen  years 
old :  Sarah  married  John  Graham  and  lives  in  Douglas  county,  Illinois ;  Julia, 
wife  of  S.  J.  Swinford.  lives  in  Coles  county,  Illinois;  Mary,  now  Airs.  H. 
Rollins,  resides  in  Washington  township,  where  her  husband  is  engaged  in 
agricultural  pursuits :  Emma,  who  married  John  'White,  also  lives  in  the  same 
township ;  Kate  married  Henry  Heiber  and  makes  her  home  near  Russellville ; 
Lucy,  wife  of  Charles  Webster,  lives  at  Roachdale.  Indiana,  and  Allie.  the 
youngest,  lives  in  Boone  county,  being  now  Mrs.  Thomas  Duree. 

Mr.  Rogers  has  always  been  enterprising  and  public  spirited  and  ready 
at  all  times  to  lend  his  influence  to  measures  and  movements  having  for  their 
object  the  welfare  of  his  fellowmen.  His  character  has  always  been  above 
reproach,  his  word  as  sacred  as  his  bond  and  all  who  know  him  speak  in  high 
praise  of  his  sterling  qualities  of  manhood  and  citizenship.  He  has  lived 
long  and  wisely  and  his  friends,  who  are  legion,  unite  in  the  earnest  prayer 
that  he  may  be  spared  manv  years  to  bless  the  world. 


564  weik's  history  of 


JAMES  EVERETT  VERMILION. 

The  best  historv  of  a  community  or  state  is  the  one  that  deals  most 
with  the  Hves  and  activities  of  its  people,  especially  of  those  who,  by  their 
own  endeavors  and  indomitable  energy,  have  forged  to  the  front  and  placed 
themselves  where  they  deserve  the  title  of  progressive  men.  In  this  brief 
review  will  be  found  the  record  of  one  who  has  outstripped  the  less  active 
plodders  on  the  highway  of  life  and  among  his  contemporaries  has  achieved 
marked  success  in  the  business  world,  the  name  of  James  Everett  Vennilion, 
Greencastle  merchant,  being  honored  by  all  owing  to  his  upright  life  and 
habits  of  thrift  and  industry. 

Mr.  Vermilion  was  born  November  11.  1869,  in  Greencastle  and  here 
he  received  his  education,  graduating  from  the  public  schools  in  1886.  after 
which  he  entered  DePauw  University,  where  he  made  a  good  record,  but 
did  not  finish  the  course.  Deciding  to  enter  the  law,  he  went  to  Wichita, 
Kansas,  and  studied  law  under  his  uncle  for  a  year,  but,  not  taking  as 
kindly  to  the  legal  profession  as  he  had  anticipated,  he  returned  to  Green- 
castle and  after  a  short  time  went  to  Indianapolis  where  he  took  a  business 
course,  after  which  he  came  back  to  his  native  city  and  clerked  in  his  father's 
store  until  the  latter's  death,  at  which  time  he  purchased  the  interests  of  the 
other  heirs  and  has  since  been  in  full  charge.  He  has  built  up  a  very  ex- 
tensive and  lucrative  patronage  with  the  city  and  surrounding  country,  which 
is  continuously  increasing,  his  store  being  one  of  the  finest,  neatest  and  best 
kept  in  the  city.  He  carries  a  full  line  of  dry  goods,  carpets,  ready-to-wear 
goods  for  ladies,  and  many  kindred  lines,  of  the  best  quality,  all  carefully 
selected  and  sold  at  reasonable  prices.  His  store  is  the  gathering  place  for 
rural  visitors  from  all  parts  of  the  county  and  here  they  always  find  courte- 
ous and  considerate  treatment. 

Mr.  Vermilion  is  a  Republican  and  he  has  manifested  considerable 
interest  in  local  affairs  for  some  time,  always  ready  to  do  anything  he  could 
for  the  betterment  of  Greencastle  and  vicinity.  For  two  years  he  ver\-  ably 
served  as  citv  councilman  from  the  second  ward.  He  is  a  member  of  the 
Christian -church,  and  he  is  leading  knight  of  the  Benevolent  and  Protec- 
tive Order  of  Elks:  he  is  past  chancellor  of  the  Knights  of  Pythias:  he 
also  holds  membership  with  the  Independent  Order  of  Odd  Fellows.  Before 
the  Spanish-American  war  he  was  second  lieutenant  of  Company  I.  First 
Regiment.  Indiana  National  Guard. 


PUT.VAM    COL'XTY,   IXDIAXA. 


On  June  12.  1S95,  Mr.  Vermilion  married  Maude  Wolfe,  the  refined  and 
popular  daughter  of  Dr.  William  and  Belle  (Porter)  Wolfe,  an  excellent 
family  of  Brazil,  Indiana,  where  Mrs.  Vermilion  was  a  social  favorite.  One 
child  has  graced  this  union,  named  Hazel,  now  attending  school. 


JOHN  \y.  STROUBE. 

The  family  of  this  name  has  been  long  and  favorably  known  in  Put- 
nam county,  especially  in  and  around  Madison  township.  John  William 
Stroube,  perhaps  the  most  prominent  of  the  connection,  is  a  son  of  Oliver 
R.  and  Eliza  J.  (Blackerby)  Stroube.  He  was  born  in  the  southeast  corner 
of  Madison  township,  three  and  one-half  miles  southwest  of  Greencastle, 
December  2j,  1865.  He  is  the  second  of  eight  children,  six  of  whom  reached 
maturity  and  are  all  living,  namely :  Erank  M. ;  John  W. ;  Charles  X.,  a  physi- 
cian at  Roachdale ;  Earl  P.,  of  Madison  township;  Ida  M.,  wife  of  Doctor 
Pollom,  at  Cayuga.  Vermillion  county,  Indiana;  Minnie  B.,  wife  of  E.  R. 
Bartley,  of  Greencastle.  The  father  died  April  3,  1901,  on  his  old  home 
farm,  since  sold:  his  widow  now  resides  in  Greencastle. 

John  William  Stroube  remained  at  home  until  the  completion  of  his 
twenty-first  year,  meantime  attending  the  common  schools  and  assisting 
in  the  farm  work.  September  14,  1887,  he  married  Ida  M.,  daughter  of 
James  H.  and  Eva  (Stoner)  Torr,  of  whom  more  particulars  may  be  learned 
from  a  sketch  elsewhere  in  this  volume.  Ida  M.  was  born  in  the  old  Torr 
homestead.  October  26,  1866.  After  his  marriage  Mr.  Stroube  engaged  in 
farming.  In  April,  1905,  he  removed  to  his  present  place,  four  miles  west 
of  Greencastle.  His  farm  contains  ninety  acres,  mostly  included  in  the 
Torr  homestead.  His  wife's  father  died  October  31,  1903,  but  his  widow  is 
still  living  on  part  of  the  old  home  place.  In  November,  1908,  Mr.  Stroube 
was  elected  trustee  of  Madison  township  and  took  office  January  i,  1909,  to 
serve  four  years.  He  has  nine  teachers  under  his  supervision.  Mr.  Stroube 
encourages  home  pupils  to  become  teachers  and  has  measurably  succeeded, 
as  most  of  his  teachers  are  residents  of  the  township.  He  has  a  high  school 
with  a  three-year  course  and  the  total  enrollment  is  two  hundred  and  sixty. 
The  school  buildings  are  above  the  average  in  structure  and  con- 
veniences and  Mr.  Stroube  visits  the  schools,  attends  the  institutes  and 
otherwise  connects  himself  with  the  instructors,  so  as  better  to  keep  in  touch 


566  weik's  history  of 

with  the  educational  system.  Mr.  Stroube  is  a  prominent  Democrat  and  has 
served  in  many  party  conventions.  !Mary  Edith,  a  young  lady  of  eighteen 
and  Mr.  Stroube's  only  living  child,  is  a  student  in  the  senior  class  of  the 
Greeucastle  high  school.- 


OLIVER  STROUBE. 


Oliver  Stroube  was  born  July  19.  1836,  in  Bracken  county.  Kentucky, 
and  was  married  March  10.  1862,  to  Eliza  J.  Blackerby,  a  neighbor  girl 
and  schoolmate.  He  was  a  grandson  of  Nicholas  Stroube,  who  migrated 
from  Pennsvlvania  to  Bracken  county.  His  son  John,  the  father  of  Oliver, 
was  born  in  Bracken  county  and  married  a  Reeder.  Nicholas  built  a  stone 
fence  which  is  still  standing  and  recently  owned  by  Mrs.  J.  L.  Hamilton,  of 
Greencastle,  who  is  a  niece  of  Mr.  Stroube.  Oliver  was  a  farmer  and  owned 
a  farm  in  the  southeast  corner  of  Madison  township,  three  miles  southwest 
of  Greencastle.  On  this  place  he  spent  the  most  of  his  hfe  and  there  met 
his  death,  April  3,  1901.  For  some  years  he  served  as  a  justice  of  the 
peace  in  Madison  township.  His  widow  is  now  living  with  her  daughter. 
The  six  children  of  Oliver  Stroube  are  as  follows:  Frank  M.,  present  sheriff 
of  Putnam  county;  John  William,  trustee  of  Madison  township:  Charles 
N.,  a  physician  at  Roachdale;  Earl  P.,  a  farmer  in  Madison  township:  Ida 
M.,  wife  of  Dr.  Reginald  Pollom,  of  Cayuga,  Indiana;  Armenia  B..  now 
^frs.  E.  R.  Bartlev,  of  Greencastle. 


TAMES  H.  TORR. 


This  prominent  deceased  citizen  of  Madison  township  was  born  in 
Shelby  county,  Kentucky,  March  29,  1828.  When  six  months  old  he  \\'as 
brought  to  Indiana  by  his  parents,  William  and  Maria  (Kimberlin)  Torr. 
His  father  died  when  James  H.  was  fourteen  years  old  and  he  remained 
with  his  mother  until  some  years  after  his  majority.  October  4,  1855,  he 
married  Eva  Stoner,  daughter  of  Peter  and  Mary  (Wells)  Stoner.  Eva 
was  l)orn  in  Madison  township,  April  16.  1832,  and  after  one  year  with  her 
motlier-in-law.  retired  with  her  young  husband  in  1856  to  her  present  farm. 
It  consisted  of  one  hundred  and  sixty  acres,  heavily  mortgaged,  but  all  this 
was  soon  cleared  off  and  the  places  increased  to  some  six  or  se\en  hundred 


PUTXAM   COUNTY,   INDIANA.  567 

acres.  .About  twenty  years  ago  the  family  moved  to  the  present  lionie.  wliich 
was  built  by  ex-SheritT  James  Brandon.  At  this  place  James  H.  Torr  died. 
October  31.  1902.  He  was  successful  as  an  agriculturist,  being  a  general 
farmer  and  stocktrader  of  more  than  the  usual  shrewdness.  He  prospered 
and  left  a  fine  estate,  over  which  his  \vid(5w  still  presides.  Pie  was  full  of 
energ)-  and  push,  notwithstanding  protracted  periods  of  ill  health,  and  made 
a  great  success  in  business.  In  politics  he  was  an  enthusiastic  Republican 
and  was  a  life-time  member  of  the  Methodist  church,  holding  various  posi- 
tions in  the  official  body.  He  was  much  attached  to  his  family  and  pre- 
ferred being  at  home  ti:i  anv  (ither  place  on  earth.  Of  the  children.  Florence 
died  in  childhorjd  ;  Josephine  married  Charles  Allen,  of  Madison  township; 
William  married  Clara  Busby  and  li\es  on  part  of  the  old  farm;  Charles 
married  Hattie  Busby  and  is  in  the  real  estate  business  at  AInskogee.  Okla- 
homa;  Franklin  married  Fanny  King  and  resides  on  the  old  home  place; 
Ida  married  Will  Stroube.  who  li\es  on  a  part  of  the  old  homestead; 
Mar\'  married  Edmund  F.  Watts  and  the\"  own  the  old  home. 


MRS.  CATHERINE  RAXDEL. 

This  estimable  lady,  who  bore  the  maiden  name  of  Catherine  Leather- 
man,  was  born  August  jo,  1S41,  on  the  old  family  homestead,  six  miles  west 
of  Greencastle  in  Madison  township,  which  her  father,  John  Leathemian, 
purchased  in  pioneer  times  and  developed  from  a  wild  and  impenetrable 
wilderness. 

The  Leathemian  family  moved  to  this  state  from  Kentucky  and  were 
among  the  early  settlers  and  substantial  residents  of  the  part  of  Putnam 
county  in  which  they  located.  Frederick  Leathemian.  the  grandfather  of 
Mrs.  Raiidel.  was  a  Kentuckian  bv  birth,  came  to  Indiana  about  the  rear 
1823  and  settled  in  Putnam  county,  where  his  death  subsequently  occurred. 
The  family  of  this  sturdy  pioneer  consisted  of  four  sons.  John.  Abraham. 
Daniel  and  Blan.  all  of  whom  married  and  all  but  the  oldest  moved  from 
Indiana  to  other  states,  .\braham  to  Illinois.  Daniel  to  Iowa,  and  Blan  to 
Wisconsin. 

Frederick  Leathemian  (jriginall}-  located  on  what  is  now  the  Farrow 
farm.  Madison  township,  and  was  aiiKjiig  the  first  to  make  permanent  im- 
provements in  that  Ideality.  He  flied  suddenly  many  years  ago  while  re- 
turning home   from   Lawrenceburg.   whither  he  had  gone  to  trade,  being  in 


56S  weik's  history  of 

the  sixty-sixth  year  of  his  age  at  the  time  of  his  decease.  He  was  a  soldier 
during  the  early  Indian  wars  of  Kentucky,  Virginia  and  elsewhere,  took 
part  in  a  number  of  battles  and  had  many  narrow  escapes  during  his  thrill- 
ing experiences  on  the  frontier.  His  first  wife  dying  shortly  after  moving 
to  Indiana,  he  subsequently  was  twice  remarried,  his  third  companion  sur- 
^■i\•ing  him  for  some  years. 

John  Leatherman,  oldest  son  of  the  above  mentioned  Frederick,  was 
born  in  Kentucky,  April  i,  1799,  and  accompanied  his  parents  to  Putnam 
county,  locating  near  the  home  place  in  Madison  township,  where  he  re- 
mained about  two  years,  removing  at  the  expiration  of  that  time  to  a  tract 
of  land  on  Walnut  creek  which  he  purchased  and  improved.  His  first 
dwelling  was  a  small  cabin  of  the  usual  pioneer  pattern,  which  answered 
the  purposes  for  which  intended  until  1832.  when  it  was  replaced  by  a  much 
larger  and  more  comfortable  brick  edifice,  the  latter  at  the  time  of  completion 
being  one  of  the  finest  country  residences  in  the  county.  j\Ir.  Leatherman 
made  the  brick  of  which  the  building  was  constructed  and  occupied  it  until 
his  death,  in  March.  1879.  It  stood  on  a  beautiful  and  sightly  eminence 
and  until  destruction  by  a  storm  some  years  ago  was  one  of  the  well  known 
landmarks  of  Madison  township. 

John  Leathemian  married,  in  181 9,  Mary  Penny,  who  was  born  about 
the  year  1794,  and  who  bore  him  children  as  follows:  Perminda,  wife  of 
Benjamin  King;  Sarah,  who  became  the  wife  of  Henry  Wright;  Rachel 
married  Dolphus  Wood;  Eliza,  wife  of  Samuel  Wright,  who  still  lives  in 
Nebraska;  Washington  moved  to  Nebraska  and  died  in  1894  of  old  age; 
Benjamin  died  in  Nebraska  in  April,  1909;  Theresa  married  John  Irwin  and 
lives  in  Kansas :  Frederick  lived  and  died  in  Putnam  county,  Indiana,  and 
was  a  prominent  farmer  and  representative  citizen ;  Jane  married  Isaac  Irwin 
and  moved  to  Nebraska,  where  her  death  occurred,  and  Daniel  was  acci- 
dentally killed  in  1881  by  the  falling  of  a  tree,  since  which  time  the  family 
homestead  has  been  in  the  possession  of  strangers. 

John  Leatherman  was  not  only  an  enterprising  and  successful  farmer, 
but  also  became  widely  known  as  a  minister  of  the  Primitive  Baptist  church, 
in  the  faith  of  which  he  was  reared  and  of  the  doctrines  of  which  he  after- 
wards was  recognized  as  an  al^le  expounder.  He  was  ordained  in  early  man- 
hood and  for  some  years  preached  only  at  irregular  intervals,  but  later  gave 
the  great  part  of  his  time  to  his  holy  office.  During  his  active  ministiy  he 
served  four  congregations,  viz :  Bethel  church,  on  Little  Walnut  near  his 
home :  New  Hope,  near  the  town  of  Morton ;  Rocky  Fork  and  Otter  Creek 
in  Parke  countv.  He  was  a  stalwart  Christian,  fearless  in  the  presentation 
of  the  truth,  and  e.xerted  a  wide  and  beneficial  influence  on  the   religious 


PUTNAM    COrXTY.  INDIANA.  569 

thought  ot  Ill's  own  and  other  communities.  He  departed  this  hfe  on  the 
6th  day  of  March.  1879.  ^"^1  was  laid  to  rest  in  the  Baptist  cemetery  in 
Clinton  township,  where  also  repose  the  ashes  of  many  other  old  settlers  of 
the  county.  Mrs.  Leatherman  preceded  her  husband  to  the  grave  on  Sep- 
tember 6.  1875.  each  being  seventy-nine  years  of  age  when  called  to  the 
other  world. 

Catherine  Leatherman  spent  her  childhood  and  youth  at  the  family 
home  and  was  early  instructed  in  those  domestic  duties  which,  while  she 
was  still  young,  made  her  almost  indispensible  to  the  household.  She  grew 
to  w  umanhood  with  a  proper  conception  of  life  and  never  knew  by  experience 
what  it  was  to  eat  the  bread  of  idleness.  In  such  schools  as  the  country 
afforded  she  received  a  fair  knowledge  of  the  branches  then  taught  and 
imtil  her  twenty-fifth  year  remained  at  home,  of  which  from  a  much  earlier 
age  she  proved  a  guiding  and  controlling  spirit.  In  the  year  1866  she  became 
the  wife  of  Nelson  Wood,  who,  in  1870,  moved  to  the  farm,  which  she  still 
iiwiis  and  with  whom  she  lived  in  mutually  happy  wedlock  until  his  lamented 
deatli  in  1881.  a  periofi  of  fifteen  years.  Three  children  were  born  to  this 
union.  Ella,  the  oldest  of  whom,  married  William  Thomas  and  lives  on  the 
home  farm  which  her  husband  operates.  Their  offspring,  five  in  number, 
are,  Ida.  a  teacher  in  the  public  schools  of  Madison  township.  Fay,  May. 
C)na.  and  Serena,  the  second  and  third  being  twins.  Seba.  the  second  of 
the  family,  married  John  Latham  and  died  young,  leaving  one  child.  Jane 
Pearl,  now  the  wife  of  Otto  Vermillion  in  Madison  township.  Lee.  who 
married  Terre  King,  and  lives  in  Clinton  township,  being  the  youngest  of 
the  family,  had  two  children,  Lucille  and  Charles  Xelson. 

In  1882  Mrs.  Woods  ])ecame  the  wife  of  John  Howard,  with  whom  she 
spent  the  four  vears  ensuing  in  the  citv  of  Greencastle,  removing  at  the  ex- 
piration of  that  time  to  iNIadison  low  nship  where  her  husband's  death  occurred 
in  1893.  Later  she  entered  the  marriage  relation  with  John  Randel,  who  on 
Xo\eml;er  12.  1907,  left  her  a  widow  again,  since  which  time  she  has  lived 
on  her  farm  in  Madison  township,  where,  surrounded  by  many  friends,  loyal 
and  true,  she  is  sj^ending  her  life  in  quiet  and  content,  proving  an  excellent 
neiglihcir.  a  valued  counsellor  and  a  helper  in  time  of  need. 

Mrs.  Randel  is  the  only  living  representative  of  the  Leatherman  family 
in  Putnam  county  and  as  such,  exemplifies  the  many  estimable  qualities  of 
mind  and  heart  for  which  her  ancestors  were  distinguished  and  by  a  life  void 
of  offense  she  is  maintaining  in  all  its  luster  the  brightness  of  the  family 
escutcheon.  She  is  a  w^oman  of  excellent  character  and  high  social  standing, 
respected  by  all  with  whom  she  mingles  and  her  daily  life  and  influence  have 
been  a  blessing:  to  the  comnnmitv  in  which  she  resi<les. 


WEIK  S   HISTORY   OF 


PERRY  W'lLSOX  WRIGHT. 


Preferring  to  spend  his  life  in  his  native  vicinity  rather  than  seek  nncer- 
tain  fortune  in  distant  places,  as  so  many  of  his  early  associates  did.  Perry 
W'ilsdii  Wright,  a  leading  farmer  of  Madison  township,  has  become  well 
known  and  influential  in  the  citizenship  of  Putnam  county.  He  was  born  on 
Little  Walnut  creek,  this  township.  December  i!.  1856.  the  son  of  William 
and  Thankful  Louisa  (Swinford)  Wright,  people  of  excellent  characteristics, 
the  father  having  been  born  August  7.  1825,  on  the  same  farm  on  which  his 
son.  Perry  W..  first  saw  the  light  of  day:  thus  the  Wright  family  has  been 
established  here  since  the  earliest  pioneer  days  and  the  several  members  of 
the  same  have  been  important  factors  in  this  part  of  the  county  since  then. 
William  Wright  and  Thankful  L.  Swinford  were  married  in  1844.  when  they 
were  each  nineteen  years  of  age.  she  having  been  born  in  Bourbon  county, 
Kentucky,  November  8,  1825.  His  father,  Benjamin  Wright,  was  born  April 
18,  1794,  in  North  Carolina.  He  married  Mary  Hill,  who  was  born  May  4, 
1800.  Soon  after  their  wedding,  about  1822,  they  entered  the  land  here 
where  their  son  William  was  born,  having  developed  this  splendid  fann  from 
the  wilderness.  William  was  reared  there  iand  when  about  thirty  years  old 
he  purchased  his  father's  farm.  Benjamin  Wright  moved  to  Illinois,  where 
he  spent  the  remaining  years  of  his  life.  William  lived  on  the  farm  until 
about  1870  when  he  bought  the  homestead  of  his  father-in-law,  John  Swin- 
ford, where  he  lived  till  1882,  when  he  removed  to  Greencastle  where  his  last 
years  were  spent,  dying  May  21,  1906,  at  an  advanced  age,  having  lived  a  suc- 
cessful and  honorable  life  that  brought  out  only  words  of  praise  from  his 
neighbors.  His  good  wife  was  called  to  her  rest  on  November  2.  1892.  She 
was  the  daughter  of  John  and  Polly  Ann  f  Adams)  Swinford  and  her  parents 
brought  her  to  this  county  from  Bourbon  county.  Kentucky,  about  1826,  the 
father  buying  one  hundred  and  sixty  acres  and  entered  the  forty  that  Perry 
W.  Wright  now  lives  on,  just  east  of  Little  Walnut  and  four  miles  northeast 
of  Greencastle.  He  built  a  house  on  the  larger  tract,  which  had  a  rude  shack 
on  it,  but  he  never  built  on  the  forty  acres.  Prospering  by  reason  of  hard 
work  and  good  management,  he  added  to  his  original  tract  until  he  owned 
six  hundred  and  forty  acres,  and  that  was  his  home  until  his  death.  January 
27,  1868.  having  reached  the  age  of  about  seventy  years.  His  wife  survived 
him  six  or  eight  years,  dying  at  about  the  same  age.  Of  their  family  seven 
children,  three  .sons  and  four  daughters,  reached  maturity,  namely :  William, 
who  went  to  ^Missouri;  Wilson  F.  also  moved  to  ^Missouri:  George  moved  to 


PUTXAM   COUXTV,   INDIANA.  57I 

Iowa:  Sarah  Salina  married  John  Tucker,  of  Indianapohs ;  Thankful  Louisa, 
wife  of  Wilham  Wright;  Eusibia  married  Wash  Leatherman  and  she  died 
while  living  in  this  county;  Nancy  married  Richard  Hart  and  died  in  Mis- 
souri: Lydia  married  Jesse  Hamrick  and  died  young. 

When  John  Swinford  died  William  Wright  bought  out  some  of  the 
heirs,  owning  twci  hundred  and  eighteen  acres  of  the  old  Swinford  farm  and 
there  Ii\-ed  until  he  moved  to  Greencastle.  He  had  previously  purchased  all 
the  Wright  homestead,  consisting  of  two  hundred  acres.  He  was  a  success- 
ful business  man  and  became  well-to-do.  On  his  place  fine  stock  were  to  be 
found  at  all  times,  first-class  cattle  being  his  hobby  and  he  took  a  great  pride 
in  them.  He  was  regarded  as  one  of  the  leading  farmers  and  stock  men  in 
the  county  and  was  highly  respected  for  his  honorable  dealings  with  his  fellow 
men.  ^Villesin  and  Thankful  A\' right  had  six  children  :  John  \\'esley  died 
in  childhood;  Jesse  ^I.  lives  in  Lamar,  Colorado;  George  W.  is  living  retired 
in  Greencastle;  Sarah  .\nn  married  William  Brothers,  of  Greencastle;  Perry 
Wilson,  subject  of  this  sketch;  \\'illis  E.  died  ^^■hen  tweh'e  or  fourteen  years 
of  age. 

Perry  \\'.  Wright  spent  his  youth  on  the  home  farm,  which  he  worked 
when  he  became  of  proper  age  and  attended  the  district  schools  in  the  mean- 
time. He  spent  four  years  in  western  Iowa  and  Kansas  in  his  early  youth, 
then  returned  to  the  home  farm.  On  September  15,  1909,  he  married  Josie 
Hathaway,  daughter  of  William  and  Elizabeth  (Gillespie)  Hathaway,  an  ex- 
cellent family  of  Clinton  township.  He  is  engaged  in  general  farming  in  a 
manner  that  stamps  him  well  abreast  of  the  times.  He  is  also  a  lover  of  good 
stock,  and  everything  about  his  place  shows  thrift  and  good  management. 

Politically  Mr.  Wright  is  a  Republican  and  he  keeps  in  touch  with 
his  party.     Fraternallv  he  belongs  to  the  Independent  Order  of  Odd  Fellows. 

Mr.  ^^'right  has  two  children  by  a  former  marriage  with  Lizzie  Talbot : 
Raymond,  a  student  in  DePauw  L'niversity.  will  graduate  in  191 1:  William 
^^'endel  is  a  high  school  student. 


CHARLES  W.  KIXG. 


The  King  familv  has  been  well  established  in  Madison  township  since 
the  picturesque  days  of  the  first  settler,  and  from  that  time  to  this  those  who 
have  borne  the  name  have  maintained  the  high  standard  of  citizenship  which 


5/2  WEIK  S   HISTORY   OF 

the  older  ones  sought  to  foster,  and  of  this  worthy  class  Charles  W.  King  is 
deserving  of  special  notice.  He  has  been  contented  to  spend  his  life  at  home, 
having  been  born  on  the  old  King  homestead  in  Madison  township  February 
19.  1848,  the  son  of  Benjamin  P.  and  Perminda  (Leatherman)  King,  both 
born  in  Indiana,  possibly  Putnam  county,  in  1820.  They  married  in  this 
county  and  lived  on  a  farm  here  where  their  first  five  children  were  born; 
then  they  moved  to  Illinois  when  Charles  W.  of  this  review  was  a  baby.  The 
family  remained  in  the  last  named  state  about  ten  years,  returning  to  Madison 
township,  Putnam  county,  about  1859  or  i860  and  settled  on  the  farm  now 
owned  by  Charles  W.  King.  It  was  a  new  place,  but  was  soon  cleared  and 
placed  under  cultivation;  here  the  father,  Benjamin  P.,  died  when  his  son, 
Charles  \V.,  was  about  si.xteen  years  of  age,  the  former  being  forty-eight  and 
he  is  numbered  with  the  eternal  sleepers  in  the  Little  Walnut  cemetery.  He 
was  a  good  fanner,  a  hard  worker  and  honest.  Following  are  his  children  : 
John  R..  living  in  Washington  township,  Putnam  county;  Cerena  married 
Zadoc  Plummer  and  is  living  in  Kansas;  Rachael  married  Joseph  Owens,  and 
she  died  at  Golden.  Colorado ;  William  is  living  in  Hendricks  county,  Indiana ; 
Charles  W.,  of  this  review;  Denman  P.  is  living  in  Chrisman,  Illinois;  Thirsa 
married  Maletus  Peterson,  of  Montgomery  county,  and  she  died  in  Kansas ; 
Sarah  married  Elijah  Houck  and  they  are  living  in  Greencastle;  Frederick 
lives  in  Edgar  county,  Nebraska. 

After  the  father's  death  the  elder  sons  remained  at  home  and  worked  the 
place,  the  mother  thus  being  able  to  keep  the  family  together.  After  the 
children  grew  up  she  married  John  Howard,  of  ^fontgomery  county,  where 
she  spent  the  remaining  years  of  her  life,  dying  on  August  9,  1881. 

Charles  AV.  King  remained  at  home  until  his  brother  married  a  second 
time.  He  and  his  brother  Denman  P.  were  conducting  the  farm  very  suc- 
cessfully, but  the  farm  was  sold  when  the  mother  married.  After  working 
out  two  seasons  Charles  W.  King  married,  after  which  event  he  rented  land 
for  three  years,  during  which  time  he  got  a  good  start  and  then  bought  back 
the  old  home  place,  where  he  has  lived  ever  since.  He  has  made  many  changes 
and  improvements  in  the  same  and  has  shown  himself  to  be  an  excellent  farmer 
in  even,-  respect.  He  has  been  very  successful  and  has  added  additional  land 
until  he  now  has  one  hundred  acres.  A  portion  of  the  present  frame  house  is 
a  part  of  the  old  log  building  that  was  placed  here  before  Benjamin  P.  King 
purchased  the  farm. 

Mr.  King  is  not  a  public  man,  but  has  long  taken  some  interest  in  politics, 
having  served  his  township  as  assessor  back  in  the  eighties.     In  1904  he  was 


PUTNAM    COUNTY.   INDIANA.  573 

elected  township  trustee  for  four  years,  filling  both  these  offices  in  a  very 
creditable  manner.  He  has  also  served  on  the  Democratic  central  committee 
and  is  always  ready  to  further  the  interests  of  his  party  in  Putnam  county. 

Mr.  King  was  married  on  December  7.  187 1,  to  Emily  J.  Beard,  who  was 
reared  in  Vigo  county,  but  who  at  the  time  of  her  marriage  was  living  in 
Putnam  county,  .-\fter  a  very  congenial  and  happy  married  life  of  about 
thirty-seven  years,  this  good  wife  and  mother  was  called  to  her  rest  on  Sep- 
tember 15,  1908. 

Four  children  were  bom  to  Mr.  and  ^Irs.  King,  one  dying  when  four 
years  of  age;  the  living  are,  Benjamin,  a  teacher  in  the  Greencastle  schools, 
is  married  and  has  one  child,  Frances ;  Delia  married  Pumell  Thomas  and 
died  when  twenty-two  years  of  age;  Terre  is  the  wife  of  Lee  Woods,  of 
Clinton  township,  this  county,  and  they  are  the  parents  of  two  children, 
Lucille  and  Xelson. 


GEORGE  WILLL\^[  BL.\CK. 

.Among  the  well-known  and  highly  respected  citizens  of  Putnam  county 
is  George  \V.  Black  of  Greencastle.  Mr.  Black  was  born  near  Mt.  Sterling, 
Montgomery  county,  Kentuck-y,  September  27,  1843,  the  son  of  Andrew-  and 
Margaret  ( Lockridge)  Black,  both  representatives  of  good  old  families.  They 
grew  to  maturity  in  their  native  state,  met  and  married  there  and  in  1850  they 
migrated  to  Putnam  county,  Indiana,  locating  one  mile  west  of  Greencastle 
on  a  farm  where  ■Mr.  Black,  by  hard  work,  soon  had  a  good  home  and  a  well 
cultivated  farm  which  yielded  a  good  income.  He  was  a  good  manager  and 
a  man  of  thrift  and  at  the  time  of  his  death,  which  occurred  in  Greencastle  in 
i8r)2.  he  was  the  owner  of  valuable  lands  aggregating  four  hundred  and  forty 
acres,  near  this  city.  He  was  considered  one  of  the  best  farmers  in  this  vicin- 
ity and  he  always  kept  some  good  stock  on  his  place,  being  especially  fond  of 
fine  horses,  for  he  had  been  reared  in  a  country  noted  for  its  rare  specimens 
of  the  equine  family,  and  this  love  for  good  horses  has  come  down  to  his  son, 
George  W.  of  this  review.  ]Mr.  Black  was  a  Republican  politically  and  a 
strong  worker  in  the  party,  and  in  religious  matters  he  was  a  Presbyterian. 
He  was  well  liked  in  this  county  and  had  hosts  of  friends  here.  His  wife 
preceded  him  to  the  silent  land  by  nearly  twenty-eight  years,  dying  in  1864. 

George  W.  Black  accompanied  his  parents  to  Putnam  county  in  1850,  and 
he  assisted  with  the  work  on  the  home  farm  and  attenrled  the  neighborinsr 


574  WEIK  S    HISTORY  OF 

schools  during  the  winter  months.  He  managed  the  farm  for  his  father  for 
a  year,  then  came  to  Greencastle  in  1870  and  began  a  hvery  business  which  he 
soon  buih  up  to  large  proportions,  enjoying  a  very  liberal  patronage  from  the 
first.  He  always  kept  an  excellent  grade  of  horses  and  a  well  equipped  barn 
in  every  respect.  He  also  engaged  in  the  coal  business  and  built  up  a  very 
satisfactory  patronage  also  in  this.  For  the  past  ten  years.  Air.  Black  has 
conducted  sales  of  horses  once  a  week,  which  have  been  largely  attended  by 
prospective  buyers  who  came  from  all  parts  of  the  country. 

April  15,  1904.  Mr.  Black  married  Mrs.  Martha  Jane  Thomas.  This 
union  is  without  issue.  Politically  Mr.  Black  is  a  Republican,  but  he  does 
not  find  time  to  mingle  much  in  party  affairs.  He  is  a  member  of  the  local 
Methodist  church. 


CHRISTIAN  LANDES. 

In  examining  the  life  record  of  Christian  Landes,  which  has  been  temi- 
inated  bv  death,  we  find  many  qualities  of  head  and  heart  that  are  worthy  of 
emulation,  for  he  was  of  a  type  of  hardy  sons  of  the  soil  who  delight  in  being 
kind  to  their  neighbors,  generous  to  the  needy  and  always  ready  to  lend  a  help- 
ing hand  in  any  worthy  cause.  He  was  born  in  Augusta  county,  Virginia, 
April  ;,  1814.  the  son  of  John  and  Frances  (Branneman)  Landes.  the  former 
a  native  of  Pennsylvania  and  the  latter  of  Virginia,  each  excellent  old  families. 
Christian's  elder  brother  came  to  Indiana  about  1838.  the  fonner  following 
him  soon  afterward.  They  had  learned  the  blacksmith's  trade  and  at  once  set 
up  a  shop  in  Greencastle.  Abraham  Landes.  Samuel  Landes  and  Henry  Lan- 
des, brothers,  also  came  to  Putnam  county  in  those  early  days.  A  full  history 
of  this  familv  is  to  be  found  elsewhere  in  this  work,  as  is  also  the  history  of  the 
Hillis  familv.  into  which  Christian  Landes  married  in  1840,  choosing  for  a 
life  partner  Elizabeth  A.  Hillis,  sister  of  John  A.  Hillis.  Christian  Landes 
continued  to  work  as  a  blacksmith  for  over  ten  years  in  this  vicinity,  during 
which  time  he  became  well  known  as  a  very  skilled  workman,  being  a  partner 
with  his  brother  Samuel,  part  of  the  time  in  a  general  store  under  the  firm 
name  of  Landes  Brothers,  Samuel  looking  after  the  store  and  Christian  the 
shop,  Samuel  finallv  leaving  the  store  and  moving  to  Iowa  where  he  spent  the 
remaining  years  of  his  life.  Abram  Landes  owned  a  farm  southwest  of 
Greencastle  where  he  lived  until  his  death.  The  father  of  these  children  also 
came  to  this  county  and  purchased  what  has  since  been  known  as  the  Dunbar 


PL'TXAM   COL-.\TV.   INDIANA.  575 

farm  in  Madison  township,  northwest  of  Greencastle.  dying  at  his  home  about 
three  miles  from  this  city,  reaching  the  age  of  sixty-eight  years.  Frances 
Landes  died  in  \'irginia.  John  Landes  married  a  second  time,  his  last  wife 
being  a  Miss  Netzer,  who  survived  him  many  years.  Xo  children  were  born 
to  them.     There  was  another  John  Landes  who  spent  his  life  in  Virginia. 

In  1S49  Christian  Landes  purchased  the  farm  on  the  Manhattan  road 
where  Christian  Stoner,  his  grandson,  now  lives,  he  having  built  the  present 
home  about  iS66.  He  set  up  a  shop  on  that  place  and  continued  blacksmith- 
ing  m  connection  with  farming  for  many  years,  making  a  success  of  both. 
and  here  he  spent  the  remainder  of  his  life,  having  closed  his  shop  a  few  years 
before  he  died,  giving  his  attention  e.xclusively  to  his  farm,  his  death  occurring 
[March  i6,  1893.  having  been  preceded  to  the  silent  land  by  his  wife  on  De- 
cember 25,  1891,  at  the  age  of  sixty-nine  years,  she  having  been  bom  on 
Tanuan-  18.  1823,  in  Flemingsburg,  Kentucky  (see  sketch  of  John  L.  Hillis). 
They  are  buried  at  Forest  Hill,  Greencastle.  Both  were  active  members  of 
the  Methodist  church  at  Mount  Olive,  which  is  located  about  one  mile  from 
the  old  Landes  homestead.  This  place  consisted  of  over  two  hundred  acres, 
\\hich  was  partly  improved  when  Mr.  Landes  bought  it.  He  improved  it  in 
many  ways  and  proved  to  be  a  very  skillful  farmer  as  well  as  blacksmith.  He 
was  a  hard  working  man  and  never  sought  public  offices.  He  was  a  useful 
man  in  his  community;  everybody  trusted  him  explicitly  owing  to  his  un- 
questioned integrity  and  strict  honesty  in  all  his  dealings  with  his  fellow  men. 

To  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Christian  Landes  twelve  children  were  born,  ten  reach- 
ing maturity,  namely :  Mary  J.  married  William  Butler  and  lives  in  Green- 
castle. Mr'  Butler  served  through  the  Civil  war.  the  hard  experiences  prov- 
ing too  much  for  his  constitution  and  he  finally  died  as  a  result  of  his  ex- 
po'sures,  September  5,  1899,  at  the  age  of  sixty-nine  years,  never  having  been 
strong  since  his  army  career.  He  lived  ten  years  in  Terre  Haute.  He  and 
his  wife  reared  one  daughter.  Elizabeth  T.,  who  married  Elbert  C.  Minton, 
of  Lafayette,  Indiana.  William  H.  Landes  also  served  through  the  Civil 
war,  after  which  he  went  to  Montana,  where  he  died  at  the  age  of  forty-nine 
years ;  Samuel  E.  is  a  carriage  maker  in  Greencastle;  Sarah  E.  married  Samuel 
P.  Bo'wen.  of  Greencastle;  Laura  E.  married  Peter  S.  Stoner,  whose  sketch 
appears  elsewhere  in  this  work;  Katie  A.  married  Jonathan  Houck  (see  his 
sketch)  ;  Albert  P.  Landes  is  a  painter  and  paper  hanger  in  Greencastle;  Flora 
F.  married  James  E.  Houck  (see  his  sketch)  ;  Grant  A.  Landes  is  a  manu- 
facturer at  .\nderson.  Indiana;  George  C.  is  in  the  insurance  business  and  is 
now  trustee  of  Greencastle  township,  living  in  Greencastle. 


--6  "  WEIK  S   HISTORY   OF 


THOMAS  HART  MORRIS. 

The  history  of  Putnam  county  is  not  a  very  old  one.  It  is  the  record  of 
the  steady  gra*vth  of  a  community  planted  in  the  wilderness  within  the  last 
century  and  has  reached  its  magnitude  of  today  without  other  aids  than  those 
of  industrv.  The  people  who  redeemed  its  wilderness  fastnesses  were  strong- 
.  armed,  hardy  sons  of  the  soil  who  hesitated  at  no  difficulty  and  for  whom 
hardships  had  little  to  appall.  The  early  pioneers,  having  blazed  the  path 
of  civilization  to  this  part  of  the  state,  finished  their  labors  and  passed  from 
the  scene,  leaving  the  country  to  the  possession  of  their  descendants  and  to 
others  who  came  at  a  later  period  and  builded  on  the  foundation  which  they 
laid  so  broad  and  deep.  Among  these  early  pioneers  was  Albert  F.  :Morris, 
the  father  of  the  gentleman  whose  name  appears  at  the  head  of  this  sketch. 
Albert  F.  Morris  was  born  near  Sharpsburg,  Nicholas  county,  Kentuclcy,  and 
was  the  son  of  Daniel  C.  and  Ann  Morris.  Daniel  C.  Morris  was  born  inside 
the  stockade  at  Bryant's  Station,  Kentucky,  at  a  time  when  the  little  band  of 
settlers  were  gathered  there  as  a  protection  against  hostile  Indians.  One  of 
his  brothers  was  Morris  Morris,  the  father  of  General  Morris,  of  Indianapolis. 
When  the  Morris  family  came  from  Kentucky  to  Putnam  county,  Indiana, 
thev  first  located  in  Cloverdale,  though  at  that  time  the  town  contained  but 
few  families.  Here  Albert  F.  was  reared  to  the  life  of  a  farmer,  remaining 
there  until  1853,  when  he  moved  to  near  Reelsville,  where  he  remained  four 
years,  locating  then  northwest  of  Greencastle.  About  1853  his  father  died 
and  he  accompanied  his  mother  to  ?kIissouri,  where  her  death  subsequently 
occurred.  While  in  the  West,  he  entered  a  tract  of  government  land  in  Iowa, 
which  he  afterwards  traded  for  a  farm  southwest  of  Cloverdale,  Putnam 
county.  After  his  marriage  he  lived  on  this  tract  two  years,  and  then  sold 
that  and  bought  a  farm  near  Reelsville.  After  living  on  this  farm  four  or 
five  years,  he  bought  and  moved  to  a  part  of  the  Hart  homestead,  seven  miles 
northwest  of  Greencastle.  where  he  reniained  until  the  fall  of  1866.  In  that 
year  he  sold  his  interest  to  J.  R.  M.  Hamrick  and  bought  the  John  Piercy 
farm,  three  miles  northeast  of  Cloverdale,  this  farm  comprising  two  hundred 
and  seventv-eight  acres.  He  made  this  his  home  until  1877,  when  he  moved  to 
Cloverdale,  where  he  had  bought  seventy  acres  of  land  at  the  south  edge  of  the 
town,  where  he  remained  until  his  death,  which  occurred  in  1878.  He  was 
survived  a  number  of  years  by  his  widow,  who  died  in  1897. 

Albert  F.  Morris  married  Celinda  Hart,  daughter  of  Thomas  and  Joycie 
Hart,  whose  home  was  on  the  Little  Walnut  creek,  seven  miles  northwest  of 


THOMAS  H     MORRIS 


PUTNAM   COUNTY,  INDIANA.  },']'] 

Greencastle.  To  Albert  F.  and  Celinda  Morris  were  born  two  children, 
Thomas  Hart,  the  immediate  subject  of  this  sketch,  and  Joycie  Ann.  who  be- 
came the  wife  of  James  Y.  Davis,  and  they  now  live  at  Arkansas  City,  Kansas. 
Politically  Mr.  Morris  was  an  ardent  Democrat  and  held  a  prominent  place 
in  the  councils  of  his  party,  though  at  no  time  was  he  a  seeker  after  office  for 
himself.  He  was  held  in  the  highest  esteem  among  his  neighbors  and  was 
frequently  called  upon  to  settle  estates  and  arbitrate  differences  between  neigh- 
bors. Public  spirited  and  progressive  in  his  make-up.  he  exerted  his  influence 
in  every  wav  possible  to  advance  the  best  interests  of  the  community  in  which 
he  lived  and  for  many  years  he  was  numbered  among  the  most  prominent  men 
of  the  township. 

Thomas  Hart  Morris  was  born  August  22.  1852.  and  was  reared  under 
the  paternal  roof.  He  attended  the  public  schools,  including  the  high  school 
at  Cloverdale,  after  which  he  became  a  student  in  old  Asbury  (now  DePauw) 
University  at  Greencastle.  During  his  school  period  he  continued  his  farm 
work,  and  after  leaving  his  studies  he  engaged  in  teaching  school  for  a  couple 
of  tenns.  -\bout  1S72  Mr.  Morris  took  up  farming  operations  on  his  own 
account  on  his  father's  farm,  continuing  in  this  way  four  or  five  years,  when 
he  bought  a  farm  of  ninety  acres,  located  a  mile  and  a  half  west  of  Brick 
Chapel,  which  he  managed,  though  still  residing  on  his  home  place  in  the 
southwest  part  of  Jefferson  township.  About  1S77  he  went  into  the  imple- 
ment business  at  Clo\erdale,  which  he  conducted  with  satisfactory  success, 
and  in  1887  he  added  a  hardware  department.  He  continued  the  busi- 
ness until  1895,  when  he  sold  it  to  T.  Vi.  Layne  for  ten  thousand  dollars,  the 
business  being  now  run  by  the  Cloverdale  Hardware  and  Lumber  Com- 
pany. For  a  while  Mr.  Morris  was  in  partnership  with  'Ww  Layne  and  it  was 
during  their  association  that  the  present  commodious  and  well  arranged  build- 
ing was  erected,  the  store  being  a  credit  to  the  town.  For  some  time  Mr. 
Morris  also  owned  a  hoop  factory  at  Cloverdale.  but  subsequently  he  trans- 
fomied  it  into  a  sawmill  and  sold  it  also  to  Mr.  Layne.  He  then  returned  to 
his  farm  in  section  29,  Jefferson  township,  where  he  now  resides  an<l 
where  he  is  \ery  comfortably  situated.  He  owns  two  hundred  and  seventy- 
eight  acres  of  good  land,  all  of  which  is  under  cultivation,  and  which  yields 
bountiful  crops  in  return  for  the  labor  bestowed  upon  it.  The  place  is  well 
improved,  containing  an  attractive  and  comfortable  residence,  spacious  and 
substantial  bams  and  other  necessary  buildings,  and  the  farm  is  numbered 
among  the  good  ones  of  the  township. 

Mr.    Morris   has  been   married   three   times.      In    1884  he   married   Ella 

^17) 


57i 


WEIK  S    HISTORY   OF 


Irwin  Graham,  a  daughter  of  Fehx  and  Mary  (Irwin)  Graham,  the  latter 
being  a  sister  of  Joseph  I.  Irwin,  a  wealthy  and  well-known  citizen  of  Colum- 
bus. Indiana.  Mrs.  Morris  died  in  1886,  without  issue,  and  in  1891  Mr. 
JMorris  married  Belle  V.  iMugg,  a  daughter  of  Richard  and  Elizabeth  Mugg, 
of  near  Ouincv.  Owen  county,  this  state.  To  this  union  were  born  two  child- 
ren, Albert  G.,  who  is  attending  school,  and  Lena,  who  died  in  1906.  Mrs. 
Belle  Morris  died  in  1898  and  in  April  8,  190 1,  he  married  Sadie  Dickinson, 
daughter  of  John  and  Martha  (McLain)  Dickinson.  To  them  have  been 
born  three  children,  Mary  Mabel,  Alberta  Frances  and  Edna  May. 

Politically  Mr.  Morris  maintains  an  allegiance  with  the  Democratic 
party  and  takes  an  intelligent  interest  in  public  affairs,  though  he  is  not  an 
office  seeker.  Religiously  he  and  his  wife  are  members  of  the  Christian 
church  at  Cloverdale,  to  which  they  give  an  earnest  and  liberal  support.  They 
are  genial  and  sociably  inclined  and  are  well  liked  by  all  who  know  them. 
Mr.  ^Morris  possesses  business  ability  of  a  high  order,  as  was  emphasized  by 
his  successes  in  commercial  enterprises,  and  among  his  associates  his  advice 
and  judgment  is  valued  highly. 


EDWARD  R.  HIBBITT. 

The  true  western  spirit  of  progress  and  enterprise  is  strikingly  exempli- 
fied in  the  lives  of  such  men  as  Edward  R.  Hibbitt,  whose  energetic  nature  and 
sticktoiti\-e  qualities  have  enabled  them  to  conquer  many  adverse  circum- 
stances and  advance  steadily  to  leading  positions  in  their  respective  lines  of 
endeavor  or  in  business  life.  Mr.  Hibbitt  is  a  worthy  representative  of  this 
class  and  is  now  doing  a  very  satis factorv-  business  in  harness  and  leather 
goods,  maintaining  an  up-to-date  shop  and  store  in  Greencastle,  which  is 
know  II  throughout  this  and  adjoining  counties. 

]\Ir.  Hibbitt  was  born  ^lay  30,  1861,  in  Louisville.  Kentucky,  the  second 
son  of  Edwin  .\ugustus  and  Mary  (King)  Hibbitt,  an  excellent  Kentucky 
family,  the  father  having  been  born  in  Louisville,  September  19,  183 1.  His 
parents  emigrated  to  this  country  from  England,  the  father  dying  when  Edwin 
A.  was  twelve  years  of  age;  consequently  he  was  thrown  upon  his  own  re- 
sources, but.  being  a  lad  of  grit  and  ambition,  he  soon  succeeded  in  making 
his  way,  apprenticing  himself  to  the  harness-making  trade  at  which  he  worked 
in  Louisville  until  he  came  to  Putnam  county,  early  in  the  sixties.  He  lo- 
cated near  Limedale  and  later  moved  to  Greencastle  where  he  continued  his 


PUT^'A^[  cocxTV,  ixdiana.  579 

trade  and  engaged  in  the  harness  business  until  his  death,  which  occurred 
February  ii,  1902,  at  an  advanced  age.  He  was  a  fine  old  character  whom 
eveiybody  respected  and  admired  for  his  industrious,  sober  and  honest  life, 
being  kind,  generous  to  a  fault  and  interested  in  the  welfare  of  his  neighbors. 
He  enjoyed  a  large  trade  and  al\va\-s  handled  a  good  grade  of  material,  of  the 
highest  class  workmanship.  Politically  he  was  a  Democrat,  and  in  his  lodge 
relations  held  membership  with  the  Independent  Order  of  Odd  Fellows. 

August  25,  185S,  Edwin  A.  Hibbitt  married  Alary  King,  a  native  of 
Louisville.  Kentucky,  who  preceded  her  husband  to  the  grave  many  years, 
dying  February  26,  1885. 

Edward  R.  Hibbitt  was  educated  in  the  common  schools  of  Greencastle, 
receiving  a  very  good  education.  He  learned  the  harnessmaker's  trade  and 
the  "ins  and  outs"  of  the  leather  business  under  his  father,  and  he  success- 
fully engaged  in  business  at  Bainbridge,  Rockville  and  Noblesville  and  with 
his  father  in  Greencastle,  and  he  is  now  carrying  on  a  very  satisfactory  trade 
in  his  father's  old  stand,  which  is  the  largest  store  or  shop  of  its  kind  in  the 
countv  and  which  is  patronized  extensively  at  all  seasons,  some  of  his  regu- 
lar customers  coming  from  remote  sections  of  the  county,  for  here  they  are 
sure  of  obtaining  full  value  and  the  best  leather  goods  which  the  market 
affords.  The  store  is  well  arranged  and  well  kept  and  his  shop  is  provided 
with  the  latest  model  machinery  and  tools  and  none  but  skilled  artisans  are 
employed. 

Mr.  Hibbitt  is  a  prominent  member  of  the  Masonic  lodge  and  the  Knights 
of  Pythias.  Politically  he  is  a  Democrat  and  a  Alethodist  in  his  religious 
beliefs.  He  was  married  on  May  30,  18S2.  to  Julia  Williams,  representing  a 
highly  respected  Greencastle  family.  This  union  has  resulted  in  the  birth  of 
two  children.  Ethel  and  Ralph. 


FRAXCIS  yi.  ALLEE. 

The  historv  of  a  state  is  but  a  record  of  the  doings  of  its  people,  among 
whom  the  pioneers  and  their  sturdy  descendants  occupy  places  of  no  secondary- 
importance.  The  story  of  the  plain  common  people  who  constitute  the  moral 
bone  and  sinew  of  the  state  should  ever  attract  the  attention  and  prove  of 
interest  to  all  true  lovers  of  their  kind.  In  the  life  story  of  the  subject  of  this 
sketch  there  are  no  striking  chapters  or  startling  incidents,  but  it  is  merely  the 


58o 


WEIK  3    HISTORY   OF 


record  of  lite  true  to  its  highest  ideals  and  fraught  with  much  that  should 
stimulate  the  youth  just  starting  in  the  world  as  an  independent  factor. 

Francis  M.  Allee  is  descended  from  one  of  Putnam  county's  honored 
earlv  pioneers.  This  pioneer,  John  Allee,  was  born  in  Montgomery  county, 
Virginia.  September  2,  1803.  When  one  year  old  he  was  taken  by  his  par- 
ents to  Barren  county,  Kentucky,  where,  in  his  early  manhood,  he  was  doubly 
bereaved  of  both  parents,  at  which  time  he  was  penniless  and  practically 
thrown  upon  his  own  resources.  However,  he  was  endowed  with  a  liberal 
quantity  of  grit  and  determination,  qualities  which  characterized  his  subse- 
quent years,  and  he  determined  to  make  a  success  of  life.  He  was  reared  on 
a  farm  and  secured  a  fair  education  in  the  common  schools  of  the  Blue  Grass 
state.  On  reaching  a  proper  age  he  secured  employment  as  overseer  of  a  plan- 
tation, on  which  many  slaves  were  employed  and  on  which  was  a  large  dis- 
tillery, tobacco  being  one  of  the  principal  field  crops.  He  gained  the  con- 
fidence of  his  employer,  who  would  at  times  be  gone  from  the  plantation  for 
a  year.  The  young  man  was  a  good  mathematician  and  penman  and  for  his 
services  he  received  a  liberal  salary.  He  was  economical  and  with  the  money 
he  saved  he  bought  land,  when,  in  1830,  he  came  to  Putnam  county,  Indiana, 
his  purchase  being  in  section  16,  Jefferson  township.  He  made  this  his 
permanent  home  and  resided  there  until  his  death,  which  occurred  in  1875. 

John  Allee  married  Lucretia  Pruitt,  a  native  of  Kentucky,  and  among 
their  children  was  Francis  AI.  Allee,  the  immediate  subject  of  this  sketch. 
John  Allee  became  a  prominent  and  successful  farmer.  He  came  to  this 
county  in  rather  limited  financial  condition,  but  he  was  industrious  and  re- 
sourceful and  as  he  prospered  he  added  to  his  land  holdings  until  at  one  time 
he  owned  one  thousand  acres  of  good  land,  which  was  accumulated  literally 
"bv  the  sweat  of  his  brow."  He  worked  on  the  construction  of  the  old  Na- 
tional road  through  this  county,  receiving  for  his  labor  the  magnificent  wage 
of  fifty  cents  a  dav.  Conditions  in  those  days  were  unfavorable  in  many  re- 
spects. In  order  to  dispose  of  the  grain  raised  on  his  farm,  he  found  it  neces- 
sary to  haul  the  grain  to  Lawrenceburg,  on  the  Ohio  river,  and  to  Cincinnati, 
ten  (lays  being  recjuired  to  make  the  round  trip.  He  usually  made  the  trip 
pay  both  wavs.  by  bringing  back  goods  for  local  merchants.  He  took  a  deep 
interest  in  public  affairs  and  served  as  trustee  of  his  township  several  terms. 
He  was  a  stanch  Republican  and  a  firm  supporter  of  the  Union  and  during  the 
Civil  war  he  was  uncompromising  in  his  devotion  to  the  national  cause.  He 
was  a  member  of  the  state  militia  and.  as  colonel,  was  at  the  head  of  the  or- 
ganization in  Putnam  county.  He  was  widely  known  in  this  section  of  the 
state  and  enjoved  the  unbounded  confidence  of  all  who  knew  him. 


PUTXAM    COUNTY.   IXDIAXA.  58 1 

Francis  M.  Allee  was  born  in  Jefferson  township.  Putnam  county,  In- 
diana, in  1S39.  Xovember  5tli  having  been  his  natal  day.  He  was  reared  on 
the  home  farm  and  received  his  elementary  education  in  the  common  schools, 
supplementing  this  by  attendance  at  old  Asbun,'  (now  DePauw)  University, 
at  Greencastle.  Primitive  conditions  existed  in  that  early  day  and  ^Ir.  Allee 
relates  with  interest  many  of  the  incidents  of  his  boyhood.  As  to  the  cus- 
toms and  conditions,  coal  oil  lamps  were  then  unknown  in  this  community,  the 
common  light  being  provided  by  "grease  lamps."  which  consisted  of  open  re- 
ceptacles of  grease,  in  the  neck  of  which  lay  a  piece  of  cloth,  the  lower  end  of 
which  lay  in  the  grease.  This  light  was  even  more  common  than  candles. 
Fire  was  often  preserved  by  a  rotten  hickory  tree  that  burned  all  summer  near 
the  house.  Cooking  was  done  in  front  of  the  wide  fireplace  which  was  a  fea- 
ture of  practically  e\'ery  home.  Corn  meal  was  obtained  by  grating  corn  on 
a  tin  grater,  and  before  that  impro\'ement  was  introduced  it  was  ground  on  a 
rock.  The  pioneer  larder  was  supplied  with  wild  fruit,  nuts,  squirrels  and 
other  wild  game — in  fact,  squirrels  were  so  plentiful  that  only  the  hind 
quarters  were  used  and  they  were  a  nuisance  to  the  pioneers  because  of  their 
fondness  for  the  newly  planted  corn,  which  they  would  dig  up  as  fast  as  it 
could  be  sowed.  Farm  work  was  laborious  because  of  the  lack  of  time  and 
labor-saving  facilities,  ^\'heat  was  mowed  with  a  cradle  and  shocked  by  the 
women  and  children.  Cooking  stoves  were  unknown  in  this  section  until 
the  advent  of  one  bought  by  the  subject's  father.  Table  sugar  was  very 
crude  in  qualit}'  and  dark  brown  in  color,  and  home-made  molasses  was  the 
on.linary  medium  for  sweetening. 

In  his  young  manhood  ^Ir.  Allee  engaged  in  teaching  school  for  three 
or  four  winters,  but  finding  this  occupation  detrimental  to  his  health,  he  went 
back  to  the  farm,  to  which  he  devoted  his  future  energies.  He  was  successful 
in  the  latter  pursuit  and  became  the  owner  of  over  a  thousand  acres  of  land. 
most  of  which  he  has  divided  with  his  chiKlren.  his  present  holdings  amount- 
ing to  three  hundred  and  forty  acres,  all  of  which  is  highly  cultivated  and 
well  improved.  He  has  carried  on  general  farming  operations,  with  which  he 
has  combined  the  raising  of  livestock,  fattening  many  hogs  and  cattle  for  the 
market.  Though  now-  able  to  retire  from  active  labor  of  any  nature.  Mr. 
Allee  retains  an  active  interest  in  agriculture,  the  spirit  of  idleness  being  a 
stranger  to  his  make-up. 

On  Xovember  17,  i860.  Mr.  Allee  was  united  in  marriage  with  Sarah  E. 
Sandy,  who  was  born  in  Owen  county,  Indiana,  the  daughter  of  \Villiam  B. 
Sandy,  and  to  this  union  have  l^een  bom  eight  children,  namely:  Lucretia  E., 
\\'illiam  U..  Tuliette  F..  Sarah  Teannette,  Lizzie  R.,  Amanda  M.,  Herbert  S. 


582  weik's  history  of 

and  Daisy  M.  Of  these,  Lucretia,  William,  Lizzie  and  Amanda  are  deceased. 
Juliette  married  first  William  Trent,  and  after  his  death  she  married  Alfred 
Elmore.  They  live  at  Mt.  Meridian  and  they  have  three  children  living, 
Mabel.  Herbert  and  Reba.  Sarah  Jeannette  married  L.  W.  Seller  and  they  live 
east  of  the  subject  in  Jefferson  township.  Their  son  Hubert  is  now  attending 
the  high  school  at  Greencastle.  Herbert,  who  lives  south  of  his  father  in 
Jefiferson  township,  married  Efifie  Dorsett  and  they  have  one  son.  Noble. 
Daisv  M.  became  the  wife  of  \'ennard  McCammack  and  lives  on  the  farm 
in  Jefferson  township  where  her  father  first  settled.  She  has  one  daughter, 
Sarah  Viola. 

Politically  Mr.  Allee  is  a  Republican,  having  cast  his  first  vote  for  Abra- 
ham Lincoln  the  day  after  he  attained  his  majority,  and  he  has  voted  for 
every  Republican  candidate  for  President  since.  However,  he  is  not  blindly 
partisan  in  local  public  affairs  and  has  had  many  friends  in  both  parties.  He 
was  at  one  time  elected  trustee  of  his  township  without  opposition,  his  can- 
didacy having  been  endorsed  also  by  the  Democrats.  Two  years  later  he  was 
re-elected  over  a  strong  opponent,  running  far  ahead  of  his  own  ticket.  Fra- 
ternally he  is  a  member  of  the  Masonic  order,  having  joined  in  1859  ^"^  "o^^' 
being  a  member  of  Cloverdale  Lodge,  No.  322.  Though  not  a  member  of  any 
church,  he  gives  a  cordial  support  to  all  churches,  which  he  assists  in  a  financial 
way  and  to  which  he  gives  his  moral  support.  He  donated  the  land  on  which 
the  New  Providence  Baptist  church  now  stands  and  also  donated  a  tract  of 
high  land  for  cemetery  purposes,  besides  reserving  additional  land  for  a  simi- 
lar purpose  when  needed.  Mr.  Allee  is  a  well  preserved  man  for  his  age,  and 
possesses  a  disposition  that  enables  him  to  see  and  enjoy  the  bright  side  of 
life.  He  has  experienced  the  hard  knocks  and  vicissitudes  of  life,  and  there- 
fore sympathizes  with  others  who  are  tr\'ing  to  work  their  way  up  in  life. 
He  is  genial  and  hospitable  and  his  friends  are  in  number  as  his  acquaintances. 


PETER  SIMPSON  STONER.  I 

The  agricultural  interests  of  Putnam  county  are  well  represented  by 
Peter  Simpson  Stoner.  who  is  one  of  the  practical  and  enterprising  fanners 
of  Greencastle  township,  his  well  tilled  and  highly  improved  fields  being  ad- 
mired bv  all  who  see  them,  and  he  has  also  been  long  known  as  one  of  the 
best  judges  of  livestock  in  the  southern  part  of  the  county.  Not  many  agri- 
culturists of  this  countv  are  lietter  known  than  he.  for  his  entire  life  has  been 


PUTNAM    COUNTY.   INDIANA.  5S3 

spent  liere  in  the  localitx"  where  his  ancestors  estabh'slied  good  homes  and  left 
behind  them  the  greatest  of  inheritances — good  names  and  iinlilemished  repu- 
tations. 

yir.  Stoner  was  l>orn  in  ^NFadison  ti5wnship,  Octolser  31.  1845.  For  a 
fnll  history  of  his  family  the  reader  is  directetl  to  the  sketch  of  his  brother, 
Lycurgns  Stoner,  appearing  elsew  here  in  these  pages.  Peter  S.  remained  on 
the  paternal  homestead,  until  he  was  eighteen  years  of  age.  when,  fired  by  a 
patriotic  zeal  that  knew  no  quelling,  he  enlisted  as  a  recruit,  in  1864.  in  Com- 
pany E.  Twenty-first  Regiment  Indiana  Volunteer  Infantry,  the  same  com- 
pan\'  and  regiment  in  the  Union  army  m  which  his  brother  Lycurgus  was  a 
soldier,  joining  the  regiment  at  Eaton  Rouge.  Mississippi,  reaching  there  about 
the  time  of  Banks'  expedition  up  Red  riyer,  but  he  did  not  participate  in  the 
same.  Later  he  was  sent  to  Alexandra.  Louisiana,  to  assist  in  holding  that 
country;  returning  to  Baton  Rouge,  he  was  discharged  January  16,  1866, 
\yhen  under  twenty  years  of  age.  having  seen  about  two  years'  service.  The 
following  spring  he  caiue  to  Washington  township,  this  county,  and  for  two 
years  farmed  in  partnership  with  his  two  brothers,  Lycurgus  and  William 
Payne.  About  that  time  their  father  died  and  Peter  S.  received  one  hun- 
dred and  eighty- four  acres  of  the  same  farm  he  had  been  working.  He  then 
worked  his  place  independently,  but  continued  to  deal  in  stock  in  partnership 
with  his  brothers.  Prospering,  he  later  added  to  the  home  place  until  he  had 
one  of  the  most  desirable  farms  in  the  township,  containing  two  hundred 
acres,  which  he  still  owns,  the  land  lying  along  the  Big  Walnut,  being  nearly 
all  bottom  land.  In  1883  he  came  to  his  present  farm  in  Greencastle  town- 
ship, three  miles  southwest  of  the  city,  this  being  the  old  Layton  farm,  con- 
taining one  hundred  and  eighty-three  acres,  along  which  runs  the  \'andalia 
railroad.  .About  twenty  years  ago  he  erected  his  present  imposing  and  beau- 
tifully located  dwelling,  standing  on  an  elevation  from  which  an  inspiring 
panorama  may  be  had  of  the  surrounding  country,  three  railroads,  an  inter- 
urban  line  and  the  city  of  Greencastle  being  included  within  the  range  of 
vision. 

Mr.  Stoner  is  a  general  farmer,  raising  abundant  crops  of  all  kinds,  but 
a  great  deal  of  his  time  is  devoted  to  stock  raising  and  feeding,  this  being 
his  principal  dependence.  He  formerly  owned  another  farm  of  one  hun- 
dred and  ninety  acres,  which  he  sold  to  his  son.  also  owned  a  one-third  inter- 
est in  the  old  homestead  in  Madison  township,  but  he  sold  that  to  his  brother 
Lycurgus.  Politically  he  is  a  Republican,  but  has  never  found  time  to  take 
more  than  a  passing  intere.st  in  political  affairs.  He  is  a  member  of  the 
Grand  Anny  of  the  Republic  post  at  Greencastle. 


584  weik's  history  of 

Mr.  Stoner  was  married  on  October  23,  1873.  to  Laura  Elizabeth  Landes, 
daughter  of  Christian  and  Ehzabeth  (HilHs)  Landes.  one  of  the  best  known 
and  most  highlv  respected  famihes  in  Putnam  county.  ]\Irs.  Stoner  is  a 
cousin  of  Charles  Landes,  late  of  Greencastle,  now  deceased  (see  his  sketch 
and  portrait  elsewhere  in  this  work).  On  the  fami  formerly  owned  by  Mr. 
Landes  now  lives  Christian  E.  Stoner.  son  of  Peter  S.  Stoner.  who  was  named 
for  his  grandfather  Landes.  Mrs.  Stoner's  parents  died  in  the  early  nine- 
ties, dying  within  one  year  of  each  other,  each  about  seventy  years  of  age. 

Mrs.  Stoner  was  bom  June  i.  1852.  and  her  death  occurred  May  20, 
1 901.  Two  children  were  born  to  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Stoner.  Christian  E.,  who 
married  Xellie  Koessler  and  they  are  the  parents  of  two  children.  Simpson. 
Jr..  and  Katherine;  and  Edith,  the  wife  of  A.  A.  Houck.  who  was  born  in 
Indiana  of  German  parentage,  his  parents  spending  their  lives  in  this  state. 
Mr.  Houck  is  a  commercial  salesman,  representing  the  St.  Louis  Coffin  Com- 
pany, covering  the  states  of  Xew  York  and  Pennsylvania.  He  makes  his 
home  with  ]\Ir.  Stoner.  and  he  and  his  wife  are  the  parents  of  two  children, 
Russell  and  Hugh  Stoner. 

Peter  S.  Stoner  is  a  member  of  Mt.  Olive  Methodist  Episcopal  church, 
this  l:eing  one  of  the  oldest  buildings  in  the  county.  He  takes  considerable 
interest  in  church  work  and,  in  fact,  whatever  tends  to  the  betterment  of  his 
community  and  county.  Personally  he  is  a  pleasant  man  to  meet,  hospitable 
in  his  home  and  kind  to  his  neighbors. 


FRED  MASTEX. 


Among  the  sul)stantial  and  influential  citizens  of  Warren  township.  Put- 
nam county.  Fred  Masten  must  be  numi)ered.  for  here  he  has  long  been  suc- 
cessfully engaged  in  farming  and  stock  raising  and  his  reputation  has  always 
I)een  unassailal)le.  He  is  the  son  of  Mathias  and  Xancy  (Elmore)  ^fasten 
and  the  grandson  of  Reuben  and  Margaret  (Garrison)  Alasten.  the  former  a 
native  of  X'orth  Carolina,  whose  father  was  a  native  of  England  and,  com- 
ing to  America  from  that  country  prior  to  the  Revolutionary  war.  ser\ed 
during  the  same  in  the  patriot  army.  Reuben  Masten  came  to  Hendricks 
countv,  Indiana,  during  its  early  settlement,  entered  a  tract  of  land  on  which 
he  erected  a  log  house,  cleared  a  plot  of  ground  and  began  farming,  which  he 
continued  to  follow.  He  and  his  wife  were  the  parents  of  ten  children,  named 
as  follows:  Hesekiah.  Darius,  Mathias.  Harrv.  John.  Jesse,  Maliala,   Mary. 


PL'TXAM    COrXTV.   IXDIAXA.  585 

Anna  and  Emma.  These  four  are  li\ing.  Jesse.  Mrs.  Mary  Roberts,  Mrs. 
Emilia  Hodson  and  Mathias.  The  father  of  these  chiklren  was  a  devoted 
member  of  the  Ouaker  cluircli  and  was  known  for  liis  strict  honesty  and  his 
defense  of  moral  and  upright  H\ing.  He  was  kind  and  indulgent  to  his 
family,  always  vigilant  of  their  needs.  He  and  his  good  wife  are  both  now- 
sleeping  the  sleep  of  the  just  in  the  family  burying  plot  in  Hendricks  county. 
Mr.  Masten  having  attained  the  ad^•anced  age  of  eight\'-four  years  before  he 
\\'as  called  to  his  reward. 

Mathias  Masten  spent  his  boyhood  days  on  the  farm  and  received  a 
limited  education  in  the  old-time  subscription  schools.  When  a  mere  lad  he 
volunteered  for  service  in  the  Union  army  and  w as  assigned  to  Company  H, 
Fifty-fifth  Regiment  Indiana  Volunteer  Infantry,  later  joining  the  One  Hun- 
dred an<l  Seventeenth  Regiment  Indiana  Ca\alry.  and  after  a  ser\-ice  of  one 
year  was  honorably  discharged  Februarv"  15.  1S64.  He  married,  in  1865, 
Xancy  Elmore,  daughter  of  Willis  Elmore,  of  Putnam  county.  They  moved 
to  a  rented  farm  in  Hendricks  county  and  shortly,  by  the  assistance  of  his 
father,  he  bought  a  farm  of  eighty  acres  in  Putnam  county,  which  he  later 
sold,  and  bought  and  sold,  in  turn,  several  other  farms.  He  finally  moved 
to  Clo\-erdale.  where  he  owns  property  and  he  still  looks  after  his  farm.  He 
is  an  ordained  minister  of  the  old-school  Baptist  church  and  spends  a  portion 
of  his  time  in  this  work.  He  is  a  (juiet,  unassuming  man  and  has  hosts  of 
friends  in  this  county.  Politically  he  is  a  Republican,  He  and  his  wife 
are  the  parents  of  eight  children,  named  as  follows:  Ida,  now  Mrs.  .\llen. 
was  bom  March  30,  1866,  and  they  are  the  parents  of  three  children.  Laura, 
Raymond  and  Nannie,  the  latter  decea.sed ;  Alfred  Masten.  born  August  6. 
1871.  died  August  15.  1872;  Oscar,  born  October  6,  1873.  married  Cora  Sears 
and  they  have  one  child.  Mary  Louise :  Reuben  W,.  born  March  26,  1880.  mar- 
ried Minnie  Butler  and  they  are  the  parents  of  four  children.  Zella,  Ruth, 
Relia  and  Walter  ^lonroe:  ^Irs.  Emma  Terry,  born  December  14,  1881,  is 
the  mother  of  two  children.  Gladys  M.  and  Ella  \'. ;  Everett,  born  August 
6.  1884,  married  Iva  Lewis,  and  three  children  have  been  born  to  them,  Lee. 
Lucile  and  one  that  died  in  infancy:  Ella,  born  August  19.  1889.  received  a 
common  school  education  and  is  living  at  home:  Fred,  of  this  review. 

Fred  Masten.  the  immediate  subject  of  this  sketch,  was  bom  July  17, 
i86g.  in  Putnam  countv,  and  he  spent  his  boyhood  days  on  his  father's  fami, 
receiving  the  advantages  of  a  common  school  education.  October  12,  1890, 
he  married  Mar>-  E.  Mathews,  daughter  of  Richard  F.  and  Arniinda  fMc- 
Cammack )  Mathews,  of  Jefferson  township,  Putnam  county.  Richard  F. 
]\Iathews.  Mrs.  Masten"s  father,  is  a  prosperous   farmer  of  Jefferson  town- 


586 


WEIK  S    HISTORY   OF 


ship.  He  was  bora  in  Kentucky  and  came  to  Putnam  county  at  an  early 
date,  and  settled  on  the  farm  where  he  now  lives  in  Jefferson  township.  He 
and  his  wife  are  the  parents  of  five  children :  Mary  E..  wife  of  the  subject  of 
this  sketch,  is  the  oldest;  Robert  W.,  Avis,  Richard  E..  Pyna  E.  Mr. 
Mathews  was  trustee  of  Jefferson  township  two  temis  several  years  ago.  Mr. 
end  Mrs.  Masten  moved  to  a  rented  fann  and  after  a  few  years  moved  to  the 
land  which  now  constitutes  his  home,  in  section  12,  Warren  township,  where 
besides  farming  his  own  land  he  has  leased  and  is  farming  a  large  tract  of 
adjoining  land.  He  has  been  very  successful  as  a  general  farmer  and 
handles  some  good  stock  from  year  to  year.  He  has  a  neat  home  and  is 
becoming  well  fixed  from  a  material  standpoint.  He  is  now  verv-  acceptably 
serving  Warren  township  as  its  trustee.  He  js  a  member  of  the  Missionary 
Baptist  church  at  Union  Valley,  Jefferson  township.  Politically  he  is  a 
Republican. 

To  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Fred  Masten  the  following  children  have  been  born : 
Jewel,  born  October  iS,  1S91  ;  Mamie  E.,  bom  June  6,  1895:  Hallie  A.,  born 
July  16,  1899;  Frank  M.,  bora  December  19,  1900;  Kenneth  C,  born  July 
30,  1902;  Piercy  C.  bom  April  11,  1904:  Robert  W.,  born  April  2.  1908. 


ALCAXY  FARMER. 


In  one  of  the  most  exacting  of  all  callings  the  subject  of  this  sketch  has 
attained  distinction,  being  recognized  as  one  of  the  most  successful  teachers 
in  the  county  of  Putnam.  He  is  a  well  educated,  systematically  developed 
man,  his  work  as  an  educator  having  brought  him  prominently  to  the  notice 
of  the  public,  the  result  of  which  is  a  demand  for  his  services  where  a  high 
standard  of  professional  excellence  is  required.  He  is  a  gentleman  of  schol- 
arly tastes  and  studious  habits,  keeps  abreast  the  times  in  advanced  educa- 
tional methods  and  his  general  knowledge  is  broad  and  comprehensive. 

Alcany  Farmer  was  born  in  Greencastle,  this  county,  on  December  16, 
1S62,  and  is  a  son  of  Benjamin  and  Marion  (Bridgewaters)  Famier.  being  a 
member  of  one  of  the  most  prominent  families  of  the  community.  The  sub- 
ject's pateraal  grandparents  were  James  and  Emily  (Parks)  Farmer.  James 
Farmer  was  a  native  of  Boone  county,  Kentucky,  born  August  26,  1806.  and 
in  about  1830  he  came  to  Monroe  county,  Indiana,  with  his  parents,  three 
brothers,  Robert,  John  and  Prior,  also  accompanying  them.  John  and  Rob- 
ert died  in  Monroe  countv.  while  Prior  went  to  Iowa,  where  his  death  oc- 


riTXAM    COUNTY.   INDIANA.  587 

curred.  ^^^.  Farmer's  parents  spent  the  remainder  of  their  days  in  :Monroe 
county  and  there  their  deaths  occurred.  James  Farmer  married  Emily 
Parks,  who  was  born  October  21,  1808.  and  who  was  a  daughter  of  Benja- 
min Parks.  The  latter  came  from  Xorth  Carolina  to  Virginia,  and  thence 
to  Indiana  and  was  a  widely  known  preacher  of  the  Baptist  church.  After  a 
short  sojourn  in  :\Ionroe  county  he  came  to  Putnam  county  and  located  near 
Putnamville.  To  James  and  Emily  Farmer  were  born  the  following  children  : 
Benjamin.  ]^Iary  Ann.  Matilda.  Louisa.  Thomas.  Nancy.  Cynthia  Isabelle, 
Samuel,  James  P.  and  Sarah  Ellen.  IMary  Ann  became  the  wife  of  Alex  Mc- 
Carty  and  they  moved  to  Oregon.  Matilda  married  John  Nosier  and  they 
too  \vent  to  Oregon  to  live.  Louisa  became  the  wife  of  Joseph  Ruark  and 
they  both  died  at  their  home  in  Marion  township,  this  county.  Thomas  re- 
sides at  Greencastle.  Xancy  became  the  wife  of  James  W.  Raines,  who  is 
now  deceased,  and  she  now  resides  at  Cloverdale.  Cynthia  Isabelle  became 
the  wife  of  Dr.  Thomas  Bryan  and  they  moved  to  Missouri,  where  their 
deaths  occurred.  Samuel  died  from  the  effects  of  an  accidental  gunshot 
wound  in  1899.  James  P.  went  to  Arkansas,  and  later  to  Indian  Territon,-, 
where  his  death  occurred.  Sarah  Ellen  is  the  wife  of  S.  J.  Ruark  and  they 
live  in  Greencastle.  The  father  of  these  children  followed  the  plasterer's 
trade  for  a  time  at  Greencastle.  being  assisted  by  his  son  Benjamin,  and  among 
their  contracts  was  that  of  plastering  the  old  court  house  at  Greencastle.  an- 
other son,-  Thomas,  having  hauled  the  lime  for  them.  Eventually  James 
Farmer  bought  a  tract  of  land  in  Marion  township,  to  which  the  family  re- 
moved, and  there  he  spent  his  later  years.  He  added  other  lands  to  his  first 
purchase  and  at  the  time  of  his  death  he  owned  between  three  hundred  and 
four  hundred  acres.  He  was  an  earnest  worker  in  the  Baptist  church,  in 
the  interest  of  which  he  gave  liberally  of  his  time  and  means.  Politically  he 
was  a  Democrat.  His  death  occurred  on  November  29,  1875.  and  that  of 
his  wife  on  December  28.  1887. 

Alcanv  Farmer  was  reared  under  the  parental  roof  and  secured  his  edu- 
cation in  the  public  schools,  supplemented  by  attendance  at  the  Danville  Nor- 
mal School.  When  he  was  two  or  three  years  old  the  family  moved  to 
Hendricks  county  and  located  on  a  farm,  where  they  remained  about  eight 
years,  then  moving  back  to  Putnam  county  and  locating  on  a  farm  which 
Benjamin  Farmer  owned  just  east  of  Greencastle.  The  subject  remained 
with  his  parents  until  he  was  about  seventeen  years  old.  when  he  started  out 
into  life  on  his  own  account.  He  first  worked  as  a  farm  hand,  but  two  years 
'  Iter  he  began  teaching  school,  and  here  he  soon  discovered  he  had  found  the 
sphere  in  which  his  talents  could  be  put  to  their  best  use.     He  was  successful 


588  weik's  history  of 

from  the  start  and  during  all  the  subsequent  years  he  has  been  identified  with 
the  pedagogical  profession,  and  during  this  period  of  twenty-eight  years  he 
has  taught  in  but  five  schools,  this  fact  standing  as  a  marked  testimonial  to 
his  general  efficiency  and  popularity  as  a  teacher.     During  three  years  of  this 
period  Mr.  Farmer  relinquished  his  professional  work  for  the  office  of  town- 
ship trustee,  to  which  position  he  had  been  elected  by  the  citizens  of  Clover- 
dale  township,  but  aside  from  this  interruption  his  work  has  been  carried  on 
consecutively  since  his  first  term.     He  taught  one  term  in  Greencastle  town- 
ship, one  in  Jefferson  township,  one  in  Warren  township,  three  in  Cloverdale 
township,  and  the  remainder  of  the  time  he  has  taught  at  the  Poplar  Grove 
school.     Mr.  Farmer  has  also  served  as  justice  of  the  peace  in  Cloverdale 
township,  serving  in  this  capacity  about  twelve  years,  and  during  that  period 
his  official  acts  were  characterized  by  a  strict  sense  of  fairness  and  justice. 
Soon  after  his  marriage  !Mr.  Farmer  bought  one  hundred  and  fifty-five  acres 
of  land,  situated  about  four  miles  west  of  Cloverdale.  and  to  this  he  has  added 
two  hundred  and  ten  acres.     To  the  cultivation  of  this  land  he  has  given  care- 
ful attention  and  has  met  with  splendid  success.     The  place  is  well  improved 
and  cared  for  and  is  numbered  among  the  good  farms  of  the  township. 

On  September  20,  1885,  Alcany  Farmer  married  Sarah  E.  Butler,  a 
daughter  of  John  W.  and  Adeline  (Shaw)  Butler,  she  being  a  native  of 
Jefferson  township,  this  county.  Her  father  was  a  native  of  New  Jersey 
and  her  mother  was  born  in  Ohio,  being  a  daughter  of  Upton  and  Susan 
(Branneman)  Shaw.  Susan  Branneman  was  a  daughter  of  Jacob  and  Alatilda 
(Baker)  Branneman,  the  former  having  been  a  native  of  Germany,  who 
came  first  to  Pennsylvania,  moving  later  to  Virginia,  then  to  Ohio,  and  later 
to  Putnam  county,  Indiana,  where  he  died  in  1872.  at  the  age  of  ninety-seven 
years.  Upton  Shaw  was  a  native  of  Maryland,  subsequently  went  to  Vir- 
ginia, where  he  married,  and  during  the  late  twenties  came  to  Putnam  county. 
Indiana,  where  he  entered  over  six  hundred  acres  of  land  in  Jefferson  town- 
ship. Mrs.  Farmer's  mother  died  when  the  former  was  less  than  two  weeks 
old  and  she  was  reared  by  her  maternal  grandparents.  To  ^Ir.  and  Mrs. 
Farmer  have  been  born  two  children.  Gracie  P.  and  Elmer  E.,  both  of  whom 
are  school  teachers,  the  fonner  teaching  in  Madison  township  and  the  latter 
in  Jackson  township.  Both  of  these  children  rounded  out  their  public  school 
educations  by  attendance  at  the  Danville  Xormal  School.  Fraternally  Mr. 
Famier  is  a  member  gi  the  ^Modern  Woodmen  of  America.  He  is  a  gentle- 
man of  excellent  personal  qualities  and  is  held  in  high  esteem  throughout  the 
communitv  where  he  has  spent  so  many  of  the  active  years  of  his  life. 


PUTN'AM   COCXTY,  IXDIAXA.  589 


JOHN  L.  HILLIS. 

Without  searching  tor  h'neage  in  mnsty  tombs  or  tlie  less  satisfactory 
authority  of  tradition,  it  suffices  to  state,  in  writing  this  biography  of  a 
practical  and  successful  man  and  master  of  his  chosen  life  work,  that  his 
progenitors  were  in  the  broadest  sense  high,  their  influence  salutary  and 
whose  characters  and  sterling  worth  have  been  reproduced  in  their  descend- 
ants, one  of  the  best  known  in  Putnam  county  being  John  L.  Hillis.  who 
was  born  on  the  township  line,  two  miles  south  of  Greencastle,  October  4, 
1834.  His  parents  were  Abram  Allen  and  Elizabeth  (Peck)  Hillis.  both 
born  in  Fleming  county.  Kentucky,  where  they  grew  to  maturity  and  were 
married.  Their  parents  came  from  Pennsylvania,  floating  down  the  Ohio 
river  in  flatboats  to  Fleming  county,  Kentucky.  In  1824  Abram  came  to 
Putnam  irounty  and  entered  his  land  and  the  following  year  brought  his 
family.  An  old  receipt  still  in  the  possession  of  his  descendants  shows  that 
he  gave  a  man  ten  acres  of  corn  he  had  in  Kentucky  to  move  his  wife  and  two 
children,  in  a  four-horse  wagon.  They  settled  in  the  woods,  in  the  fall  of 
1825;  built  a  cabin  and  went  to  work  on  the  land,  clearing  enough  the  fol- 
lowing winter  to  put  nut  a  small  crop  the  next  season.  He  developed  an  ex- 
cellent farm  in  time,  built  a  good  home  and  spent  the  remainder  of  his  life 
here,  the  farm  now  being  owneiJ  by  his  son  Abram.  The  fomier  placed 
about  eightv  acres  in  cultivation  and  he  erected  his  brick  dwelling  in  1S40. 
which  at  that  time  was  somewhat  of  an  uncommon  sight  on  the  frontier,  but 
the  building  has  now  fallen  almost  entirely  to  decay. 

Abram  Hillis.  Sr..  was  bom  in  1799  and  his  death  occurred  in  June 
1868.  at  the  age  of  si.xty-nine.  His  wife  survived  him  until  1884.  reaching 
the  advanced  age  of  eighty-three  years;  side  by  side,  they  are  now  sleeping 
the  sleep  of  the  just  on  the  okl  homestead  at  Mt.  Pleasant  church.  They  were 
Presbvterians.  Although  thev  held  membership  in  the  Presbyterian  church 
at  Greencastle.  Air.  Hillis  helped  build  the  Methodist  church  near  his  home. 
He  was  not  a  public  man  in  any  sense  of  the  word ;  a  musician,  he  was  a 
fifer  at  muster  times,  and  was  fre(|uently  called  upon  to  play,  especially  dur- 
ing the  call  of  troops  during  the  Civil  war.  He  was  a  fine  mark.sman  with  a 
rifle  and  a  great  hunter,  enjoying  killing  wild  game.  He  would  not  shoot  a 
squirrel  except  in  the  head.  He  was  a  splendid  type  of  the  sterling  pioneer, 
rugged,  hard-working,  honest. 

To  Mr.  and  ?ilrs.  Abram  Hillis.  Sr..  thirteen  children  were  born,  ten 
of  whom  lived  to  maturity:  a  daughter  died  when  seventeen  years  of  age; 


590  WEIK  S   HISTORY  OF 

the  other  nine  were  named  as  follows:  Elizabeth,  who  married  Christian 
Landis,  a  blacksmith  and  fanner,  died  while  living  on  the  farm;  John  L.. 
of  this  review;  William  went  to  Oregon  when  a  young  man,  spending  his 
life  there,  all  trace  of  him  being  lost  until  two  years  ago,  when  he  died; 
George,  who  w"as  a  carpenter  and  farmed  on  the  old  homestead,  reared  six 
children,  and  died  when  about  sixty-nine  years  of  age;  Mary  married  A.  S. 
Finley  and  lived  at  Bainbridge  until  her  death,  at  the  age  of  sixty-seven; 
Sarah  married  Logan  Foxworthy,  who  ran  a  planing  mill  in  Greencastle; 
after  his  death  his  widow  went  to  Colorado,  where  she  died;  Henry  was  a 
contractor  and  operated  a  stone  quarry  (see  sketch  of  Mrs.  Sarah  E.  Hillis)  ; 
James  H.,  a  farmer  in  Harrison  county,  Missouri,  spent  several  years  in 
Kentucky;  Abram  lives  on  the  old  homestead;  Emma  married  William  Fore- 
man, a  Kentuckian,  who  married  while  attending  DePauw,  lived  then  in 
Kentucky  for  many  years,  but  now  at  Phoenix,  Arizona. 

John  L.  Hillis  remained  at  home  until  he  was  twenty-one  years  of  age, 
assisting  with  the  work  about  the  place  and  attending  the  district  schools.  In 
company  with  a  number  of  other  young  men,  he  went  to  Kansas  to  try  his 
fortune,  also  spent  one  or  two  years  in  Iowa,  then  returned  to  Indiana.  He 
learned  the  carpenter's  trade  and  followed  this  until  President  Lincoln's  call 
for  brave  men  to  save  the  national  honor  induced  him  to  enlist  in  defense  of 
the  flag,  on  July  6,  1861,  as  a  result  of  the  call  for  three  years'  ser\'ice,  in 
Company  E,  Twenty-first  Regiment,  Indiana  Volunteer  Infantry,  and  he 
remained  with  the  regiment  until  its  final  discharge,  participating  in  all  the 
trying  campaigns  and  bloody  engagements  of  his  company,  never  being  in 
the  hospital.  He  went  to  New  Orleans  with  General  Butler.  After  two 
years'  service  he  was  transferred  to  the  heavy  artillery,  in  which  he  con- 
tinued until  the  cessation  of  hostilities.  Although  in  constant  service,  he  was 
not  wounded  or  captured.  For  his  faithful  services  he  became  sergeant  in 
the  quartennaster's  department.  He  veteranized  in  1864  and  was  discharged 
January  10.  1866.  He  had  been  kept  for  several  months  after  the  close  of  the 
war  at  Alexandria  on  Red  river  to  care  for  government  stores,  having  been 
in  the  service  over  four  and  one-half  years.  Two  of  his  brothers,  Henry  and 
James,  were  also  in  the  Union  array,  Flenry  serving  two  short  terms  of 
enlistment  and  James  three  years. 

After  the  war,  John  L.  Hillis  returned  to  Putnam  county  and  built  a 
planing  mill  at  Bainbridge  and  continued  to  work  at  the  carpenter's  trade. 
but  in  1868  he  turned  his  attention  to  agriculture,  coming  to  his  present  farm 
two  miles  southwest  of  Greencastle,  where  he  has  a  well  improved  farm  of 
one  hundred  acres  near  Limedale  Station,  where  William  Stagg  burned  lime 
for  many  years  in  the  early  days.     In  1879  Mr.  Hillis  erected  an  attractive. 


PL'TNAM    COUNTY.   INDIANA.  591 

substantial  and  large  brick  house,  which  is  in  keeping  with  everything  about 
the  place,  tor  he  has  one  of  the  neatest  farms  in  this  locaHty,  on  which  he 
carries  on  general  farming  and  for  years  he  has  made  the  growing  of  small 
fruits  a  specialty,  being  well  versed  in  horticulture.  He  also  keeps  some  good 
stock  and  poultry. 

Mr.  Hillis  was  married  on  February  22,  1866,  to  Indiana  Stoner,  for 
history  of  whose  family  see  sketch  of  Lycurgus  Stoner.  The  following 
children  have  been  bom  to  Air.  and  3,Irs.  Hillis;  Alva  L..  a  civil  engineer 
at  Marinette,  Wisconsin;  Mar>'  E.  married  William  O'Hair.  of  Monroe 
township;  Olive  C.  is  the  widow  of  Herbert  Kelly,  who  was  a  jeweler  in 
Greencastle;  Frank  L.  is  a  locomotive  engineer  for  the  Vandalia  railroad, 
with  headquarters  at  Terre  Haute;  Edgar  H.  is  a  fanner  in  Colorado;  Ber- 
tha L.  is  living  at  home;  Jennie  X.  married  Zefa  Burkett  and  lives  in  Clin- 
ton township. 

Politically  Mr.  Hillis  is  a  Republican;  how^ever,  he  is  not  an  office  seeker, 
preferring  to  devote  his  exclusive  attention  to  his  farm  and  individual  affairs. 
He  is  a  member  of  Post  Xo.  11,  Grand  Anny  of  the  Republic. 


JESSE  ERXEST  McCOY. 

The  gentleman  to  a  brief  review  of  whose  life  the  reader's  attention 
is  herewith  directed  is  among  the  foremost  business  men  of  Cloverdale  and 
has  by  his  enterprise  and  progressive  methods  contributed  in  a  material 
way  to  the  industrial  and  commercial  advancement  of  the  community. 
Possessing  splendid  executive  and  business  ability,  he  has  been  successful 
in  a  material  wav  and  because  of  his  sterling  qualities  he  is  numbered 
among  the  representative  men  of  the  town  in  which  he  lives. 

Mr.  McCov  is  a  native  of  Putnam  county,  having  first  seen  the  light 
of  dav  three  miles  south  of  Cloverdale  on  the  4th  day  of  July,  1877.  and 
he  is' the  son  of  Samuel  S.  and  Cynthia  ( Funican)  :\IcCoy,  highly  re- 
spected residents  of  that  community.  Mr.  McCoy  was  reared  under  the 
parental  roof  and  when  a  year  old  the  family  removed  to  near  Manhattan, 
and  shortly  afterwards  into  that  town,  where  the  father  conducted  a  gen- 
eral store.  There  the  subject  spent  his  boyhood  and  attended  the  public 
schools.  He  then  took  a  course  of  study  in  the  academy  at  Greencastle. 
after  which  he  engaged  in  teaching  school.  He  taught  for  three  years  in 
Washington  township  and  then  for  a  year  was  principal  of  the  schools  at 


592 


WEIK  S    HISTORY   OF 


Piitnaniville.  He  held  a  high  school  license  and  while  at  the  latter  place 
he  taught  some  high-school  subjects.  In  March,  1899,  Mr.  McCoy  went 
to  Cloverdale  and  entered  the  hardware  store  of  T.  11.  Layne.  From  the 
beginning  of  his  connection  with  the  store  he  was  given  some  part  in  its 
management,  and  additional  responsibilities  were  put  upon  him  until  by 
1904  he  had  the  full  management  of  the  business.  After  the  death  of  Mr. 
Lavne.  which  occurred  on  December  27,  1908,  the  Cloverdale  Hardware 
and  Lumber  Company  was  formed,  which  acquired  by  purchase  the  busi- 
ness formerlv  conducted  by  Mr.  Layne.  :\[r.  ^[cCoy  became  a  member  of 
this  company  and  was  continued  as  the  active  manager  of  the  store,  which 
position  he  still  retains.  The  company  has  a  capital  stock  of  thirty  thou- 
sand dollars,  and  besides  the  hardware  business,  it  owns  the  building  and 
ground,  a  large  separate  warehouse,  and  a  large  and  well  equipped  planing 
mill  in  Cloverdale.  Mr.  McCoy  maintains  a  personal  supervision  over  all 
the  details  of  the  business  in  all  its  branches  and  the  success  which  has 
come  to  the  company  is  largely  due  to  his  indefatigable  efforts  and  marked 
business  abilitv.  The  officers  of  the  company  are  as  follows:  President,  J. 
W.  Croxton;  vice-president,  A.  N.  Holloway;  secretary-treasurer,  Estes 
Duncan. 

In  October,  1901,  ^Ir.  ^^IcCoy  was  united  in  marriage  w^ith  Lelia  B 
Davis,  the  daughter  of  R.  C.  Davis,  her  home  having  formerly  been  at 
Cataract  and  later  at  Ouincy,  Owen  county,  this  state.  Their  union  has 
been  blessed  in  the  birth  of  a  son,  Kenneth  D.,  who  was  born  on  January 
24,  1903. 

Fraternally,  Mr.  ]\IcCoy  is  a  member  of  the  Knights  ot  Pythias  and 
the  Modern  Woodmen  of  America,  while  religiously  he  and  his  wife  are 
members  of  the  Church  of  Christ. 


JAMES  WILLIA^I  SCOTT. 

The  career  of  the  "-entleman  whose  name  introduces  this  sketch  illustrates 
forciblv  the  possibilities  that  are  open  to  the  man  who  possesses  a  sound  mind 
and  well  balanced  judginent  and  the  requisite  energv-  to  direct  the  same  in 
their  proper  channels.  It  also  proves  that  ambitious  perseverance,  steadfast- 
ness of  purpose  and  untiring  industry  will  eventually  be  rewarded  and  that 
true  success  is  the  legitimate  result  of  individual  effort.  James  William 
Scott  has  led  a  verv  strenuous  life,  replete  at  times  with  stirring  incidents  akin 


JAMES  \V.   SCOTT 


PUTN'AM   COUNTY,   IXDIAXA.  593 

to  the  tragic,  although  he  has  never  indulged  in  self -laudation  nor  attempted 
to  make  capital  of  his  many  thrilling  experiences.  He  is  in  fact  a  man  of 
cjuiet  demeanor  and  all  of  his  relations  with  his  fellows  have  been  character- 
ized bv  that  becoming  modesty  which  marks  the  unobtrusive  though  true  and 
courteous  gentleman. 

Mr.  Scott  is  a  native  of  Bath  county,  Kentucky,  born  near  the  town  of 
Bethel  on  July  \  i.  1843.  His  father,  George  Washington  Scott,  also  a  native 
of  the  above  county,  was  of  Scotch-Irish  lineage,  his  grandparents  immigrat- 
ing to  this  country  from  Ireland  many  years  ago  and  settling  presumably  in 
\'irginia. 

Minerva  Rogers,  wife  of  George  AV.  Scott  and  mother  of  the  subject, 
was  a  daughter  of  William  Rogers.  Jr..  whose  father,  William  Rogers,  Sr., 
was  a  companion  of  Daniel  Boone  and  was  with  that  intrepid  backwoodsman 
and  hunter  when  his  little  company  of  settlers  were  besieged  by  the  Indians  on 
the  Kentucky  Run.  not  far  from  the  present  site  of  Richmond.  The  Rogers 
family  originally  settled  in  Virginia,  near  Cnlpeper  Court  House,  where 
William  Rogers,  Jr.,  was  born  while  the  father  was  being  besieged  in  the 
block  house  as  stated  above. 

When  about  eight  years  of  age  William  Rogers,  Jr..  removed  with  his 
parents  to  Bath  county.  Kentucky,  where  he  grew  to  maturity  on  a  farm 
which  was  originally  a  cane  brake  in  a  dense,  unbroken  wilderness.  Ere  a 
house  could  be  erected,  a  space  had  to  be  cleared  and  when  finished  the  little 
frontier  dwelling  was  not  as  high  as  the  growth  of  cane  by  which  surrounded. 
After  residing  on  this  place  for  a  few  years  the  elder  Rogers  purchased  a 
farm  on  Bald  Eagle  creek  near  where  that  stream  empties  into  Flat  creek,  and 
it  was  there  that  the  subject's  grandparents  spent  the  remainder  of  their  days. 
His  wife  dving.  Mr.  Rogers.  Sr..  subsequently  remarried  and  lived  to  a  ripe 
old  age.  leaving  an  honored  name  which  his  descendants  prize  as  a  priceless 
heritage. 

William  Rogers.  Jr.,  served  in  Col.  "Dick"'  Johnson's  regiment  during 
the  war  of  1812  and  was  at  the  battle  of  the  Thames,  where  the  celebrated 
Indian  chief  Tecumseh  lost  his  life,  killed,  it  is  believed,  by  the  Colonel  him- 
self. Later  he  bought  a  farm  in  Bath  county,  Kentucky,  near  his  old  home 
where  he  reared  a  large  family  and  spent  the  residue  of  his  life,  dying  when 
nearly  one  hundred  years  of  age. 

The  marriage  of  George  Washington  Scott  and  ^Minerva  Rogers  was 
solemnized  about  1S40.  the  union  being  terminated  by  the  death  of  the  wife 
four  vears   later.     Sub.«equently   ^fr.    Scott   married   Elizabeth   Baxter  and 

(38) 


594  WEIK  S    HISTORY    OF 

moved  to  Putnam  count}',  Indiana,  settling  at  Clo\erdale,  where  he  devoted 
his  attention  to  agricultural  pin-suits  until  his  death,  w  iiich  occurred  at  Green- 
castle  in  the  year  1863. 

James  William  Scott  was  less  than  a  year  old  when  his  mother  died  and 
while  still  quite  young  was  brought  by  his  father  to  Putnam  county,  where  he 
spent  his  childhood  and  early  youth.  In  1859,  when  a  lad  of  sixteen,  he  ran 
away  from  home  and  returned  to  Kentucky,  where  he  began  to  make  his  own 
way  as  a  farm  laborer,  receiving  ten  dollars  per  month  and  penjuisites.  De- 
termined to  surmount  his  environment  and  become  something  more  than  a 
mere  [)assi\-e  agency  in  the  world,  he  worked  hard,  gained  the  confidence  of 
his  employer  and,  with  the  prestige  of  his  grandfather,  a  wealthy  and  influ- 
ential farmer  and  sla\e-holder  who  lived  near  by,  soon  found  himself  on  the 
high-road  to  success.  Espousing  the  cause  of  the  South  at  the  breaking  out 
of  the  Civil  war,  he  enlisted  in  September,  1862,  in  the  Ninth  Regiment  Ken- 
tucky \'olunteers.  Confederate  States  Army,  which  formed  a  part  of  the 
arm_\-  under  the  command  of  the  famous  Confederate  leader.  Gen.  John 
^lorgan. 

'Sir.  Scott  shared  all  the  vicissitudes  and  hardships  in  which  the  regi- 
ment took  part  and  was  with  his  intrepid  commander  in  many  of  the  skir- 
mishes, battles  and  daring  actions  for  which  he  was  noted,  one  of  which  was 
the  capture  of  two  thousand  five  hundred  Federals  when  his  own  force  num- 
bered less  than  eight  hundred  men,  and  this  too  in  the  face  of  three  regiments 
of  Federals  who  arrived  on  the  scene  in  time  to  see  Morgan  retire  with  all  of 
his  prisoners.  While  returning  from  this  raid  Mr.  Scott  had  his  feet  so 
badly  frozen  that  all  of  his  toe-nails  came  off.  also  much  of  the  flesh.  He  had 
ridden  two  days  and  two  nights  without  rest  and  when  the  men  halted  he 
threw  himself  upon  the  ground  and  almost  instantly  fell  into  a  profound 
sleep.  On  being  awakened  by  some  of  his  comrades  his  feet  and  limbs  were 
so  badly  frozen  that  he  could  not  walk ;  being  carried  to  a  farm  house  near 
bv,  he  sat  for  three  days  with  his  feet  in  a  tub  of  cold  water,  a  treatment 
which  proved  only  partiall_\-  successful  as  he  was  enabled  to  walk  only  with 
great  difficulty  and  much  suffering  at  the  expiration  of  the  time  indicated, 
because  of  the  fearful  condition  of  his  feet,  which  the  meanwhile  had  become 
black  and  sloughed  off  until  the  bones  in  several  places  were  exposed.  He 
dressed  himself  on  learning  of  the  Federal  advance  and  follow-ed  in  the  rear 
until  the  two  armies  became  engaged  at  Stone  River.  In  the  excitement  of 
the  battle  he  forgot  all  about  his  injured  members  and,  regardless  of  the  in- 
tenselv  cold  weather,  he  again  waded  through  deep,  freezing  water  which  left 
him  in  much  worse  condition  than  before. 


PUTXAM   COUNTY.   IXDIAXA.  595 

At  the  battle  of  Mis.-;ionary  Ridge  Mr.  Scott's  regiment  was  on  the  ex- 
treme Confederate  right  and  there,  as  elsewhere,  he  proved  all  that  a  brave 
and  intrepid  leader  should  l)e.  fighting  with  determination  until  his  command 
was  ordered  to  retreat  before  the  greater  force  of  the  enemy.  He  also  par- 
ticipated in  the  battle  oi  Buzzard  Roost.  Resaca.  Peach  Tree  Creek  (where  his 
regiment  forced  the  fighting  until  outflanked).  Big  Shanty.  Kenesaw  Moun- 
tain, where  he  was  a  short  distance  from  the  spot  where  General  Polk  met 
his  death,  and  numerous  other  engagements  and  skirmishes.  At  the  time  of 
^Morgan's  raid  through  southern  Indiana  and  Ohio,  his  regiment  was  so  worn 
out  that  the  General  did  not  deem  it  fit  for  such  strenuous  duty :  accordingly 
it  remained  in  the  South  in  the  cause  of  the  Confederacy. 

At  the  battle  of  Peach  Tree  Creek,  where,  as  already  stated,  his  regiment 
led  the  aihance  and  forced  the  fighting,  'Sir.  Scott,  although  too  sick  for  duty, 
remained  on  the  field  performing  valuable  service  until  the  close  of  the  engage- 
ment. He  was  then  ordered  by  the  physician  to  leave  the  ranks  and  care  for 
himself  until  able  to  rejoin  his  command:  accordingly,  he  retired  to,  a  farm 
house  where  for  some  weeks  he  lay  quite  sick.  \\''hile  there  he  learned  of  the 
fall  of  -\tlanta.  which  doubtless  had  a  tendency  to  hasten  his  recovers-,  as  he 
soon  afterwards  started  to  rejoin  the  army,  but  did  not  overtake  his  regiment 
until  it  had  reached  Savannah  in  the  winter  of  1864-5.  Fi'om  that  citv  the 
Confederate  forces  fell  back  through  the  Carolinas  to  Columbia,  where  Mr. 
Scott  was  one  of  the  last  to  cross  the  britlge  before  it  was  burned,  .\fter  the 
battle  of  Goldsboro,  President  Davis  shipped  his  Confederate  treasurv.  includ- 
ing four  wagon  loads  of  specie  money,  to  Raleigh,  and  he  called  on  General 
Wheeler  for  his  best  brigade  to  escort  him  and  his  entire  cabinet  and  valuable 
treasures  to  that  city.  General  Dibree's  brigade,  of  which  Mr.  Scott  was  a 
member,  was  selected  for  this  honor,  and  Mr.  Scott  guarded  these  treasures 
for  about  four  days.  With  other  members  of  his  company  he  received  twentv- 
six  dollars  of  this  money,  the  bulk  of  it  being  captured  with  President  Davis. 
This  duty  being  carried  out,  the  command  was  ordered  by  the  Federals  to  go 
no  further  as  the  mo\-ement  constituted  a  violation  of  Lee's  terms  of  sur- 
render. .\fter  crossing  the  Savannah  river  at  the  place  where  General  Greene 
crossed  in  the  Revolution,  the  force  intrusted  with  the  above  mission  vielded 
to  the  Federals,  each  man  being  permitted  to  retain  such  personal  propertv  as 
was  in  his  possession  when  paroled  in  May,  1S65,  At  Chattanooga,  where 
they  were  escorted  by  a  lieutenant  and  two  privates,  many  of  the  paroled  men 
lost  their  property,  their  horses  and  saddles  being  taken  by  Federal  officers, 
but  later,  by  order  of  General  Thomas,  all  of  their  belongings  were  restored 
to  them,  the  subject  reco\-ering  a  saddle,  bridle,  a  horse  and  a  mule.     Dis- 


596  weik's  history  of 

posing  of  the  latter  animal  for  forty  dollars,  he  purchased  an  entire  suit  of 
clothes,  which  he  donned  as  soon  as  possible,  making  the  exchange  in  the 
woods  nearby,  where  he  left  his  old  garments  together  with  all  of  their 
crawling  inhabitants. 

In  January,  1866,  Mr.  Scott  returned  to  Cloverdale  and  has  since  made 
this  village  his  home.  On  May  30,  1867,  he  was  united  in  marriage  with 
Eliza  M.  Harrah,  whose  birth  occurred  about  two  and  a  half  miles  northwest 
of  Cloverdale.  where  her  father,  Pressley  Harrah,  had  long  been  a  resident, 
the  latter  a  son  of  a  Kentucky  pioneer  who  entered  land  and  made  a  settle- 
ment in  Warren  township,  at  a  very  early  day.  After  his  marriage  Mr.  Scott 
farmed  as  a  renter  until  obtaining  a  start  in  the  world,  later,  in  1872,  pur- 
chasing eighty  acres  in  Warren  township,  which  with  an  eighty-acre  tract 
inherited  by  his  wife  enabled  him  to  engage  in  agriculture  and  stock  raising 
upon  a  more  extensive  scale.  He  added  to  his  holdings  at  intervals  until 
at  one  time  he  owned  six  hundred  acres  of  \aluable  real  estate  in  Putnam 
county,  besides  other  valuable  property  which  made  him  one  of  the  well-to-do 
men  of  the  community. 

Mr.  Scott  has  been  quite  successful  in  all  of  his  transactions,  possessing, 
as  he  does,  business  ability  of  a  high  order  and  his  motto  has  always  been  to 
live  within  the  income  and  make  every  dollar  earned  produce  another.  He 
has  added  materially  to  his  fortune  by  trading,  buying  and  selling  livestock 
and  by  judicious  investments  in  land  and  other  kinds  of  property.  He  lived 
on  his  fann  in  Warren  township  until  September,  1907,  when  he  purchased 
a  healthful  and  attractive  home  in  Cloverdale,  where  he  has  since  resided, 
his  wife  having  died  in  the  year  1S97. 

To  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Scott  were  born  nine  children,  namely :  Samuel  L.,  a 
telegraph  operator  at  Jordan  village  on  the  ^^lonon  line;  he  married  Lettie 
Snyder  and  is  the  father  of  four  children,  of  whom  two  are  living,  Scott  and 
Xina.  William,  the  second  son,  is  a  farmer  near  Clay  City.  Indiana;  his 
wife,  formerly  Mary  Rule,  died  after  bearing  him  three  children,  of  whom 
Everett  and  Thomas  survive.  Later  he  contracted  a  marriage  with  Edith 
Hilburn.  the  union  resulting  in  the  birth  of  three  children,  Margaret,  Ralph 
and  Cecil.  Minerva  is  the  wife  of  Charles  Emory  Cooper  and  lives  in  War- 
ren-town.ship,  where  her  husband  is  engaged  in  farming.  Their  family  con- 
sists of  seven  children,  viz;  Wilbur.  Laura,  Ethel,  Emmett,  Ruth,  Leslie  and 
Eugene  Scott.  Margaret  Frances,  who  became  the  wife  of  James  Coston, 
of  Terre  Haute,  is  the  mother  of  three  children,  Dwight,  Reese  and  Bononni. 
Lucy  Ellen,  now  Mrs.  Harley  Harris,  lives  in  JelTerson  township  and  has 
three  children,  Forest,  Harrold  and  Mabel  Esther.     James  B..  who  lives  on 


PUTXAM   COUNTY,   INDIANA.  597 

the  home  farm  in  Warren  township,  married  Ethel  Truesdell  and  is  the  father 
of  a  daughter,  Lucille,  and  a  son,  Marcellus.  Charles  P.  is  unmarried  and 
lives  with  his  brother  William  on  what  is  known  as  the  Eel  River  bottoms ; 
Elizabeth,  wife  of  Walter  Vermillion,  resides  in  Indianapolis;  Mary  Jane 
departed  this  life  in  189S,  at  the  age  of  twenty-three. 

;\Ir.  Scott  has  been  a  life-long  Republican,  though  not  an  office  seeker 
nor  aspirant  for  anv  kind  of  public  distinction.  Religiously,  the  Presbyter- 
ian church  holds  his  creed,  with  which  bodv  his  wife  was  also  identified. 


CHARLES  A.  ROCKWELL. 

It  is  always  pleasant  and  profitable  to  contemplate  the  career  of  a  man 
w  ho  has  made  a  success  of  life  and  won  the  honor  and  respect  of  his  fellow 
citizens.  Such  is  the  record  of  the  well-known  gentleman  whose  name  heads 
this  sketch,  than  whom  a  more  whole-souled  or  popular  man  it  would  be 
difficult  to  find  within  the  limits  of  Cloverdale,  Putnam  county,  where  he  has 
his  home.  Charles  A.  Rockwell  was  born  in  Cloverdale  December  2,  1870, 
and  is  a  son  of  Capt.  Andrew  J.  and  Malissa  C.  (McCoy)  Rockwell,  the 
former  of  whom  was  for  nearly  a  half  century  one  of  the  honored  and  in- 
fluential citizens  of  Putnam  county. 

Andrew  J.  Rockwell  was  born  in  Wayne  county,  Ohio,  April  12.  1831, 
and  was  reared  under  the  parental  roof,  his  father  having  been  a  widely 
known  and  successful  hotel  keeper.  When  about  twenty  years  old  Andrew 
Rockwell  yielded  to  the  allurements  of  the  West  and  went  to  California, 
where  he  remained  for  eight  years.  He  was  first  employed  in  a  hotel  there 
and  subsequently  went  into  that  business  himself.  Eventually  he  disposed 
of  that  enterprise  and  went  into  the  lumber  business,  and  at  the  same  time 
sened  as  superintendent  of  an  Indian  reservation,  where  he  had  between 
four  and  five  thousand  red  men  under  his  charge.  He  was  also  for  two 
years  overseer  of  the  San  Ouinten  penitentiary  in  that  state.  Returning 
East  in  1861.  Mr.  Rockwell  located  in  Owen  county,  Indiana.  The  South- 
ern insurrection  aroused  ilr.  Rockwell's  patriotic  impulses  and  in  the  sum- 
mer of  1862  he  took  an  active  part  in  raising  Company  F,  Seventy-first 
Regiment.  Indiana  A'olunteer  Infantry-.  At  the  organization  of  the  com- 
pany he  was  elected  captain,  but  resigned  in  favor  of  another  man.  He 
was.  however,  subsequently  re-commissioned  and  commanded  his  company 
until  his  discharge  from  the  service  because  of  physical  disability.     He  was 


598  weik's  history  of 

a  valiant  soldier,  a  splendid  disciplinarian  and  a  popular  commander.  With 
his  command  he  took  part  in  a  number  of  hotly  contested  engagements,  in- 
cluding those  at  Richmond  and  Muldraugh's  Hill,  Kentucky. 

On  his  retirement  from  military  service.  Captain  Rockwell  returned 
to  Owen  county  and  resumed  his  farming  operations.  On  the  i8th  of  June, 
1863.  he  was  married,  and  in  September  of  the  following  year  he  moved  to 
Cloverdale,  Putnam  county.  Indiana,  where  he  resided  continuously  up  to 
the  time  of  his  death,  which  occurred  on  Thursday.  October  21,  1909.  Dur- 
ing the  long  period  of  over  forty  years  he  was  engaged  in  the  mercantile 
business  there  and  became  not  only  widely  known,  but  was  highly  esteemed 
bv  all.  After  retiring  from  the  mercantile  business.  Captain  Rockwell  en- 
gaged in  the  insurance,  real  estate  and  notary  business,  in  which  he  engaged 
up  to  the  illness  which  preceded  his  death.  His  business  dealings  were  char- 
acterized bv  a  stanch  and  unimpeachable  integrity  and  an  honesty  of  pur- 
pose which  gained  for  him  early  in  his  business  career  an  enviable  reputa- 
tion among  his  fellows — a  reputation  which  was  never  in  after  years  impaired 
in  even  the  slightest  degree.  At  the  time  of  his  death,  one  who  knew  him 
well  said  of  him:  "In  writing  the  life  of  Captain  Rockwell,  one  could  say 
volumes  as  to  his  worth  as  a  Christian  man  and  a  good  citizen,  but  to  those 
of  his  wide  acquaintance  that  is  unnecessary,  for  his  life  was  as  an  open 
book  and  he  was  known  as  an  honest  man  and  a  true  friend,  which  is  the 
best  legacy  any  man  can  leave."  It  has  been  said  of  Captain  Rockwell  that 
he  had  as  manv  friends  in  his  home  community  and  in  Putnam  county  as  any 
man  within  its  borders. 

For  manv  years  Captain  Rockwell  was  a  consistent  member  of  the 
Christian  church,  in  which  he  took  an  active  part,  serving  as  an  elder,  and 
also  being  an  enthusiastic  supporter  of  the  Sunday  school.  He  was  a  char- 
ter meml)er  of  Gen.  Frank  White  Post,  Xo.  422,  Grand  Army  of  the 
Republic. 

On  the  T8th  of  June,  1863.  Captain  Rockwell  was  united  in  marriage 
with  Malissa  Caroline  McCoy,  a  daughter  of  Jesse  C.  and  Eleanor  ( Tilley) 
McCoy.  To  Captain  and  Mrs.  Rockwell  six  sons  were  born,  two  living, 
George  B.  and  Charles  A,  The  former  was  reared  in  Cloverdale.  assisted 
his  father  in  the  store  and  for  four  years  was  employed  in  the  Bank  of 
Cloverdale  as  cashier,  subsequently  becoming  IxDokkeeper  in  the  Central 
National  Bank  at  Greencastle, 

Charles  A.  Rockwell  was  reared  in  the  parental  home  at  Cloverdale  and 
received  his  educational  training  in  the  public  schools,  ^^■hen  old  enough  he 
entered  his  father's  store  to  the  interests  of  which  he  devoted  himself  closely 


PTTXAM    COI.-XTV.   IXDIAXA.  599 

until  liis  appointment,  in  1807.  as  postmaster  of  Cloverdale.  which  office  he 
has  held  continuously  since,  to  the  entire  satisfaction  of  the  department  and 
the  patrons  r>f  the  office.  He  was  re-appointed  by  President  Taft  in  1910, 
which  will  make  se\enteen  years  continuous  service.  He  is  a  man  of  splen- 
did business  qualifications  and  sterlin;^;  (pialities  of  character  and  stands  high 
among  his  business  associates  and  Iriends. 

On  May  S.  iS<):;,  Charles  A.  Rockwell  was  married  to  Winifred  Sin- 
clair, a  daughter  of  Isaac  L.  and  Celestia  J.  (Hardin)  Sinclair,  her  birth 
having  occurred  in  Owen  county.  This  union  has  been  blessed  with  one 
daughter.  Georgia. 

Fraternallv  Mv.  Rockwell  is  a  member  of  the  Knights  of  Pythias,  hav- 
ing become  a  memlier  of  that  order  when  the  lodge  was  organized  at  Clover- 
dale.  He  has  held  eveiy  chair  in  the  local  lodge  and  for  the  past  ten  years 
he  has  served  as  master  of  exchequer.  He  is  also  giving  his  order  efficient 
service  as  deputv  grand  chancellor  of  the  state  for  the  thirteenth  district. 
He  is  a  member  of  the  Church  of  Christ,  as  is  his  brother  George,  who  also 
is  a  member  of  the  Knights  of  Pythias.  In  politics  the  brothers  follow  in 
the  footsteps  of  their  honored  father,  rendering  .stanch  allegiance  to  the 
Republican  party.  Charles  has  been  a  veiy  active  worker  in  the  party  ranks 
and  has  attended  everv  state  convention  since  attaining  his  majority,  several 
times  as  delegate.  He  has  served  as  a  member  of  the  central  committee  from 
his  township  and  as  vice-chairman  of  the  county  central  committee.  He  is 
a  man  of  definite  influence  and  prestige  in  the  community  and  is  eminently 
entitled  to  representation  in  a  work  of  this  character. 


RICHARD  M.  HAZELETT. 

It  is  natural,  and  therefore  proper,  that  the  descendants  of  the  old  set- 
tlers, those  who  cleared  the  land  of  its  primitive  woods,  should  see  that  the 
performance  of  the  early  years  are  fittingly  recorded  and- remembered.  It 
has  been  said  by  one  of  the  greatest  historians  that  those  who  take  no 
interest  in  the  deeds  of  their  ancestors  are  not  likely  to  do  anything  worthy 
to  be  remembered  by  remote  descendants.  Could  the  lives  of  the  early  set- 
tlers be  fullv  and  suitably  written,  what  an  interesting  and  wonderful  tale 
it  would  be.  Think  of  the  journey  from  the  East  to  the  deep  woods  of  the 
West,  and  of  the  trials  and  hardships  of  clearing  the  soil  and  rearing  the 
tamilv.     .\nil  think  (if  the  pioneer  gatherings  and  the  shooting  matches,  the 


6oo  weik's  history  of 

early  schools  and  churclies  under  the  branches  of  trees,  of  the  camp  meet- 
ings and  the  famous  old  circuit-riders.  Think  of  the  husking  matches,  the 
coon,  \volf,  fox  and  bear  hunts  with  dogs  in  a  mern,'  chase,  and  then  presume 
to  say  that  the  old  settlers  did  not  ha\e  much  real  pleasure  intermingled  with 
the  hardships.  If  you  will  talk  with  an  old  settler  now  he  will  tell  you  with 
a  great  deal  of  emphasis  that  the  old  times  were  far  more  enjoyable  than  the 
present.  He  means  it.  And  he  ought  to  know  better  than  you,  because  he 
was  present  at  both  periods  and  you  were  not.  Such  was  the  life  and  such 
the  pioneer  named  at  the  head  of  this  humble  notice.  No  name  in  Putnam 
county  has  been  more  highly  honored  or  more  influential  than  that  of  Haze- 
lett  and  no  man  of  the  past  generation  will  be  longer  remembered  than 
Richard  M. 

Mr.  Hazelett  was  born  on  October  2.  1819,  one  and  one-half  miles 
northwest  of  Bloomington.  Indiana,  son  of  Samuel  and  Nancy  (Miller) 
Hazelett.  William  Hazelett  was  the  founder  of  this  family  in  America. 
He  came  from  Londonderry,  Ireland,  in  1784,  and  located  in  Philadelphia, 
later  moved  to  Lancaster  county,  Pennsylvania,  and  from  there  he  finally 
took  his  family  to  Bourbon  county,  Kentucky.  In  1835  he  came  to  Putnam 
county,  Indiana,  among  the  first  settlers,  being  the  first  Hazelett  in  the 
state.  He  \\as  a  typical  pioneer  of  the  early  days  in  this  country  and  noth- 
ing delighted  him  better  than  to  move  to  a  new  country  and  start  life  over 
amid  primitive  surroundings.  The  greater  the  dangers  and  hardships  the 
better  pleased  he  seemed  to  be. 

Richard  M.  Hazelett  grew  up  on  his  father's  farm  in  ^Marion  township, 
this  county,  assisting  with  the  clearing  and  development  of  the  place.  He 
received  his  schooling  in  the  early  district  schools,  which  were  usually  taught 
in  log  houses  during  a  few  months  in  the  winter  when  farm  work  could  not 
be  carried  on.  his  principal  schooling  being  gained  at  Brice  Miller's  log 
school  house  situated  on  a  farm  which  he  afterwards  owned.  When  twenty- 
one  years  of  age  he  started  in  life  for  himself  by  purchasing  Bennefield's  saw- 
mill in  partnership  with  his  brother  William,  which  he  operated  in  connec- 
tion with  looking  after  the  home  farm.  He"  accumulated  rapidly  and  all 
through  life  was  very  successful  in  all  that  he  undertook. 

Mr.  Hazelett  was  married  on  May  18.  1843,  ^^  Malvina  Bunten.  a 
native  of  Mercer  county,  Kentucky,  having  been  born  there  September  28, 
1824.  This  union  resulted  in  the  birth  of  the  following  children:  William 
T..  Marv  M..  Samuel  .\.,  Sarah  A..  Louisa  J.,  all  living  in  Greencastle  town- 
ship, with  the  exception  of  William  J-,  who  is  deceased. 

Richard  M.  Hazelett  was  a  Republican  in  politics.  He  took  an  active 
interest  in  politics  and  was  a  conspicuous  figure  in  many  conventions  and 


IMTXAM    COUXTY,    IXDIAXA.  6oi 

local  gatherings  of  his  party.  He  was  nominated  for  Congress  and  after  a 
spirited  contest  was  defeated.  He  was  secretary  and  treasurer  of  the  first 
company  that  built  the  first  gravel  road  in  Putnam  county,  he  being  the 
prime  mover  in  this  praiseworthy  enterprise.  He  was  one  of  the  first  direc- 
tors of  the  First  National  Bank,  also  the  Greencastle  Iron  &  Rolling  Mills. 
He  was  one  of  the  most  successful  and  influential  men  of  his  day  and  gen- 
eration in  this  section  of  the  state  and  probably  did  as  much,  if  not  more, 
to  stimulate  general  progress  in  Putnam  county  than  anyone  else,  being 
prominent  in  business,  political  and  social  circles.  He  had  unusual  executive 
ability,  was  a  noted  organizer  and  promoter,  possessed  keen  foresight  and 
soundness  of  judgment.  He  was  one  of  the  organizers  of  the  first  Grange, 
having  taken  a  great  interest  in  this  movement.  He  was  a  faithful  member 
of  the  Christian  church. 

Mr.  Hazelett  was  captain  of  the  Home  Guards  during  the  war  between 
the  states,  and  he  received  a  commission  from  Governor  O.  P.  Morton,  offer- 
ing him  a  colonelcy  in  the  Union  army. 

Mrs.  Plazelett  was  called  to  her  rest  on  April  i.  i860,  and  in  1S64  Mr. 
Hazelett  married  Mary  \'.  (Nicholson)  Humes,  of  Eminence,  Kentucky. 

Mi:  Hazelett  became  w-ell-to-do  by  reason  of  his  fine  business  ability 
and  his  close  application  to  his  affairs,  becoming  the  owner  of  several  hun- 
ch-ed  acres  of  land  in  Putnam  county  and  was  widely  known  not  only  as 
an  agriculturist  but  also  as  an  extensive  stock  breeder  and  feeder.  This  ex- 
cellent citizen  and  commendable  character  was  called  to  his  reward  on  July 
31,  1897.  His  sister,  America,  survives,  having  been  born  December  24. 
1824,  being  the  first  white  female  child  born  in  Marion  township.  Putnam 
county.  At  this  writing  she  is  living  in  Indianapolis.  Mr.  Hazelett's  son 
and  worthy  successor,  Samuel  A.  Hazelett,  is  given  proper  notice  on  another 
page  of  this  work. 


WALTER  W.   McGAUGHEY.  M.  D. 

The  family  of  this  name  emigrated  from  Scotland  in  the  sixteenth  cen- 
tury and  settled  in  the  north  of  Ireland  when  the  Scotch  form  of  the  name 
(Macgaughey)  was  changed  to  the  familiar  Irish  "Mc."  In  1732  they 
came  to  the  American  colonies  and  William  McGaughey,  great-grandfather 
of  the  well  known  Putnam  county  physician,  who  was  bom  in  1762.  located 
in  Pennsvlvania.  He  had  two  sons.  Andrew  and  William,  family  names 
which    have    been    handed    down    through    generations.      Both    sons    joined 


6o2  weik's  history  of 

Washington's  armv  and  served  for  seven  years.  After  the  war.  Andrew 
went  to  Vincennes.  while  WilHam.  the  youngest,  located  in  Kentucky,  and 
it  is  from  him  that  the  Putnam  county  branch  has  descended.  December  2. 
1778,  he  married  Prepare  Clark,  who  was  born  in  1771  and  died  May  10, 
185;.  Bv  this  union  there  were  ten  children,  seven  boys  and  three  girls. 
Afich:iel,  one  of  the  former,  born  !March  20.  1812.  came  to  Indiana  in  early 
maniiood  and  settled  in  Putnam  county.  September  23.  1837.  he  married 
Sarah  Lane,  a  native  of  Putnam  county,  by  whom  he  had  twelve  children, 
ten  sons  and  two  daughters.  He  prospered  as  a  fanner  and  became  the 
owner  of  six  or  seven  hundred  acres  of  land.  He  was  among  the  first  of  the 
county's  pioneers  and  survived  until  1864.  \\'illiam  McGaughey.  eldest  of 
his  sons,  was  bom  in  September.  1839.  and  reared  in  Russell  township, 
Putnam  countv.  He  married  Emma,  daughter  of  Addison  Campbell,  a 
well-known  millwright  of  the  county,  and  the  former  now  resides  at  Bloom- 
ingdale.  in  Parke  county.  Indiana.  William  and  Emma  (Campbell)  Mc- 
Gaughev  had  three  children:  Charles  Grant,  born  December  i.  1868.  is  a 
resident  of  Colorado  Springs.  Colorado:  Clara,  the  youngest,  was  born  in 
Xovember,  1874.  and  was  afflicted  with  blindness. 

Walter  M.  McGaughey.  the  second  of  these  three  children,  was  born 
in  Parke  county.  Indiana,  May  4,  1871.  His  father  was  born  September 
16.  1839,  near  Fincastle.  Putnam  county,  Indiana,  and  followed  farming 
pursuits  all  of  his  life.  He  lived  in  Russell  township  for  a  number  of  years 
and  then  moved  to  the  northern  part  of  the  county  where  he  died  in  1874, 
on  his  homestead.  He  served  as  a  Union  soldier  in  Company  B,  Seventy- 
eighth  Regiment.  Indiana  Volunteer  Infantry,  and  during  his  campaigning 
contracted  the  disease  which  eventually  caused  his  death.  Walter  M.  Mc- 
Gaughey was  two  and  a  half  years  old  when  brought  to  Putnam  county  by 
his  parents.  He  attended  the  district  schools  and  worked  on  the  farm  during 
the  summers  until  the  fifteenth  year  of  his  age.  Later  he  spent  six  months 
in  the  Danville  ( Indiana)  Normal  School  and  at  the  age  of  sixteen  years 
secured  a  license  to  teach,  but  was  refused  a  school  on  account  of  his  youth. 
He  worked  on  the  farm  during  the  following  summer  and  fall  and  next 
vear  taught  school  at  Russellville.  After  this  practical  experience  he  returned 
to  Danville  for  another  term  in  the  normal  and  during  the  succeeding  three 
winters  taught  at  Hebron  school,  meantime  spending  three  months  of  each 
year  at  Danville.  In  the  fall  of  1894  he  entered  DePauw  University  and 
took  a  scientific  course  in  chemistry  and  mathematics.  Such  was  his  dili- 
gence that  he  was  able  to  take  the  regular  four-year  course  in  three  years. 
In  the  fall  of  i8();  he  took  charge  of  the  high  school  at  Fincastle.  but  after 


PUTXAM     COUXTV.    IXDtAXA.  f^O^ 

a  sta\'  of  six  niontlis  resigned  as  principal  and  returned  to  school.  For  the 
last  six  months  of  his  graduation  year,  1896-7.  he  had  charge  of  the  physics 
department  in  Greencastle  high  school,  but  kept  up  his  college  work  and  was 
graduated  in  1897.  He  taught  in  the  Greencastle  high  school  during  the 
follow  ing  \-ear  and  was  occupying  this  position  when  the  Spanish-American 
war  opened.  He  enlisted  and  served  as  sergeant-major  with  Lieutenant- 
Colonel  Fee.  spending  the  summer  at  Camp  Alger,  in  Washington,  and 
Camp  Mead,  in  Harrisburg.  Pennsylvania.  Being  mustered  out.  he  re- 
sumed'his  work  in  high  school  in  the  spring  of  1898  and  in  the  following  fall 
entered  the  Indiana  INIedical  School,  at  Indianapolis.  While  there  he  had 
charge  during  his  first  and  second  year  of  the  class  in  mathematics  in  the 
city  night  school.  Ijesides  being  tutor  in  chemistn."  at  the  medical  college. 
During  his  last  year  he  was  substitute  teacher  in  mathematics  at  the  Manual 
Training  High  School,  was  graduated  in  }vlay,  1902,  and  began  the  practice 
in  Greencastle.  In  1903  he  became  city  health  officer,  and  next  year  was 
appointed  surgeon  of  the  Big  Four  railroad,  which  position  he  has  since 
held.  While  in  college  Doctor  McGaughey  became  a  member  of  the  Delta 
Upsilon  fraternity  and  later  joined  the  order  of  Knights  of  Pythias.  He  is 
a  member  of  the  county,  state  and  national  medical  associations  and  the  pen- 
sion examining  board.  He  is  engaged  in  general  practice  and  surgery  and 
has  met  with  success  as  the  result  of  close  application  to  business  and  especial 
cjualifications  for  the  duties  of  his  profession. 

On  June  13,  1901,  Doctor  McGaughey  married  Elizabeth  B..  daughter 
of  James  E.  and  Margaret  E.  Matthews.  She  is  a  native  of  Greencastle  and 
her  father  was  a  manufacturer  of  kegs  and  barrels.  Doctor  and  Mrs.  Mc- 
Gaughev  ha\e  one  daughter.  :irargaret  Emily,  bom  February  4.  1906. 


JOHN  SIBLEY  DOWLIXG. 

Tracing  his  ancestrv  back  to  excellent  Irish  ancestry.  John  Sibley  Dowl- 
ing.  the  efficient  agent  of  the  Vandalia  railroad  at  Greencastle.  is  an  example 
of  what  thrift,  industry  and  energ}-  properly  and  honestly  applied  may  ac- 
complish, even  in  the  face  of  seemingly  insurmountable  oI)stacles.  and  by 
reason  of  these  worthy  ijualities  he  has  become  well  established  in  reference 
to  this  world's  affairs.  He  was  born  in  Terre  Haute.  Indiana.  May  15.  1858, 
the  son  of  Thomas  and  Sarah  J.  (Sibley)  Dowling.  the  father  having  l)een 
born    December    jr.    1809.    in    county    Carlow.    Ireland,    the    f(-iurth    son    of 


6c4  weik's  history  of 

Peter  and  Katherine  (Fenelon)  Dowling.  Thomas  Dowling  came  to  Amer- 
ica in  1817.  with  his  parents,  both  of  whom  died  soon  afterwards,  having 
located  in  Washington  City.  They  left  a  family  of  six  children,  all  small. 
Thomas  apprenticed  himself  to  Gales  &  Seaton,  publishers  of  the  Washing- 
ton Intelligencer,  sen-ing  his  time  out  and  working  himself  up  to  an  editor- 
ship. Having  learned  thoroughly  the  newspaper  business  he  came  West,  in 
1832.  and  located  in  Terre  Haute  and  on  June  13,  1832,  bought  of  Col.  John 
Osbon  the  IVabash  Courier,  a  morning  paper,  now  known  as  The  Star,  and 
published  it  until  1840,  when  he  sold  it  to  Jesse  Connard.  A  year  or  two 
later  he  established  the  Wabash  Express,  which  he  published  until  1845,  sell- 
ing out  to  David  Danielson.  He  then  assisted  in  the  building  of  the  Wabash 
&  Erie  canal,  with  which  he  held  the  very  responsible  position  of  resident 
trustee  or  manager  in  Indiana  from  1849  to  1874,  in  which  year  the  affairs 
of  the  company  were  ^vound  np.  In  1864  he  built  Dowling  Hall,  for  many 
years  the  onlv  place  of  amusement  in  Terre  Haute  and  a  fine  theatre  in  that 
dav.  He  purchased  a  farm  in  White  county  in  the  fifties,  consisting  of  two 
thousand  acres,  which  he  operated  for  ten  years.  He  was  a  very  successful 
business  man  and  was  one  of  the  influential  men  of  Vigo  county  and  that 
section  of  the  state.  He  was  a  brilliant  writer  and  wielded  a  potent  inflvience 
through  the  columns  of  his  paper,  always  taking  a  .stand  for  the  right  as  he 
saw  and  understood  the  right  and  he  was  always  interested  in  the  develop- 
ment of  his  community.  He  was  first  a  Whig  and  later  a  Democrat.  He 
was  prominent  in  state  politics  and  was  elected  to  the  Legislature.  He  was  a 
member  of  the  national  Democratic  committee  from  this  state  when  he  died, 
December  5,  1876. 

Thomas  Dowling  married  Sarah  J.  Sibley,  March  7,  1857.  She  was 
the  daughter  of  John  and  Elizabeth  (May)  Sibley,  who  lived  near  the  city 
of  New  York.  Her  father  was  a  native  of  Vermont;  coming  West  in  an 
early  day.  he  was  one  of  the  first  settlers  in  Indiana,  living  first  at  Ft.  Har- 
rison, where  he  sought  protection  from  the  Indians,  who  were  then  numerous 
and  hostile.  Howe^•er,  he  did  not  live  at  the  fort  long,  until  he  pushed  out 
into  the  wilderness  and  developed  a  farm.  Mrs.  Thomas  Dowling  survived 
her  husband  many  years,  passing  to  her  rest  on  December  19,  1904.  She 
was  born  August  16,  1837.  Five  children  were  born  to  them,  named  as  fol- 
lows: John  S.,  of  this  review;  Mary  is  the  wife  of  John  Palmer  Hallman, 
and  is  living  in  New  York  City;  Jennie  is  the  wife  of  Arthur  H.  Brower,  of 
New  York;  Fenelon  E.  is  in  the  employ  of  the  government  in  Honolulu, 
Sandwich  Islands;  Elizabeth  is  the  wife  of  H.  C.  Hampton,  living  in  Terre 
Haute. 


PUTXAM    COUXTV,    IXDIAXA.  605 

John  S.  Dowling  was  educated  in  the  public  schools,  where  he  made 
rapid  progress,  entering  Asbury  (now  DePauw)  University  when  thirteen 
years  of  age,  where  he  remained  two  years,  then  entered  Racine  College. 
Racine.  \\'isconsin.  where  he  remained  for  two  years. 

Thus  well  equipped,  he  began  his  business  career  in  1875  by  entering 
the  office  of  the  Wabash  &  Erie  canal  as  secretary  to  his  father,  where  he 
remained  for  two  years,  then  spent  one  year  in  the  office  of  the  Evansville 
iS:  Terre  Haute  Railroad  Company,  then  one  year  in  the  general  freight  office 
of  the  Chicago,  Burlington  &  Ouincy  Railroad  Company,  in  Chicago,  where 
Paul  M(5rton.  now  the  noted  railroad  magnate,  was  also  employed.  Then  for 
a  period  of  two  and  one-half  years  he  worked  in  the  office  of  the  Illinois 
Central  Railroad  Company,  at  Chicago.  In  18S1  he  entered  the  Vandalia 
offices  at  Indianapolis.  October  i,  18S3,  he  was  appointed  agent  of  this  road 
at  Greencastle,  Indiana,  and  he  has  since  been  discharging  the  duties  of  the 
same  in  his  usual  faithful  and  conscientious  manner,  this  company  regarding 
him  as  one  of  its  most  efficient  and  trusted  employes. 

Fraternally  [Nlr.  Dowling  is  a  charter  member  of  the  Benevolent  and 
Protective  Order  of  Elks,  Lodge  Xo.  1077,  also  the  Ben  Hur  lodge  and 
the  ^lodern  Woodmen  of  America.  In  politics  he  is  a  Democrat  and  be- 
longs to  the  Episcopal  church. 

Mr.  Dowling  was  married  on  January  i,  1898,  to  Nellie  Fee.  daughter 
of  J.  F.  Fee.  a  highly  respected  family  of  Greencastle.  and  this  union  has 
resulted  in  the  birth  of  two  children,  Thomas  Francis,  now  attending  school, 
and  Sarah,  who  died  at  one  vear  old. 


EDAIUXD  BURK  LYXCH. 

About  the  middle  of  the  last  century  Ireland  sent  over  to  this  countr}-  a 
young  man  of  more  than  usual  promise,  who  was  destined  to  make  a  name 
for  himself  in  America.  He  studied  medicine  and  became  noted  as  Dr.  'SI.  J. 
Lynch.  He  settled  in  Greencastle  about  1849  ^"<^-  being  a  man  of  classical 
education,  was  appointed  teacher  of  Latin  at  Asbury  University.  Like  most 
Irishmen,  he  had  a  natural  turn  for  politics  and  his  activities  secured  him  an 
appointment  as  consul  to  Ireland  under  President  Buchanan.  His  skill  and 
reputation  in  medicine  caused  him  to  be  sent  to  Pittsburg  Landing  as  an 
expert  on  smallpox.  Doctor  Lynch  married  into  a  historic  and  distin- 
guished family.     ]Many  years  ago  a  widow  named  Gillespie  came  from  Ohio 


6o6  weik's  history  of 

with  her  four  daughters  and  three  sons,  and  erected  a  house  on  West  Wash- 
ington street  in  Greencastle,  which  afterwards  became  a  landmark  as  the 
Gillespie  homestead.  The  house  now  standing  was  built  in  1830  of  brick- 
made  on  the  ground  and  logs  cut  nearby.  The  family  owned  a  tan  yard, 
whicii  was  conducted  by  Daniel  G.  Thomas  and  James  Gillespie,  and  became 
a  notable  as  well  as  a  valuable  industry  during  the  early  days  of  the  county. 
It  was  Leah  Gillespie,  one  of  the  three  daughters,  who  became  the  wife  of 
Doctor  Lynch.  She  was  a  school  teacher  in  her  younger  lays  and  a  woman 
of  more  than  the  usual  attractions  of  both  mind  and  person.  She  was  re- 
lated to  James  G.  Blaine,  whose  mother  was  a  Gillespie,  and  gave  that  dis- 
tinguished statesman  his  middle  name.  Doctor  and  Mrs.  Lynch  had  eight 
children:  Tames  E.,  deceased:  John  T.,  a  railroad  conductor  at  Cairo,  Illi- 
nois: Daniel,  deceased:  William  Wallace,  deceased;  the  fifth  child  died  in 
infancv:  Edmund  B.  and  Emmett  ^^IcMichael,  and  Paul  A.,  deceased.  Doc- 
tor Lvnch  (lied  in  October.  1879.  in  his  fiftieth  year,  his  wife  passing  away 
in  1891.  when  sixty-six  years  old. 

Edmund  B.  Lynch,  sixth  of  his  father's  children,  was  born  at  Green- 
castle, Indiana,  April  13,  1862.  He  attended  the  public  schools  for  some 
years,  but  before  he  was  out  of  his  teens  he  began  railroading.  His  first  job 
was  in  the  yards  of  the  Louisville,  New  Albany  &  Chicago  Railroad  Com- 
pany, where  he  worked  at  switching  during  the  year  1879.  He  then  went  to 
the  Indianapolis  &  St.  Louis  road  as  a  brakeman,  which  position  he  held  for 
a  year  and  gave  up  to  accept  a  place  with  the  Wabash  &  Missouri  Pacific  in 
transportation  work.  In  i88j  he  returned  to  the  Indianapolis  &  St.  Louis 
and  was  appointed  conductor,  in  which  capacity  he  had  charge  of  a  train 
until  1886.  Later  he  served  as  conductor  on  many  roads,  including  the 
''Cotton  Belt."  Erom  1888  to  1895  he  was  with  the  St.  Louis  &  South- 
western: from  180J  to  1895  was  a  passenger  conductor  between  Cairo,  Illi- 
nois, and  Pine  Bluff,  Arkansas.  In  June,  1905.  he  quit  the  railroarl  business, 
came  to  Greencastle  and  bought  the  furniture  and  undertaking  plant  of  W. 
P.  Ledbetter,  which  has  since  occupied  his  attention,  carr}-ing  a  stock  valued 
at  about  ten  thousand  dollars.  He  also  owns  a  farm  of  thirty-five  acres  and 
belongs  to  the  class  of  citizens  described  as  well-to-do.  Mr.  Lynch  is  a  thirty- 
second-deo-ree  Mason,  being  connected  with  the  Consistory  and  Shrine  at 
Indianapolis,  and  the  Greencastle  lodges  of  the  order.  He  is  also  a  member 
of  Lodge  No.  45,  Independent  Order  of  Odd  Fellow.s.  Knights  of  Pythias 
Lodge  No.  16,  and  the  Elks  Lodge,  No.  1077,  at  Greencastle.  While  in 
Arkansas  in  1890  he  was  commissioned  as  deputy  L'nited  States  marshal, 
and  ser\'ed  one  ^•ear. 


PUTNAM     COUXTV,    IXDIAXA.  607 

On  December  Jj.  1S91,  Mr.  Lynch  married  P'anny,  daughter  of  Lewis 
Aloore  and  a  native  of  Memphis,  Tennessee.  She  met  her  future  husband 
after  her  removal  to  Pine  Bluff.  Arkansas.  They  have  had  five  children: 
Edmund  B..  Jr.,  b(jrn  at  Pine  Bluff'.  Arkansas,  in  1S96;  Paul  Fleming,  born 
in  1S94;  John  Earl,  born  in  1S96:  Arthur  Moore,  born  at  Greencastle  in 
1898;  Ralph,  who  was  born  in  1901.  died  the  next  year.  Mrs.  Lynch,  the 
subject's  wife,  died  on  January  15,  1910,  after  an  illness  of  about  one  year. 
The  family  are  Baptists.  The  subject  is  a  Democrat  in  his  political  belief. 
The  subject's  mother  brought  the  first  cook  stove  into  I'utnam  county.  Her 
mother.  Katherine.  was  the  best  posted  woman  on  Scripture  in  the  county. 
Three  generati(jns  have  occupied  the  house  and  three  acres  of  ground  which 
constitute  the  present  home  of  Air.  L}-nch.  It  is  located  at  the  foot  of  West 
Washington  and  Gillespie  streets,  the  latter  being  named  in  honor  of  the 
original  owners.  The  place  was  noted  for  the  hospitality  of  the  mother  and 
grandmother  and  the  other  members  of  this  fine  old  familv. 


J.\MES  WASHIXGTOX  COLE. 

This  name  recalls  an  honored  and  venerable  citizen  who  in  his  active 
years  was  known  throughout  the  state.  At  the  time  of  his  death  he  was 
one  of  the  oldest  native-born  Indianans.  and  few  men  used  so  long  a  life 
to  so  good  a  purpose. 

James  Washington  Cole  was  born  in  Dearborn  county,  Indiana,  Feb- 
ruary 2.  1820.  the  eldest  son  of  Solomon  and  Sarah  (Remy)  Cole,  the  for- 
mer born  in  ^Maryland,  near  Philadelphia.  August  11.  1784,  and  the  latter 
born  near  Winchester.  \'irginia.  Januar}-  u.  1797.  Their  marriage  oc- 
curred .-\pril  29.  1819.  in  Indiana,  to  which  state  they  came  about  the  time 
the  state  w-as  admitted  to  the  L'nion.  The  Coles  were  of  English  origin  and 
among  the  earliest  of  those  who  came  and  conquere;]  the  forests  of  Indiana. 

James  \\'.  Cole,  the  eldest  of  nine  children,  was  reared  to  a  life  of  toil. 
He  came  to  Putnam  county,  Indiana,  in  the  spring  of  1863  and  engaged  in 
the  pump  manufacturing  business.  In  1865  James  W..  Robert  S.,  William 
R.  and  John  J.  Cole  organized  a  company,  incorporated  for  ten  years  under 
the  laws  of  Iowa,  at  Mt.  Pleasant,  that  state,  with  a  capital  of  thirty  thou- 
sand dollars,  for  tlie  manufacture  of  lightning  rods  and  pumps.  In  1875 
they  were  able  to  re-organize  with  a  paid-up  capital  of  two  hundred  thou- 
sand dollars.     They  eventually  gave  up  pump  manufacturing. 

In  1863  James  W.  Cole  came  to  Putnam  county,  and  becaine  president 
of  the  company,  which  did  a  large  and  lucrative  business.     Air.   Cole  was 


6c8  weik's  history  of 

in  many  ways  a  notable  man.  He  was  very  philanthropic  and  took  a  broad 
and  liberal  stand  in  favor  of  all  movements  for  the  social  and  moral  up- 
lift of  the  community.  Full  of  energ>',  and  of  good  business  judgment,  he 
usually  pushed  to  success  whatever  he  undertook.  Fraternally,  he  was  a 
Knight  Templar  Mason  and  an  Odd  Fellow.  He  w^as  a  Republican  of 
very  decided  views  and  enthusiastic  in  supporting  the  party  ticket,  but  he 
never  sought  office.     He  died  June  5,  1907,  at  his  home  in  Greencastle. 

On  December  24,  1853,  Mr.  Cole  married  Susan  Olivia  Mathers,  who 
died  March  30,  1891,  without  issue.  September  21,  1892,  Mr.  Cole  married 
Phila  Olds,  of  Erie,  Pennsylvania,  a  lady  of  distinguished  ancestry.  Her 
parents  were  Lewis  \\'ilson  and  Louisa  E.  (Ackerly)  Olds,  the  former  born 
in  East  Mill  Creek,  Erie  county,  Pennsylvania,  July  21,  1822,  and  the  latter 
at  Middletown,  New  York,  Alarch   11,   1826. 

Lewis  \\'.  Olds  was  a  son  of  Asa  Gilbert  Olds,  a  native  of  Alstead,  New 
Hampshire  (born  November  15,  1877),  and  Lucy  Church,  a  native  of 
Winsted.  Connecticut.  John  Church,  father  of  Lucy  Church  Olds,  enlisted, 
when  eighteen  years  of  age,  in  the  patriot  army  at  Saybrook,  Connecticut, 
and  was  with  Arnold  at  the  siege  of  Quebec  in  1776. 

Lewis  W.  Olds  and  Louisa  E.  Ackerly  were  married  May  9,  1848.  To 
them  came  seven  children,  viz:  Inez,  Clark,  Nettie,  Phila,  William  C, 
Florence  and  Charlotte  Marian.  Mr.  Olds  was  a  man  of  great  ingenuity 
and  large  business  "capacity.  He  was  engaged  in  the  pump  manufacturing 
business  in  Erie,Pennsj'lvania,  for  many  years  and  was  one  of  that  city's 
leading  and  influential  citizens.  It  is  claimed  that  he  was  the  first  man 
in  the  United  States,  if  not  in  the  world,  to  reduce  the  old  log  pump  to  an 
article  of  commerce.    "He  died  June  25,    1908. 

Mrs.  Cole,  the  fourth  of  the  children,  was  born  at  Erie,  Pennsylvania, 
and  is  a  graduate  of  the  high  school  of  that  city.  She  was  regent  of 
Washburn  Chapter,  Daughters  of  the  American  Revolution,  for  four  }-ears, 
and  is  a  member  of  the  Century  Club,  of  which  she  was  also  president 
for  one  vear.  She  is  a  member  of  the  Episcopalian  church.  One  child, 
James  Gilbert,  born  September  20,  1894,  is  now  in  school. 


PERRY  L.  HUBBARD. 

Few  residents  of  Putnam  county  are  as  widely  known  and  as  highly 
esteemed  as  the  gentleman  whose  name  introduces  this  sketch.  A  representa- 
tive of  a  highly  esteemed  pioneer  family,  and  combining  many  sterling  qual- 
ities of  mind  and  heart  for  which  his  antecedents  were  distinguished,  he  took 
an  active  and  influential  part  in  the  development  of  the  section  of  the  county 


PERRY   L.   HUBBARD 


PCTNAM    COCXTV,    INDIANA.  609 

in  which  he  still  lives,  and  after  accumulating  a  comfortable  competence  re- 
tired to  the  town  of  Cloverdale,  where  he  is  now  spending  the  evening  of  a 
long  and  useful  life  in  quiet  and  content.  In  the  time  of  the  country's  great- 
est need  he  demonstrated  his  love  and  loyalty  to  the  flag  by  giving  three  and 
a  half  of  the  best  years  of  his  life  to  its  defense,  and  is -now  one  of  the  hon- 
ored veterans  to  whom  the  Government  is  so  greatly  indebted  for  the  strength 
and  stability  which  has  made  it  one  of  the  great  and  influential  powers  of  the 
world. 

Perrv  L.  Hubbard  is  descended  from  English  ancestry  and  traces  his 
familv  history  in  this  country  to  about  the  middle  of  the  seventeenth  century, 
when  three  of  the  Hubbard  brothers  came  to  America  and  settled  presumably 
in  the  colonv  of  Virginia.  Moses  Hubbard,  a  descendant  of  one  of  these 
immigrants  and  a  native  of  Albemarle  county.  Virginia,  was  the  great- 
grandfather of  the  subject.  Joseph  Hubbard,  his  son.  in  an  early  day  mi- 
grated to  Garrard  coimty.  Kentucky.  He  died  in  1853  at  the  age  of  eighty- 
six  years,  near  Cloverdale,  Putnam  county.  Indiana,  leaving  several  sons 
and  daughters,  among  the  fonner  being  William  H.  Hubbard,  whose  birth 
occurred  in  Garrard  county.  Kentucky,  on  IMay  20,  1793.  Reared  amid  the 
stirring  scenes  of  the  "Dark  and  Bloody  Ground."  William  Hubbard  grew  up 
a  strong,  rugged  man  and  well  fitted  for  the  duties  which  afterwards  fell  to 
him  as  a  pioneer  settler  of  Indiana,  to  which  state  he  removed  in  1830,  settling 
in  Owen  county,  with  the  early  history  of  which  his  subsequent  life  was  very 
closelv  identified. 

Henrietta  Baker,  who  became  the  wife  of  William  Hubbard  about  the 
vear  181 7.  was  also  a  native  of  Garrard  county.  Kentucky,  born  April  7.  1803. 
She  bore  him  ten  children,  namely :  James,  Thomas.  Joseph.  Wesley,  William, 
Pleasant,  Lucinda,  Xancy,  Lizzie  and  Louisa  Ann,  of  which  large  family  none 
survive.  James  Hubbard  became  one  of  the  best  known  school  teachers  of 
Owen  county,  and  numbered  among  his  pupils  some  of  the  leading  citizens 
of  that  part  of  the  state.  William  also  became  a  successful  teacher,  served 
in  the  }vlexican  war,  and  at  the  breaking  out  of  the  great  Rebellion  went  to 
the  front  as  captain  of  Company  B,  Twenty-seventh  Regiment  Indiana  Volun- 
teer Infantry-,  with  which  he  achieved  a  creditable  record  as  a  brave  and  gal- 
lant soldier.  Of  the  remainder  who  grew  to  maturity  and  reared  families 
of  their  own,  the  majority  became  successful  tillers  of  the  soil,  and  by  up- 
right lives  added  to  the  luster  of  an  honora])le  family  name.  Mrs.  Hubbard 
dying  in  1839.  Mr.  Hubbard  the  following  year,  while  on  a  visit  to  Kentucky. 
married  Sarah  Vest,  with  whom  he  li\ed  in  Owen  county  until  the  fall  of 
1870,  when  he  removed  to  Cloverdale  township,  in  the  county  of  Putnam. 

(39) 


6io  weik's  history  of 

where  he  died  on  the  25tli  of  May  ensuing.  Mrs.  Hubl)ard  departed  this  hfe 
in  Ma\',  189O.  Tliis  marriage  resulted  in  the  birth  of  two  sons,  W'ilhs  and 
Perrv  L.  of  this  review.  The  former  was  a  member  of  Company  B,  Twenty- 
seventh  Regiment  Indiana  Vokmteer  Infantry,  in  the  late  Civil  war.  Like 
his  brother.  Willis  Hubbard  proved  a  capable  and  fearless  soldier  in  a  number 
of  bloodv  battle  fields,  and.  being  captured  by  the  Confederate  guerillas  under 
General  ]\Iosbv,  died  in  the  military  prison  of  Belle  Isle  before  his  exchange 
could  be  effected. 

P'erry  L.  Hubbard  was  born  September  18,  1845,  '"  Owen  county,  In- 
diana, and  spent  his  early  life  on  the  family  homestead,  attending,  during  his 
childhood  and  youth,  the  common  schools  of  the  neighborhood.  Among  the 
youthful  experiences  which  he  recalls  with  much  interest  was  going  with  his 
father  on  a  visit  to  Kentucky  when  but  four  years  of  age,  making  the  trip 
in  a  two-horse  wagon  and  spending  several  days  on  the  way.  It  was  in  the 
latter  state  that  he  first  saw  a  negro,  the  appearance  of  whom  made  an  im- 
pression upon  his  young  mind  which  has  never  been  eradicated.  At  the 
proper  age  voung  Hubbard  bore  his  full  share  in  the  cultivation  of  the  farm 
and  he  was  thus  engaged  until  the  breaking  out  of  the  great  Rebellion,  when 
he  exchanged  the  implements  of  husbandry  for  the  death-dealing  weapons  of 
Avarfare.  On  November  7,  1861,  he  enlisted  in  the  Eighth  Indiana  Light 
Battery,  with  which  he  served  with  an  honorable  record  until  June  25,  1865, 
taking  part  in  the  various  campaigns  in  which  the  annies  of  the  Ohio  and 
the  Cumberland  were  engaged.  During  his  military  experience  he  was  under 
the  command  of  Generals  Grant,  Sherman,  Buell,  Rosecrans  and  Thomas, 
and  participated  in  some  of  the  most  sanguinary  battles  of  the  war,  including 
Pittsburg  Landing  or  Shiloh  on  x\pril  7,  1862,  Perryville,  October  8th  of  the 
same  year,  Stone  River,  January  i,  1863,  Chickamauga,  September  18,  19 
and  20.  1863,  where  he  celebrated  the  eighteenth  anniversary  of  his  birth 
under  circumstances  better  imagined  than  described.  He  was  also  with  his 
command  at  Lookout  ^Mountain,  Missionary  Ridge,  Rocky  Face  Ridge.  Dal- 
ton.  Resaca  and  various  other  engagements  from  the  Atlanta  campaign  to 
the  Chattahoochee  river,  including  a  raid  with  General  McCook's  cavalry 
division,  during  which,  in  an  action  near  Jonesboro,  the  battery  was  sur- 
rounded and  onlv  escaped  by  the  men  cutting  their  way  through  the  ranks  of 
the  enemv  at  a  loss  of  nearly  half  of  their  number  and  two  pieces  of  artillery. 
During  the  latter  part  of  the  war  Mr.  Hubbard,  with  others  of  his  command, 
was  detached  to  go  down  the  Tennessee  river  on  a  gunboat  to  intercept  the 
Confederates  under  General  Hood  at  Mussel  Creek  Shoals,  and  after  return- 
ing home  he  assisted  in  the  capture  of  several  deserters  who  had  taken  refuge 


PCTXAM    COUNTY.    IXDIAXA.  6ll 

in  various  parts  of  Owen  county,  besides  taking  part  in  dispersing  a  band  of 
guerillas  and  Southern  sympathizers  w  ho  for  some  months  had  been  creating 
a  disturbance  in  tlie  neighljorliood  and  causing  much  uneasiness  among  the 
people  by  their  acti\e  influence  in  behalf  of  the  Confederacy. 

Receiving  his  discharge  at  Chattanooga.  Tennessee.  June  25.  1865,  Mr. 
Hubbard  at  once  returned  home  and.  resuming  the  cultivation  of  the  soil,  was 
soon  on  the  highway  to  prosperity.  On  ^lay  31.  1867,  he  entered  the  mar- 
riage relation  with  !\Ialinda  M.  White,  who  was  born  in  Mercer  countv,  Ken- 
tucky. September  22.  1S47,  being  one  of  ten  ciiildren  whose  parents.  Burr 
and  Lucinda  (Salter)  \Miite.  were  also  natives  of  that  state.  The  White 
family  moverl  to  Putnam  county.  Indiana,  in  1851,  locating  near  the  village 
of  Putnamville.  where  Mrs.  White  died  five  years  later.  'Sir.  ^Vhite  subse- 
quently changed  his  abode  to  Sullivan  county,  where  he  spent  the  remainder 
of  his  days,  departing  this  life  on  June  10.  1S79.  Their  children  were  as 
follows:  Ellen.  Lucinda.  Ann.  Lizzie.  Malinda.  Molly.  Fountain  (who  died 
a  prisoner  of  war  at  Andersonville),  L'vin  and  Henr\-.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  W"hite 
were  esteemed  members  of  the  Methoilist  Episcopal  church  and  are  held  in 
grateful  remembrance  by  those  with  whom  they  formerly  mingled. 

Two  chiklren  ha\'e  been  born  to  Air.  and  Mrs.  Hubbard,  both  daugh- 
ters, Ella  Alay  and  Luretta.  the  former  born  January  i,  1868.  dying  October 
6,  1872;  Luretha  married  Samuel  AlcClure.  a  farmer  of  Cloverdale  town- 
ship. Putnam  Cl^unt^'.  and  is  the  mother  of  four  children,  viz:  Minnie  Lee 
AlcClure.  a  teacher  in  the  public  schools  in  the  above  township  since  her 
seventeenth  year;  Daphne,  cashier  and  bookkeeper  in  the  Hitz  commission 
house.  Indianapolis;  Beryl,  a  third-year  pupil  in  the  Cloverdale  high  school, 
and  Ray.  who  is  pvu'suing  his  studies  in  the  public  school  near  his  home. 

Mr.  Hubbard  is  a  public-spirited  man  who  keeps  in  touch  with  the 
thought  and  activity  oi  the  times  in  which  he  lives.  He  began  life,  as  already 
stated,  as  a  tiller  of  the  soil  and  as  such  continued  with  encouraging  success 
until  accumulating  a  sufficiency  of  material  wealth  to  enable  him  to  retire  from 
actixe  labor.  He  first  purchased  sixty-six  acres  from  his  father,  on  which  he 
lived  until  1S71.  \vhen  he  bought  a  farm  of  one  hundred  and  fifty-five  acres  in 
sections  13  and  14.  Cloverdale  township.  Putnam  county.  On  the  latter 
place  he  lived  until  1892.  when  b}'  reason  of  failing  health  he  discon- 
tinued active  pursuits  and  moved  to  the  beautiful  home  in  Clo\'erdale  which 
he  purchased  in  18S7.  He  is  an  active  and  influential  member  of  Cloverdale 
Post.  Xo.  422.  Grand  Army  of  the  Republic,  in  the  organization  of  w'hich  he 
took  a  leading  part  and  which  he  has  served  four  terms  as  post  commander. 
In  the  summer  of  1886  he  attended  the  national  encampment  at  San  Fran- 


6i2  weik's  history  of 

cisco,  and  while  absent  visited  a  number  of  leading  citizens  and  interesting 
cities  of  the  Pacific  slope,  Colorado,  and  other  western  states  and  territories, 
and  meeting  with  not  a  few  of  his  comrades  who  shared  with  him  the  hard- 
ships and  dangers  which  they  endured  while  upholding  the  honor  of  their 
country  during  the  bloody  scenes  and  experiences  of  former  years.  In  his  re- 
ligious belief  he  subscribes  to  the  faith  of  the  Methodist  Episcopal  church, 
Mrs.  Hubbard  being  a  consistent  member  of  the  Christian  Disciple  church. 
Both  are  highly  esteemed  for  their  many  estimable  qualities  and  their  friends 
are  as  the  number  of  their  acquaintances. 


ALLEN  BROTHERS. 

The  well-known  firm  of  general  merchants  which  forms  the  caption  of 
this  brief  review  is  too  well  known  to  the  readers  of  this  history  to  need 
extensive  comment,  since  it  has  long  been  one  of  the  leading  business  houses 
in  Greencastle.  It  numbers  its  patrons  by  the  thousands  throughout  this 
locality,  the  store  being  a  gathering  place  for  visitors  from  the  rural  dis- 
tricts, but  from  whatever  quarter  customers  come  they  are  accorded  uniform 
courtesy  and  the  kindest  consideration,  always  finding  here  a  well  kept,  neat, 
attractive  and  well  managed  store,  stocked  with  a  complete  and  carefully 
selected  general  line  of  merchandise,  second  to  none,  the  prices  of  which 
are  regarded  by  their  many  patrons  of  long  standing  as  being  remarkably 
low  considering  the  excellent  quality  of  goods  offered. 

Something  of  the  individual  character  of  the  gentlemen  who  have  so 
successfully  managed  this  large  concern  will  be  of  interest  to  the  scores  of 
readers  of  this  work  who  know  them  so  well  and  yet  know  but  little  of  their 
familv  historv,  therefore  it  is  with  no  small  degree  of  satisfaction  that  we 
here  make  mention  of  the  senior  member  of' the  firm,  Joseph  P.  Allen,  who 
was  born  at  ]\Iilton.  Wayne  county,  Indiana,  January  i6,  1852.  He  is  the 
son  of  James  L.  Allen,  a  native  of  Brookville,  Franklin  county,  Indiana, 
where  he  was  born  about  1823.  He  early  in  life  turned  his  attention  to  mer- 
chandising and  was  for  many  years  the  successful  manager  of  a  store  at 
Milton,  also  Thorntown,  Indiana,  later  in  life  moving  to  Greencastle,  where 
his  death  occurred  in  1907,  rounding  out  a  life  replete  with  honor,  good 
deeds  and  a  fair  measure  of  success,  his  long  span  of  years  being  measured 
over  one  of  the  most  interesting  and  momentous  epochs  of  the  world's  his- 
torv.    He  was  a  fine  character,  being  a  descendant  of  Old  Dominion  stock, 


PUTNAM    COUNTY,    INDIANA.  613 

but  his  father.  Joseph  Allen,  grandfather  of  the  gentleman  of  whom  this 
immediate  sketch  is  written,  was  born  in  Indiana,  and  here  he  devoted  his  life 
principally  to  surveying.  His  grave  is  at  the  famous  Tippecanoe  battle 
ground.  Tippecanoe  county. 

The  mother  of  the  Allen  brothers,  of  this  review,  was  known  in  her 
maidenhood  as  Lucy  Waring,  who  was  born  in  Union  county,  Indiana, 
her  parents  coming  to  this  countr.-  from  Ireland.  She  was  reared  and  edu- 
cated here,  dving  at  the  age  of  fifty-two  years.  Six  children  were  born  to 
Mr.  and  [Mrs.  James  L.  Allen,  a  daughter,  the  oldest  member  of  the  family, 
now  living  at  St.  Paul.  Minnesota. 

loseph  P.  Allen  grew  to  maturity  at  Thorntown.  Indiana,  where  he 
was  educated  in  the  public  schools,  later  attending  Earlham  College,  at 
Richmond.  Indiana,  receiving  an  excellent  education.  Following  in  the 
footsteps  of  his  worthy  father,  he  early  in  life  turned  his  attention  to  mer- 
chandising and  after  finishing  school  he  went  to  Cincinnati.  Ohio,  and  began 
traveling  for  a  wholesale  dry  goods  concern,  but  notwithstanding  his  suc- 
cess as  a  commercial  salesman,  he  abandoned  this  line  of  work  and  came  to 
Greencastle  on  November  9,  1875.  and  purchased  the  interest  of  Wiles  Jones, 
of  the  firm  of  Jones  &  Vennilion.  and  in  a  few  years  purchased  the  entire 
business.  After  three  or  four  years  of  unusual  success  his  brother  bought 
a  half  interest  in  the  store  and  they  have  continued  to  do  an  excellent  busi- 
ness from  that  time  to  the  present. 

Joseph  P.  Allen  was  married  to  Mary  Sims,  of  Delphi.  Indiana,  in  1873. 
the  daughter  of  Dr.  John  Sims,  who  was  a  soldier  in  the  Union  army  and 
died  from  the  efifects  of  the  service.  Mrs.  Allen  was  born,  reared  and  edu- 
cated in  Union  county,  Indiana;  she  was  eleven  years  old  when  her  father 
died,  her  mother  having  died  when  she  was  nine  years  of  age.  One  child,  a 
son.  has  been  born  to  this  union.  Joseph  P.,  Jr..  who  is  a  member  of  the 
firm  of  Allen  Brothers.  He  married  Blanche  Swahlen.  daughter  of  Dr.  W. 
F.  Swahlen.  professor  of  Greek  in  DePauw  University,  they  are  the  par- 
ents of  two  children. 

Mr.  Allen  is  a  member  of  the  College  Avenue  Methodist  Episcopal 
church,  and  has  been  one  of  the  official  board  for  a  number  of  years,  also 
chairman  of  the  board  of  trustees. 

Hiram  C.  Allen,  the  other  member  of  the  firm  of  Allen  Brothers,  is  a 
man  of  equal  business  ability  and  good  standing  in  the  community.  He  was 
born  in  Tulv.  1854.  and  was  educated  in  the  common  schools  at  Thorntown, 
later  went  to  school  in  Cincinnati.  Ohio.  He.  too.  turned  his  attention  to 
merchandising  earlv  in  life  with  the  intention  of  making  it  his  permanent 


6i4  weik's  history  of 

vocation.  He  began  by  clerking  in  a  retail  store  at  Richmond.  Indiana,  later 
traveled  out  of  Cincinnati  in  the  shoe  business,  then  engaged  in  the  retail 
dry  goods  business  at  Belle  fontaine,  Ohio,  thus  getting  an  excellent  start  in 
his  chosen  line.  In  1879  he  came  to  Greencastle,  Indiana,  for  the  purpose 
of  joining  his  brother,  Joseph  P.,  in  the  general  merchandise  business,  and 
he  has  done  his  full  share  in  building  up  an  extensive  trade  here. 

Mr.  Allen  was  married  to  Josephine  Sims,  of  Delphi,  Indiana,  the 
daughter  of  Lewis  B.  Sims,  an  attorney.  She  was  born  and  reared  in  that 
place.  To  this  union  five  children  have  been  born,  named  as  follows :  Lucy 
is  engaged  in  teaching  at  Calumet.  jNlichigan;  Hiram  C.  Jr.,  is  a  member  of 
the  firm  of  Allen  Brothers;  he  married  a  Miss  Harding,  of  Crawfordsville, 
and  one  child  has  been  born  to  them;  Grace  is  teaching  German  in  the  high 
school  at  Dixon.  Illinois;  Martha  Jean  married  a  ^Nlr.  Wallace  and  is  living 
in  St.  Louis;  Josephine  is  attending  DePauw  L'^niversity.  Mr.  Allen  is  a 
member  of  the  College  Avenue  Methodist  Episcopal  church,  having  been  a 
member  of  the  official  board  for  many  years. 

Xo  family  in  Putnam  county  stands  higher  in  business,  social  and  all 
other  circles  than  the  Aliens. 


THE  ROGERS  FAMILY. 

The  southern  part  of  Putnam  county  knew  no  more  honorable  and 
worthy  citizen  during  the  past  generation  than  James  Harvey  Rogers,  who 
is  now  numbered  among  those  who  have  taken  up  their  journey  to  the 
"undiscovered  bourne"  in  the  great  beyond.  He  was  born  north  of  Green- 
castle in  183J.  the  son  of  Edward  and  Susan  (Wood)  Rogers,  the  father  a 
native  of  Kentucky,  where  he  grew  to  manhood,  the  latter  a  native  of  Put- 
nam countv.  Ophelia  (Taylor)  Rogers,  mother  of  Melvin  Rogers  and  Mrs. 
Abe  Cohn.  of  Cloverdale.  was  born  at  Orange,  Virginia,  in  1838.  She  came 
with  her  parents  in  a  wagon  overland  from  Virginia  to  Cambridge  City, 
Indiana,  in  the  earlv  forties,  and  there  the  family  remained  until  about  1856. 
when  thev  moved  to  near  Bainbn'dge.  Putnam  county,  buying  a  farm  there 
which  thev  worked  the  rest  of  their  days.  Edward  Rogers,  the  grandfather 
of  Mrs.  Abe  Cohn.  entered  one  hundred  and  sixty  acres  of  government  land 
north  of  Greencastle  and  lived  there  until  he  was  nearly  seventy-five  years 
of  age.  when  he  sold  out  and  went  to  live  with  his  son.  Harvey,  of  this  re- 
view.    He  died  at  the  age  of  eightv-one  vears.  ,    . 


PCTXAM    COUNTY.    IXDIAXA. 


6i: 


Harvey  Rogers  lived  in  the  north  part  of  Putnam  county  until  his  mar- 
riage to  Ophelia  Ta\-lor.  then  bought  a  farm  two  miles  east  of  Clovenlale. 
about  1868.  lia\ing  eighty  acres  there.  He  made  a  good  living  and  was 
liked  bv  all  who  knew  him.  His  death  occurred  Alarch  j8.  19OJ.  .-\lleii 
Rogers  died  Januaiy  6.  1905. 

Melvin  Rogers  was  born  near  Eainbridge.  Putnam  county,  Indiana,  in 
i86^.  the  son  of  Tames  Harvey  and  Ophelia  (Taylor)  Rogers.  The  family 
first  located  two  miles  east  of  Eainbridge.  and  while  ^^lelvin  was  an  uifant. 
the  family  moved  two  and  onedialf  miles  east  and  mie-half  mile  south  of 
Cloverdale  and  there  the  eight  children  of  the  Rogers  family  grew  to  matur- 
ity. They  were:  Joseph  Lee.  who  is  living  on  a  farm  east  of  Cloverdale; 
Susan  married  .-Yndrew  Kuhns  and  lives  at  Center  Point.  Clay  county;  Mel- 
vin is  in  business  at  Cloverdale:  IMerritt  lives  at  Campbellsville.  Kentucky; 
^lillie  married  Riley  Stanton  and  lives  in  Owen  county,  this  state:  Nettie 
lives  with  her  mother  in  Cloverdale;  Eva  Lacy  married  Abe  Cohn  (see  his 
sketch  elsewhere  in  this  work)  :  Allen  married  Lucetta  Wilson  and  lived  on 
the  home  farm  east  of  Cloverdale.  and  he  died  January  6,  1905.  leaving  three 
children.  Ber\l.  Leia  and  Lenore. 

Mrs.  Har\ev  Rogers  continued  to  live  on  the  home  farm  after  her  hus- 
band's death  until  1907.  when  she  moved  to  Cloverdale.  where  she  now  re- 
sides. 

Melvin  Rogers  lived  on  the  home  farm  until  he  was  twenty-one  years  of 
age:  he  came  to  Cloverdale  to  tiy  his  fortune  and  for  about  twenty  years 
w-orked  in  the  store  owned  by  the  late  Meig  Cohn.  one  of  Cloverdale's  old- 
time  merchants.  In  the  fall  of  1905  Mr.  Rogers  opened  a  store  of  his  own 
in  Cloverdale.  carrying  a  general  line  of  goods  and  he  has  continued  to  do  a 
large  business  here,  his  store  being  neat  and  well  kept  and  a  modern  line  of 
goods  is  always  on  hand.  He  enjoys  a  very  satisfactory  trade.  Pie  is  a  mem- 
ber of  Clrnenlale  Lodge.  Xo.  13-'.  Free  and  Accepted  Ma.sons.  In  Septem- 
ber. 1907.  he  married  Alice  Omullane.  daughter  of  Juhn  and  Tenipa  Omul- 
lane.  She  was  reare<l  in  Cloverdale.  her  parents  having  moved  there  from 
Ouincv.  Owen  county.  Her  father  was  born  in  Ireland  and  came  to  America 
in  bovhood.  Mr.  Rogers  has  one  son.  \'irgil  Clell  Rogers,  now  six  years  old. 
Joseph  Lee  Rogers  first  married  .Mice  Morgan,  of  Cloverdale  town- 
.ship.'the  daughter  of  John  and  Sarah.  (  Martin  )  De\'ore,  and  this  union 
resulted  in  the  l)irth  of  two  children.  John  H.  and  Gladys.  Mrs.  Alice 
Rogers  died  January  10.  1901.  and  Joseph  Lee  Rogers  then  married.  ^larch 
28.  i<)06.  ?\Ir"s.  Laura  (AlcCoy)  Davis,  widow  of  Alb.ert  Davis.  One  daugh- 
ter was  l)orn  to  this  second  union.  Delcie  Lee  Rogers,  ^[r.  Rogers  now  lives 
on  tlie  home  farm  east  of  Cloverdale. 


6i6  weik's  history  of 


ELDER  EZEKIEL  WRIGHT. 


No  estimate  of  the  immense  amount  of  good  that  comes  from  a  long 
and  useful  life  like  that  of  Elder  Ezekiel  Wright,  can  be  made,  for  it  is  far- 
reaching  in  its  effects  and  will  continue  through  coming  generations,  like  the 
light  that  "shines  more  and  more  unto  the  perfect  day."  Few  lives  have 
been  so  unselfish,  so  pregnated  with  good  deeds  and  so  controlled  by  an  in- 
satiable desire  to  be  kind  and  beneficial  to  his  fellow  men;  therefore  he  is 
held  in  the  highest  esteem  by  thousands  whom  his  life  has  touched  directly 
or  indirectly,  and  he  is  now.  in  the  mellow  twilight  of  his  age.  one  of  Madi- 
son township's  most  honored  citizens.  He  was  born  near  Lexington,  David- 
son county.  Xorth  Carolina.  December  19.  1821.  His  parents  were  Amos 
and  Elizabeth  (Parrish)  Wright.  This  family  came  to  Indiana  as  early 
as  the  fall  of  1826.  three  or  four  families,  consisting  of  Reuben  Wright, 
brother  of  Amos  Wright,  and  Edward  Parrish,  brother  of  Elizabeth  Par- 
rish. Reuben  Wright  settled  near  Manhattan,  Washington  township,  Put- 
nam county,  and  there  spent  the  remainder  of  his  life.  Mr.  Parrish  settled 
near  the  Brick  Chapel  and  lived  there  until  his  death.  Mrs.  David  Boswell 
is  his  grandchild  and  a  son  lives  in  Owen  county,  and  the  descendants  of 
Reuben  \\'right  are  still  living  in  this  county.  The  father  of  Elizabeth 
Parrish  was  a  soldier  in  the  Revolutionary-  war.  He  came  to  Indiana  with 
the  rest  of  the  family  and  lived  here  until  his  death,  having  reached  the  ripe 
old  age  of  over  ninety  years;  all  that  is  mortal  of  him  rests  in  the  Long 
Branch  cemetery,  his  grave  never  having  been  marked  by  the  Daughters  of 
the  American  Revolution.  Amos  Wright  settled  on  Long  Branch,  entering 
one  hundred  and  sixtv  acres  of  land  there.  He  built  the  present  residence  of 
John  Ouinlisk  about  1833  and  he  spent  practically  the  remainder  of  his  life 
there,  selling  out  in  his  old  age,  but  continued  to  live  in  Madison  township, 
dying  at  the  advanced  age  of  eighty -eight  years,  on  October  9,  1870.  His 
wife  was  sixteen  years  old  when  she  married;  she,  too,  reached  a  remarkable 
age,  ninety  years,  dying  in  September.  1879.  The  former  had  lived. in  this 
township  for  forty-four  years.  He  was  a  Whig  politically,  but  later  in  life 
was  a  Democrat.  At  one  time  he  served  as  road  supervisor  of  the  entire 
township,  which  at  that  time,  was  a  difficult  task.  He  was  a  member  of  the 
Church  of  Christ.  His  cousin.  Elder  Levi  Wright,  of  Clinton  township. 
held  services  at  the  home  of  Amos,  also  at  Andrew  Frank's  and  finally 
organized  a  church,  the  first  building  being  at  the  Long  Branch  cemetery,  the 
present  Christian  chapel  being  built  in   1867.     Amos  \\'right  and  his  wife 


PUTNAM    COUNTY.    INDIANA.  617 

were  lifelong  members  of  that  church.  The  family  belonged  to  the  Baptist 
church  in  Xorth  Carolina,  the  father  of  Amos  having  been  a  preacher  there, 
and  Amos  an  eider. 

Of  the  thirteen  children  born  to  Amos  Wright  and  wife,  six  sons  and 
six  daughters  grew  to  maturity.  Each  married  and  reared  a  family ;  only 
three  of  the  number  are  living  in  1910.  A  sister.  Dicie  Stewart,  died  in 
Kansas.  February  2.  1910.  She  would  have  been  ninety-nine  years  old  in 
August.  1910.  Turner  Wright  is  living  at  Denver.  Colorado,  now  eighty- 
two  years  of  age. 

Thus  we  see  that  this  family  has  been  remarkable  for  its  longevity,  also 
its  piety,  their  lives  being  lengthened,  no  doubt,  by  good  temperate  habits 
in  all  the  walks  of  life,  by  a  strict  avoidance  of  the  many  vices  that  tear  down 
the  mechanism  of  the  mortal  body. 

Elder  Ezekiel  ^Vright  grew  to  maturity  on  the  home  fann.  and,  thus 
reared  in  the  days  of  the  early  development  of  the  agricultural  life  of  the 
countn.".  was  required  to  assist  with  the  general  work  about  the  place.  He 
remained  under  the  parental  roof  until  he  was  twenty  years  old.  when  he 
married  his  second  cousin.  Celia  Wright,  daughter  of  Elder  Levi  Wright. 
He  built  a  cabin  on  eighty  acres  of  the  land  entered  by  his  father.  He  soon 
had  a  good  start  and  he  built  a  substantial  and  comfortable  dwelling,  in 
which  he  has  continued  to  live  for  a  period  of  sixty  years.  He  has  been  very 
successful  in  his  life  work  and  old  age  finds  him  surrounded  by  all  the  com- 
forts of  life  and  many  evidences  of  his  fonner  years  of  thrift.  He  joined 
the  church  when  seventeen  years  of  age  and  in  due  course  of  time  was  made 
an  elder,  and  he  soon  began  to  preach  in  his  own  church  and  has  served  as 
an  elder  of  the  local  congregation  ever  since.  The  Christian  chapel  stands  on 
land  formerly  owned  by  him.  He  has  served  the  church  each  month  in  four 
different  places,  often  preaching  in  school  houses.  He  is  one  of  the  oldest 
ministers  in  this  section  of  the  state:  for  many  years  he  would  work  on  his 
farm  all  week,  start  out  on  Saturday  to  his  "appointment"  and  preach  that 
and  the  following  day.  He  has  "gone  about  doing  good"'  in  many  ways  and 
has  been  the  popular  marrying  preacher,  and  he  has  officiated  at  many  fun- 
erals.— in  fact,  he  is  always  ready  to  ser\-e  wherever  necessary.  In  June, 
1908.  he  assisted  in  the  fiftieth  anniversary'  of  Charles  Dailey  and  Linnie 
Wright.  He  has  served  as  trustee  of  Madison  township  by  appointment  and 
was  twice  elected :  however,  he  has  never  sought  public  honors. 

After  forty-three  vears  of  mutually  happy  and  congenial  wedded  life. 
^Irs.  \\'right  was  called  to  her  reward  in  1884.  Six  children  were  born  to 
this  union,  one  daughter  dvinij  in  chil(lhoo<l.     The  others  are.   Henrv.  who 


6iS  weik's  history  of 

died  in  Mav,  1909.  lacking  one  day  of  his  sixty-fifth  birthday:  he  hved  at 
Parsons,  Kansas:  since  his  death  his  son.  Otto,  a  locomotive  engineer,  was 
killed  while  on  his  run  at  Lincoln.  Nebraska,  in  December,  1909.  Fanny,  the 
widow  of  Austin  Sims,  makes  her  home  with  her  father.  Barton  Stone 
spent  twentv-three  years  in  Kansas,  but  is  now  at  home  with  his  father. 
Levi  Clarion  lives  near  the  old  homestead.  Xancy  Elizabeth  married  Scott 
Irwin,  of  Madison  township:  she  has  one  son.  Lillie.  the  wife  of  Bernard 
Bradfield,  lives  near  Riley,  Indiana:  Xora  is  the  wife  of  Alfred  Johnson, 
living  near  Bainbridge.  this  county. 


WILLIS  G.  OVERSTREET,  D.  D.  S. 

The  gentleman  to  whose  life  record  the  biographer  now  calls  the  reader's 
attention  was  not  favored  by  large  inherited  wealth  or  the  assistance  of  in- 
fluential friends,  but  in  spite  of  this,  by  perseverance,  industry  and  a  wise 
economy,  he  attained  a  comfortable  station  in  life  early  in  his  career,  and 
he  is  widely  and  favorably  known  throughout  Putnam  county,  and  even  his 
repiUation  as  a  skilled  dentist  has  penetrated  into  other  counties,  so  that  his 
office  in  Greencastle  has  long  been  a  very  busy  place,  for  the  work  he  turns 
out  is  alwavs  satisfactory  and  his  patients  become  his  constant  patrons  and 
his  friends. 

The  Overstreet  family  originated  in  England,  the  first  member  of  the 
familv  coming  to  .America  in  a  very  early  day.  Samuel  Overstreet.  grand- 
father of  the  Doctor,  was  l-;orn  in  Kentucky.  February  19.  1780.  He  there 
grew  to  maturity  and  married,  on  November  25,  1804.  Elizabeth  Haw- 
kins, who  was  born  ^Nlay  3,  1787.  and  they  became  the  parents  of  the  fol- 
lowing children:  Lorinda.  born  November  4.  1805:  Nancy,  born  .\pril  i. 
1807:  T'^hn  H.,  born  January  12.  1809;  Martha,  born  .April  8.  1810:  James 
:\Iadison.  born  November  23.  1812:  \\'illiam  H.  H..  born  February  25,  1814: 
Catherine,  born  May  20,  1816:  Elizabeth,  bom  September  17,  1817:  Gabriel 
Monroe,   born    Mav    I2.    1818:   he    was   the    father   of    Congressman   Jesse 

Overstreet;    Samuel    was    born    3,    1819:    Samuel,    born    ^larch    3, 

1821:  Marv  Lienor,  born  January  3.  1823:  Richard  Thomas.  August  2t,. 
182^:  Robert  Mitchell,  born  December  22.  1826;  Sarah  ^Matilda,  born  Au- 
gust 14.  1828. 

Dr.  Willis  G.  Overstreet  was  born  in  Oldham  county,  Kentucky.  .Au- 
gust   It.    1846.  the  son  of  John  H.   Overstreet,   who  also  was  a  native  of 


PUTNAM    COUXTV,    INDIANA.  619 

the  Blue  Grass  state,  where  he  was  reared  and  educated.  He  came  to  In- 
diana about  1S50,  locating  at  Frankhn.  Johnson  county.  later  moving  to  a 
farm  in  Clark  township  where  he  lived  until  his  death,  in  October,  1883, 
at  the  age  of  se\-enty-four  }-ears.  having  been  born  January  12,  1809.  He 
was  a  successful  farmer  and  a  man  whom  ever\'body  respected  for  his 
industry  and  e.xemplary  habits. 

Doctor  Overstreet  received  a  good  common  school  education  and  he 
recei\ed  his  practical  dental  education  at  Bedford.  Indiana.  He  moved  to 
Greencastle  on  Xo\'ember  i.  1874.  and  began  the  practice  of  dentistry,  soon 
building  up  an  excellent  patronage  and  he  has  been  continuously  in  the 
practice  here  e\er  since,  in  the  same  Iniilding.  He  is  the  oldest  practicing 
dentist  in  Greencastle. 

Doctor  Overstreet  married  first  Margaret  E.  McXutt.  of  Johnson 
county.  Indiana,  by  which  union  three  children  were  born,  namely :  Ralph 
and  Elizabeth,  both  deceased,  and  Dr.  Orsa  Fred.  The  mother  of  these 
children  passed  to  her  rest  in  1890.  and  Doctor  Overstreet  married  Nellie 
Cutler,  of  Greencastle,  INIarch  4,   1897.     This  union  is  without  issue. 

Dr.  Willis  G.  Overstreet  was  elected  city  treasurer  in  1906.  his  tenn 
expiring  in  1910.  He  is  a  Republican  and  has  long  been  active  in  the 
ranks. 

Dr.  Orsa  Ered  0\'erstreet  came  to  Greencastle  with  his  parents  when 
a  child.  He  received  a  public  school  education  and  graduated  from  the 
high  school  in  1885,  after  which  he  took  three  years'  work  in  DePauw 
University.  He  desired  to  follow  in  the  footsteps  of  his  father  and  accord- 
ingly took  up  the  study  of  dentistry,  graduating  from  the  Indiana  Dental 
College,  in  Indianapolis,  in  1891  and  he  began  practicing  his  profession  in 
Greencastle  that  year  which  he  has  continued  to  the  present  with  verv  grati- 
fying success.  He  was  married  in  August,  1892.  to  Jessie  J.  Joslin.  of 
Crawfordsville.  where  she  was  born,  reared  and  educated.  She  is  the 
daughter  of  Xoah  S.  and  Frances  (Squires)  Joslin.  an  influential  family 
there.     One  son.  Ralph,  has  graced  this  union,  born  April  5.    1895. 

Doctor  Overstreet  is  now  and  has  been  for  the  past  ten  years  a  mem- 
ber of  the  Greencastle  school  board,  being  president  of  the  board 
in  which  he  has  taken  an  abiding  interest  and  in  which  he  has  made  his 
influence  felt  for  better  education.  He  is  a  member  of  the  ^Modern  Wood- 
men of  America  and  the  Sigma  Chi  fraternity.  Pie  is  active  m  Republi- 
can politics.  The  Overstreets  are  among  the  leading  families  of  Green- 
castle. and  are  prominent  in  all  circles  here. 


620  weik's  history  of 


MAJOR  JAMES  FRANCIS  FEE. 

Xo  greater  badge  of  honor  could  be  conferred  on  an  American  citi- 
zen than  to  give  him  the  distinction  of  having  offered  his  services  and  his 
hfe.  if  need  be,  in  defense  of  the  government,  for  such  service  is  always 
far-reaching  in  its  effects  upon  subsequent  generations.  The  late  Maj. 
James  Francis  Fee  was  a  gallant  defender  of  the  flag  and  is  eminently 
worthy  of  a  place  in  his  country's  history,  not  alone  for  his  military  career, 
but  for  many  reasons,  for  he  was  one  of  those  strong,  self-reliant,  honest 
and  determined  characters  who  are  occasionally  met  with  and  who  are  of 
such  a  distinct  type  as  to  seem  to  be  born  leaders  of  their  fellow  men.  Not 
that  [Major  Fee  courted  that  distinction,  for  he  was  entirely  unassuming, 
but  his  great  force  of  character  and  his  zeal  and  energy  in  whatever  he 
undertook  naturally  placed  him  at  the  head  of  the  crowd,  and  he  was  a 
potent  factor  in  the  development  of  Putnam  county,  where  he  long  main- 
tained his  home  and  where  he  was  well  known  to  all  classes  for  his  honor- 
able and  industrious  life,  in  both  private  and  public. 

Major  Fee  was  born  in  Heltonsville,  South  Carolina,  June  6,  1842,  the 
oldest  son  of  Dr.  Mathew  and  Sarah  Fee,  natives  of  South  Carolina  and 
well  known  in  their  vicinity,  the  father  dying  there  when  James  F.  was 
seven  years  old,  the  family  then  moving  to  Bloomington,  Indiana,  where 
the  mother  lived  to  an  advanced  age,  dying  there  twelve  years  ago. 

At  Lincoln's  first  call  for  troops,  James  F.  Fee,  then  a  lad  in  his  teens, 
enlisted  in  the  Thirty -first  Regiment,  Indiana  Volunteer  Infantry,  and  he 
served  through  the  war  as  gallantly  as  any  older  veteran,  participating  in 
various  trying  campaigns  and  thirty-one  battles,  his  record  being  one  of 
which  his  descendants  should  be  proud,  for  he  went  in  as  a  private  and 
came  out  as  captain,  his  rise  being  through  merit.  He  was  a  private  in 
Companv  K,  Fourteenth  Indiana  Infantry,  from  May  10  to  July  9,  1861  ; 
private  in  Company  G.  Thirty-first  Indiana  Infantry,  September  5,  1861 ; 
he  was  promoted  to  sergeant  the  same  month;  he  was  promoted  to  second 
lieutenant  February  22,  1864,  and  to  first  Heutenant  on  the  15th  of  the 
following  September,  and  he  was  returned  home  a  captain,  having  been 
honorablv  discharged  January  10,  1866.  He  was  captain  of  Company  I. 
First  Indiana  National  Guard,  being  appointed  to  this  office  June  27.  1891, 
and  on  Julv  17,  1895,  he  was  promoted  to  the  rank  of  major.  He  be- 
longed to  the  One  Hundred  and  Fifty-ninth  Regiment,  Indiana  Volunteer 
Infantry,  which  was  organized  June  12.  1882.  as  the  first  veteran  regiment. 


PUTXAM    COUNTY,    INDIANA.  621 

Indiana  Legion.  He  enrolled  April  26,  1898,  as  major  and  was  mustered 
out  November  33,  1898.  He  was  an  ardent  military  man,  a  gallant  soldier, 
a  trusted  commander  and  he  was  always  ver\-  popular  with  his  men,  with 
whom  he  was  firm  but  kind,  and  they  trusted  him  implicitly,  recognizing 
his  ability  as  a  true  commander,  and  he  always  had  the  respect  and  often 
the  admiration  of  his  superior  officers. 

At  the  close  of  the  Civil  war  Major  Fee  came  to  Greencastle  and  en- 
gaged in  the  real  estate  and  insurance  business  and  for  some  time  was 
pension  attorney.  He  continued  in  this  line  of  work,  for  the  most  part, 
during  his  remaining  lifetime,  having  engaged  again  in  insurance  and  real 
estate  after  the  Spanish-American  war,  and  he  was  very  successful  in  this 
line  of  endeavor,  having  built  up  a  very  satisfactory  business,  and  because 
of  his  honesty  and  straightforward  dealings  with  his  fellow  men  and  his 
popularity  with  all  classes  he  was  well  known  and  liked  by  all.  The  death 
of  this  excellent  citizen  occurred  on  February  19.  1905. 

Major  Fee  married,  on  February  10,  1868,  Margaret  Wylie,  daugh- 
ter of  William  and  Margaret  (Curry)  Wylie,  an  excellent  and  well  es- 
tablished family  of  Bloomington,  Indiana.  Mrs.  Fee's  mother  died  when 
she  was  a  small  child,  and  her  father  died  in  1902.  They  reared  seven 
children,  two  of  whom  are  now  living. 

Politically  Mr.  Fee  was  a  Republican  and  for  two  terms  he  served 
very  acceptably  as  city  clerk  of  Greencastle.  He  belonged  to  the  Presby- 
terian church,  and  he  was  a  member  of  the  Independent  Order  of  Odd  Fel- 
lows, the  Royal  Arcanum  and  the  Grand  Army  of  the  Republic. 


JESSE  A.  POYNTER. 

A  career  marked  by  earnest  and  indefatigable  application  has  been  that 
of  this  substantial  mechanic  and  honored  citizen  of  Cloverdale,  where  he 
has  maintained  a  residence  for  nearly  a  third  of  a  century,  during  all  of 
which  time  his  life  has  been  an  open  book  known  and  read  by  his  fellow- 
men.  He  was  a  valiant  soldier  of  the  Civil  war  where  his  fidelity  was  of 
the  type  which  has  characterized  his  actions  in  all  their  relations  and  gained 
for  him  the  confidence  and  esteem  of  the  public  and  unbounded  respect  of 
all  with  whom  he  has  been  brought  into  contact. 

Jesse  A.  Poynter  is  a  native  of  Hendricks  county.  Indiana,  and  the 
sixth  of  a   family  of  eight  children  born  to  Samuel  and  Nancy   Poynter. 


622  WEIK  S    HISTORY    OF 

Samuel  Povnter  was  born  near  Owensboro.  Kentucky,  ]\Iay  8,  1816,  and 
on  the  8th  day  of  December,  1836,  married  Nancy  Davis,  whose  birth  oc- 
curred on  Februarv-  6,  181 5.  The  names  of  their  children  with  dates  of 
birth  are  as  follows:  William  F.,  October  12.  1837;  ]\Iary  ]..  February  15, 
1839;  Benjamin  F.,  ]\Iay  25.  1840,  lieutenant  in  Company  F,  Seventy-ninth 
Regiment,  Indiana  \'olunteers,  and  killed  at  the  battle  of  Stone  River,  Jan- 
uary 2,  1863:  Alartha  L.,  November  9,  1842:  ^^largaret  E.,  February  9, 
184^:  [esse  A.,  subject  of  this  sketch,  April  9,  1S48;  Nancy  E.,  July  4, 
1S52;  Eliza,  February  21,  1S54.  Samuel  Foynter,  the  father  of  these 
children,  departed  this  life  on  April  14,  1871,  his  wife  preceding  him  to  the 
other  world  May  22,  1869. 

Samuel  Povnter  accompanied  his  parents  upon  their  removal  from  Ken- 
tuckv  to  Indiana  in  quite  an  early  day,  his  father  dying  before  the  family 
reached  their  destination.  Later  he  entered  the  ministry  of  the  Methodist 
Episcopal  church  and  for  many  years  was  actively  engaged  in  the  itiner- 
ancv,  having  had  charge  of  a  number  of  circuits  in  various  parts  of  central 
and  southern  Indiana,  during  the  pioneer  period.  He  was  an  able  and  elo- 
quent preacher,  a  faithful  and  conscientious  worker  in  the  cause  of  the 
Master  and  through  his  labors  and  influence  churches  were  established  at 
different  points  and  hundreds  brought  to  a  saving  knowledge  of  the  truth. 

The  first  nine  years  of  Jesse  Poynter's  life  were  spent  in  the  town  of 
Pittsboro,  where  his  father  was  then  stationed,  but  being  transferred  to  the 
Putnamville  circuit  at  the  expiration  of  that  time,  with  headquarters  at 
Ouincy,  the  subject  remained  at  the  latter  place  until  the  removal  of  the 
familv  to  Cloverdale  in  the  year  1859.  Meantime  he  attended  the  public 
schools  of  the  above  towns  and  was  pursuing  his  studies  when  the  national 
skies  became  overcast  by  ominous  clouds  of  approaching  civil  war.  Two 
voung  to  enter  the  ranks  as  a  soldier,  Jesse,  in  the  year  1863,  before  his 
fifteenth  vear.  enlisted  as  a  drummer  in  Company  C,  One  Hundred  and 
Fifteenth  Regiment,  Indiana  Volunteer  Infantry,  for  six  months,  at  the 
end  of  which  time  he  re-enlisted  as  a  musician  in  Company  B,  Thirty-first 
Regiment,  Indiana  Volunteers,  with  which  he  served  until  the  end  of  the 
war.  the  Thirtv-first  being  the  last  Indiana  troops  to  be  mustered  out.  Mr. 
Poynter  shared  with  his  comrades  the  experiences  of  active  warfare  in 
various  parts  of  the  south,  taking  part  in  the  siege  of  Knoxville  and  in 
Sherman's  campaign  up  to  the  operations  against  Atlanta.  From  the  latter 
place  his  command  was  sent  to  Tennessee  to  assist  in  checking  the  Con- 
federate advance  on  Nashville,  and  he  participated  in  the  hard-fought  battle 
at  that  place  and  at  Franklin,  after  which  the  regiment  was  ordered  to  re- 


PUTXAM    COCXTV.    INDIANA.  623 

join  Sherman's  army  in  the  eastern  part  of  the  state.  The  force  pro- 
ceeded as  far  as  (jreenville.  when  news  of  Lee's  surrender  caused  a  halt, 
and  from  tliat  city  tlie  Thirty-first  Indiana  with  several  other  regiments 
were  sent  to  Texas  to  be  in  readiness  in  case  any  trouble  should  arise  over 
the  French  occupancy  of  Mexico.  Xot  being  needed,  the  regiment  was 
duly  mustered  out  in  the  spring  of  iS66,  following  which  the  subject  re- 
turned to  Putnam\-ille.  where  his  father  was  then  living  and  operating  a 
saw-mill. 

Actuated  b_\'  a  desire  to  increase  his  scholastic  knr)wledge.  Mr.  Po\'nter 
subsequently  entered  Asbury  (now  DePauw)  Uni\-ersity.  but  owing  to 
financial  stringency  attended  that  institution  only  a  short  time,  being  obliged 
to  turn  his  hand  to  some  kind  of  occupation  for  a  livelihood.  Rejoining  the 
famil)-.  which  in  the  meantime  had  removed  to  Eminence,  ^Morgan  county, 
he  took  up  the  blacksmith's  trade,  which  he  learned  partly  in  tha,t  town  and 
partly  at  Cloverdale  with  his  brother,  and  at  which  he  soon  acquired  more 
than  ordinaiy  efficiency  as  a  workman.  After  following  his  chosen  call- 
ing at  Eminence  until  1S70.  he  returned  to  Cli5verdale  where  he  has  since 
resided  and  operated  very  successfully  the  large  blacksmith  and  general 
repair  shop  of  which  he  is  still  proprietor,  this  being  the  oldest  as  well  as 
the  best  patronized  establishment  of  the  kind  in  this  part  of  Putnam  countv. 

On  Januarv  2<'\  1873.  Mr.  Povnter  was  united  in  marriage  with 
Martha  Letitia  Bennett,  daughter  of  Mansfield  and  Sarah  (Littell)  Ben- 
nett, both  parents  members  of  old  and  respected  families  of  Monroe. countv, 
Indiana,  where  Mrs.  Poynter's  grandparents  settled  in  an  early  day  on  land 
purchased  from  the  government.  Mrs.  Sarah  Bennett  was  a  daughter  of 
Isaac  and  Zerelda  (Til ford)  Littell.  who  moved  from  Clark  county  to 
Morgan  county  in  pioneer  times  and  took  an  active  part  in  the  settlement 
and  development  of  the  section  of  countr\-  in  which  they  located.  When  a 
mere  child  Mrs.  Poynter  was  taken  to  Morgan  county  by  her  parents  and 
there  remaine<l  until  her  marriage.  After  spending  five  years  of  their 
wedded  life  at  Eminence,  Mr.  and  Ishs.  Poynter  removed  to  their  present 
place  of .  residence,  with  the  subsequent  history-  of  which  they  have  been 
closelv  identified.  Three  children  have  been  born  to  them,  viz:  Deward. 
St.  Paul  and  Tessie  Adelaide,  all  born  while  the  parents  lived  in  Eminence. 
Tlie  first  named  died  in  infancy.  St.  Paul  is  a  graduate  of  DePauw  T.'ni- 
versity  and  is  now  a  journalist  by  profession,  living  at  Sullivan,  where  he 
publishes  the  Sullivan  Democrat  and  the  Times,  the  former  a  weekly  paper 
and  the  latter  a  dailv.     He  married  Alice  Wilkev.  daughter  of  Xelson  and 


624  vveik's  history  of 

Belle  (Allen)  Wilkey,  and  is  the  father  of  two  children,  Eleanor  Allen  and 
Nelson  Paul  Poynter. 

Jessie  Adelaide  is  also  a  graduate  of  DePauw  University  in  the  de- 
partment of  music,  having  stood  highest  in  the  class  in  the  school  of  piano 
music.  She  is  now  the  wife  of  Dr.  James  B.  McEvoy,  a  physician  and  sur- 
geon of  Ft.  Wayne,  to  whom  she  has  borne  three  sons,  Paul  Bertrand, 
James  Poynter  and  Maurice  Francis  McEvoy. 

In  all  his  relations  with  his  fellow  men  Mr.  Poynter  has  been  actuated 
by  a  high  sense  of  justice  and  honor  and  his  life  and  character  are  above 
reproach.  Mrs.  Poynter  is  a  lady  of  beautiful  character  and  sterling  worth 
and  as  active  member  of  the  Christian  church  wields  an  influence  for  good 
among  all  with  whom  she  mingles.  She  is  a  member  of  the  Woman's  Re- 
lief Corps  of  Cloverdale. 


ALEC  A.  LANE. 


The  Lanes  are  of  old  English  stock  and  claim  descent  from  a  repre- 
sentative who  came  over  in  the  "Mayflower."  The  family  thus  started  with 
the  first  settlement  of  the  country  and  its  members  took  part  in  the  struggle 
and  privations  that  preceded  civilization  in  New  England.  We  hear  definitely 
of  Alexander  Lane,  who  was  born  near  Lexington,  Kentucky,  in  what  is 
known  as  the  Crab  Orchard  district.  He  married  Lydia  Burks,  also  a  Ken- 
tuckian  by  birth,  and  in  1826  they  came  to  Indiana  and  settled  in  Union  town- 
ship, Parke  county,  on  land  obtained  from  the  government.  At  the  time  of 
their  arrival  there  was  only  one  other  white  man  in  Parke  county,  he  being 
a  brother  of  Mrs.  Lane,  who  had  come  out  the  year  before.  The  trip  from 
Kentucky  was  rather  an  adventurous  one  in  those  days  and  not  unattended 
by  danger,  as  w'ild  beasts  and  Indians  were  numerous.  They  rode  all  the 
way  on  horseback  and  often  recalled  passing  through  what  is  now  the  thriving 
city  of  Greencastle,  which  was  then  merely  a  cluster  of  small  cabins.  This 
sturdv  pioneer  couple  ended  their  days  on  the  land  they  had  settled  and  where 
they  had  witnessed  so  much  of  hard  work,  privation  and  sorrow.  The  hus- 
band died  at  the  comparatively  early  age  of  fifty,  but  his  wife  survived  to 
the  extreme  age  of  ninety-two  years.  They  had  eight  children,  five  of  whom 
are  living.  John  A.  Lane,  the  seventh  child,  was  born  on  the  old  homestead 
in  Parke  countv,  but  in  1871  removed  to  Greencastle  and  engaged  in  the  mer- 
cantile pursuits,  which  occupied  his  time  for  many  years.  He  was  also  a 
carpenter  and  contractor  and  quite  prominent  in  the  Democratic  politics  of 


_^-^/c^    ^//  C^K^  ^^^^ 


PLT-VAM    COLXTY,    IXDIANA.  625 

Putnam  county.  He  married  Sarah  E.  Todd,  a  native  of  Parke  county,  by 
whom  he  had  three  children.  Alec  A..  Frank  L.  and  Earl  C.  Frank  L.  is  in 
the  meat  market  business  and  Earl  C.  is  manager  of  the  Model  Clothing  Com- 
pany. The  father  died  August  5,  1899;  his  widow  makes  her  home  with  her 
eldest  son  in  Greencastle. 

Alec  A.  Lane,  eldest  of  the  children,  was  born  in  Parke  county.  Indiana, 
May  I,  1869.  When  two  years  old  he  was  brought  by  his  parents  to  their 
new  home  in  Putnam  county,  where  he  attended  the  district  schools  as  he 
grew  up.  Having  received  a  fair  primary  education,  he  entered  DePauw 
University,  from  which  he  graduated  in  1894.  He  took  up  civil  engineering 
as  his  life  work  and  has  since  continuously  followed  this  useful  calling.  He 
began  the  general  practice  of  land  surveying  and  worked  over  the  entire 
state.  In  1902  he  was  elected  county  surveyor  on  the  Democratic  ticket,  and 
on  Januan,'  i,  1903,  he  entered  upon  the  duties  of  his  office.  He  has  been  re- 
elected every  two  years  since  and  has  made  one  of  the  best  surveyors  the  countv 
ever  had.  During  his  long  and  active  tenure  he  has  laid  out  about  four  hun- 
dred miles  of  gravel  and  macadamized  roads.  He  has  also  designed  all  the 
bridges  in  the  county,  including  the  largest  single-span  bridge  e\er  erected  in 
Putnam.  This  is  known  as  the  Perigo  bridge  over  Eel  river,  near  Reelsville, 
and  this  imposing  structure  is  a  monument  to  Mr.  Lane's  mechanical  skill  and 
taste  in  bridge  architecture.  Some  twelve  other  bridges,  all  of  superior  de- 
sign and  workmanship,  equally  attest  the  resources  of  this  useful  citizen.  He 
set  the  axis  lines  and  level  lines  for  the  building  of  the  new  court  house,  which 
is  the  pride  and  glory  of  Putnam  county.  Mr.  Lane  has  been  called  into  everv' 
county  in  the  state  to  settle  land  disputes  and  surveys.  Mr.  Lane  has  ne\er 
married.  He  is  a  member  of  the  Masonic  lodge  at  Greencastle  and  chairman 
of  the  Putnam  countv  Democratic  central  committee. 


J.\MES  H.  PLUMMER. 

The  Pluninier  family,  owing  to  the  industrious  anil  honorable  lives  of 
its  various  representatives  in  Putnam  county  since  the  early  days,  deserves 
to  hold  high  rank  among  the  present  generation  of  citizens,  especially  of 
Madison  township.  James  H.  Plummer  being  one  of  the  best  known.  His 
parents  v>ere  James  William  and  Sarah  E.  (Swinford)  Plummer.  the  for- 
mer born  on  Long  Branch,  this  township.  March  15,  1837.  His  parents. 
(40) 


626  WEIK  S    HISTORY    OF 

Isaac  and  Elizabeth  (Tucker)  Plummer.  were  natives  of  North  CaroHna. 
where  they  spent  their  youth,  married  and  emigrated  overland  to  Putnam 
county.  Indiana,  about  1835.  bringing  their  four  children,  and  they  spent 
the  remainder  of  their  lives  on  the  Long  Branch,  where  in  true  pioneer 
fashion,  they  began  in  a  small  way  to  develop  a  good  farm.  James  William 
was  fifteen  years  of  age  when  his  father  died,  consequently  remained  at 
home  and  cared  for  his  mother  and  sisters.  He  married  Sarah  E.  Swin- 
ford  on  January  25,  i860.  She  was  the  daughter  of  James  and  Mary 
(Orr)  Swinford,  both  natives  of  Harrison  county.  Kentucky,  where  they 
grew  to  maturity  and  were  married.  In  the  fall  of  1839  they  came  to 
Indiana  and  settled  on  Big  Walnut  creek,  near  its  convergance  with  the 
Little  \\'alnut.  and  there  lived  until  their  deaths.  James  Swinford  dying 
February  9.  1868.  lacking  six  days  of  his  eightieth  birthday.  His  second 
wife  survived  him  until  Februarv-  15.  1894,  reaching  the  age  of  eighty- 
eight  years.  Sarah  E.  Swinford  was  born  on  the  old  homestead.  May  6, 
1842,  and  was  one  of  a  family  of  four  sons  and  two  daughters;  only  two 
of  the  number  are  now  living.  Sarah  E.  Plummer  and  Josephus  Swinford.  of 
Hindsl)oro.  Illinois. 

Soon  after  their  marriage,  in  October,  i860,  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Plummer 
came  to  Putnam  county,  and  settled  on  the  land  still  owned  by  the  Plum- 
mer family.  The  land  was  cleared  by  them  and  later  more  added  to  it 
until  they  had  an  excellent  farm  of  one  hundred  and  seventy-five  acres. 
After  the  death  of  ]\Irs.  Plummer's  father,  Mr.  Plummer  purchased  an 
interest  in  the  Swinford  homestead  and  farmed  on  an  extensive  scale.  After 
his  death  Mrs.  Plummer  and  her  sons  erected  the  present  buildings  on  the 
place,  the  widow  having  continued  to  live  on  the  old  place,  which  has  been 
greatly  improved  by  James  H..  her  son.  who  is  regarded  as  a  modern 
twentieth-centur\-  agriculturist  in  every  respect,  and  it  has  always  been  his 
delight  to  care  for  his  mother,  she  having  received  his  careful  attention 
since  1882. 

This  family  consisted  of  seven  children,  two  of  whom  died  within  a 
few  weeks  of  the  father,  five  living  to  maturity,  namely;  James  H..  of  this 
review;  Albert,  of  Pueblo.  Colorado,  who  married  Sarah  Wright;  Salinda 
married  Ed.  Stoner.  living  in  Franklin  township.  Putnam  county;  Mary 
married  John  Cox,  of  Madison  township;  John  Isaac,  who  lives  in  ]Madi- 
son  township,  this  county,  married  Nora  Basinger. 

James  H.  Plummer  was  born  November  4,  i860,  on  the  present 
Plummer  farm,  soon  after  his  parents  located  here,  and  he  has  spent  his 
life  on  this  place.     In  his  early  youth  he  attended  the  district  schools  and 


PUTXAM    COUNTY,    INDIANA.  627 

worked  in  the  stone  quarries  and  on  the  railroad  section  force.  He  was 
fourteen  years  old  when  his  father  died,  his  youngest  brother  being  three 
years  old.  The  mother  kept  the  children  together  on  the  farm.  She  main- 
tained a  boarding  house  while  bridge  gangs  and  railroad  constructors  were 
at  work  in  this  vicinity,  the  new  line  of  the  Big  Four  railroad  passing 
through  the  fann,  the  Plummer  cut  of  eighty-seven  feet  being  a  well  known 
-i:ot  to  train-men  on  this  line.  Besides  her  own  children,  ^Mrs.  riummer 
reared  Lottie  Cox,  a  granddaughter,  who  has  now  been  with  her  for  four 
vears.  Mrs.  Plummer  is  a  member  of  the  Long  Branch  Christian  church, 
having  held  membership  with  this  denomination  since  a  girl.  James  H. 
Plummer  has  never  married,  preferring  to  give  his  attention  exclusively  to 
his  mother  and  the  other  members  of  the  family.  They  have  a  good  home 
and  a  well  cultivated  farm. 


ELDER  WILLIS  E.  GILL. 

Elder  Willis  E.  Gill,  banker,  of  Cloverdale.  Putnam  county,  is  an 
Illinoisan  by  birth  and  may  justly  bear  the  title  of  "self-made  man."  hav- 
ing worked  his  way  unaided  from  the  humble  ranks  of  toilers,  through  the 
vicissitudes  and  adversities  of  life,  to  an  admirable  and  influential  posi- 
tion among  the  business  men  of  Putnam  county.  The  success  attained  by 
him  in  his  business  affairs  has  been  greatly  owing  to  his  steady  persistence, 
stern  integrity  and  excellent  judgment,  qualities  which  have  also  won  for 
him  the  confidence  and  esteem  of  the  public  to  a  marked  degree. 

Willis  E.  Gill  was  born  in  Edgar  county.  Illinois,  on  September  21, 
1869.  and  is  a  son  of  John  B.  and  Mary  C.  (Smith)  Gill.  He  is  descended 
from  a  family  of  five  brothers,  all  of  whom  were  natives  of  Virginia  and 
who  served  under  ^larquis  de  Lafayette  in  the  war  of  the  Revolution. 
The  subject's  maternal  grandfather  was  William  Gill,  who  was  a  son  of 
Robert  Gill,  who  went  from  Virginia  to  Illinois  in  an  early  day,  and  dying 
there  at  the  remarkable  age  of  about  one  hundred  years.  The  subject  of 
this  sketch  was  reared  on  the  paternal  farmstead  in  Edgar  county.  Illinois, 
and  received  his  elementary  education  in  the  common  schools.  Subse- 
quently he  was  a  student  in  the  State  Normal  School,  at  Danville,  In- 
diana, after  which  he  engaged  in  teaching  school.  He  was  successful  as 
a  pedagogue,  which  profession  he  followed  ten  years,  first  in  countn.- 
schools,  but  later  at  Kansas,  Illinois.  After  leaving  the  school  room  Mr. 
Gill  engaged  in  the  fire  insurance  business  at  Kansas,  in  which  he  remained 
engaged  until    1903.  when  he  disposed  of  his  business  there  and  came  to 


628  weik's  history  of 

Cloverdale,  Indiana,  where  he  entered  the  banking  Inisiness  in  partnership 
with  Messrs.  D.  V.  Moffett,  F.  P.  Moffett  and  X.  R.  Bennett,  the  bank  being 
organized  under  the  state  laws  governing  private  banks.  Mr.  Gill  is  cashier  of 
the  institution  and  is  in  active  management  of  its  affairs,  much  of  the  success 
which  has  attended  it  being  directly  due  to  his  sound  judgment  and  splen- 
did executive  ability. 

The  subject  is  a  member  of  the  Primitive  Baptist  church,  and  is  the 
pastor  of  the  Smyrna  Baptist  church,  which  charge  he  has  held  practically 
ever  since  coming  to  Indiana.  He  first  engaged  in  the  ministry  about 
1 89 1,  while  residing  at  Kansas,  Illinois,  and  since  that  time  has  had  charge 
of  churches,  sometimes  as  many  as  three  at  one  time. 

Aside  from  his  activities  in  business  and  the  ministry.  Elder  Gill  is 
also  an  enthusiastic  fanner  and  owns  two  hundred  acres  of  fine  land  sit- 
uated about  a  mile  north  of  Cloverdale,  and  which  he  operates  with  profit 
and  considerable  personal  gratification. 

On  March  4,  1890,  Elder  Gill  married  Lily  May  Moffit,  daughter  of 
Elder  S.  H.  ]\Ioffit.  of  Kansas,  Illinois,  and  this  union  has  been  blessed 
by  two  children,  Jessie  and  Carlyle.  Fraternally,  Elder  Gill  is  a  member 
of  the  Modern  Woodmen  of  America.  Politically  he  is  a  Democrat  and, 
while  not  a  politician  in  the  ordinary  sense  of  the  word,  he  takes  an  in- 
telligent and  commendable  interest  in  public  affairs.  He  has  been  a  mem- 
ber of  the  school  board  of  Cloverdale  for  the  past  six  years  and  is  now 
serving  as  its  treasurer.  Having  been  a  teacher  himself,  he  takes  a  strong 
interest  in  educational  matters,  and  since  becoming  a  member  of  the  board 
he  has  labored  to  raise  the  standard  of  studies  and  during  this  period  the 
Cloverdale  high  school  has  been  raised  from  a  noncommissioned  to  a  com- 
missioned high  school.  A  man  of  public-spirit  and  broad  sympathies,  he 
exerts  a  genuine  influence  for  the  best  things  in  the  community  and  is  held 
in  the  highest  regard  by  all. 

The  Bank  of  Cloverdale  was  organized  in  July,  1901,  by  John  Laugh- 
liu.  who  operated  it  individually  until  June.  1903.  when  it  was  bought  by 
Messrs.  D.  V.  Moffett.  W.  E.  Gill,  F.  P.  Moffett  and  X.  R.  Bennett,  who  still 
own  it.  The  I)ank  has  a  capital  stock  of  ten  thousand  dollars,  and  has 
deposits  of  about  one  hundred  thousand  dollars,  its  business  having  in- 
creased rapidly  in  the  past  few  years.  The  present  officers  are  D.  V. 
Moffett,  president;  W.  E.  Gill,  cashier,  and  O.  V.  Smythe,  assistant  cashier. 
In  the  financial  stringency  of  1908  the  bank  at  all  times  commanded  the 
full  confidence  of  the  people  of  the  community,  this  fact  being  largely  due 
to  the  personnel  of  the  gentlemen  who  are  back  of  it.  it  being  considered 
among  the  solid  and  influential  monetary  institutions  of  Putnam  county. 


PUTNAM    COUNTY.    INDIANA.  629 


W.\LTER  K.  PRICH.ARD.  M,  D. 

The  practice  of  medicine  and  surgery  is  one  of  the  most  exacting  of 
professions  in  which  a  person  can  engage.  It  is  ahke  trying  upon  the  phys- 
ical and  the  mental  powers.  Physical  strength  and  vigor  are  as  necessary 
in  it  as  is  the  mental  ability  which  must  be  possessed  by  him  who  would 
succeed.  Dr.  Walter  K.  Prichard,  for  man\-  years  one  of  the  leading  phy- 
sicians and  surgeons  of  Putnam  county,  is  evidently  possessed  of  all  the 
essential  qualifications  of  a  successful  medical  practitioner,  judging  from 
his  past  eminently  worthy  and  successful  record,  which  is  attested  by  the 
large  and  constantly  increasing  practice  for  which  he  is  at  present  caring. 

Dr.  Prichard  was  born  in  Cloverdale.  this  county.  Januan,-  4,  i860, 
the  son  of  Lewis  and  Joanna  (Ross)  Prichard,  long  a  prominent  family  in 
this  vicinity.  This  family  is  of  Welsh  descent,  the  first  Pochards  having 
come  to  America  in  an  early  day,  making  their  way  westward  to  Kentucky, 
in  which  state,  Lawrence  county,  Lewis  Prichard  was  bom.  He  grew  to 
maturity  there  and.  deciding  to  enter  the  medical  profession,  after  he  had 
completed  his  priman,-  schooling,  he  entered  the  Cincinnati  Eclectic  School 
of  :\Iedicine.  from  which  he  was  graduated  and  in  a  short  time  he  was 
successfully  engaged  in  the  practice  of  his  profession.  He  came  to  Put- 
nam county,  Indiana,  in  1858.  where  he  became  well  established  and  suc- 
cessfully engaged  in  practice,  becoming  the  owner  of  a  large  tract  of  val- 
uable land.  He  was  prominent  in  public  affairs  and  a  worker  in  the  Demo- 
cratic party.  He  was  a  man  of  strict  integrity  and  one  of  the  community's 
leading  citizens.     His  death  occurred  on  November  27.   1889. 

Desiring  to  follow  in  the  footsteps  of  his  father,  Walter  K.  Prichard 
became  a  very  studious  lad  early  in  life,  passing  through  the  common 
schools  and  completing  the  course  at  the  Hendricks  County  Xormal  School, 
at  Danville,  Indiana.  He  studied  medicine  under  his  father  and  attended 
the  medical  department  of  the  Virginia  L'niversity,  receiving  the  degree 
of  Medical  Jurisprudence.  On  :\Iarch  10.  1S81,  he  graduated  from  the 
Miami  Medical  College.  Since  that  date  he  has  been  successfully  engaged 
in  practice  at  Cloverdale,  Putnam  county,  where  he  was  very  extensively 
patronized  from  the  first,  and  now  his  name  has  become  a  household  word 
in  the  southern  part  of  the  county,  having  won  a  reputation  for  his  ex- 
cellent surgery  which  extends  far  beyond  the  limits  of  the  county,  rank- 
ing high  among  the  best  medical  men  in  this  section  of  the  state.  In  1884 
Doctor  Prichard  took  a  post-graduate  course  at  the  Xew   York  Polyclinic. 


630  vveik's  history  of 

The  Doctor  has  found  time  in  the  midst  of  his  professional  duties  to 
look  after  some  business  interests,  among  which  is  his  splendid  and  well 
improved  farm  of  over  three  hundred  and  forty  acres  which  he  keeps 
well  cultivated  and  stocked  with  a  high  grade  of  various  kinds  of  live- 
stock. He  oversees  his  place  and  takes  a  great  delight  in  its  management. 
Notwithstanding  the  fact  that  his  has  been  an  unusually  busy  life,  he  has 
found  time  to  travel  extensively  and  to  keep  well  abreast  of  the  times  not 
only  in  matters  pertaining  to  his  profession  but  in  all  topics  of  vital  import. 

Doctor  Prichard  was  married  on  March  11,  18S4,  to  Virginia  Remley, 
a  lady  of  culture  and  refinement,  representing  an  excellent  Cincinnati  fam- 
ily. This  union  has  resulted  in  the  birth  of  three  children,  Estella,  Irma 
and  Calita. 

The  Doctor  is  as  pronounced  in  his  views  against  intemperance  as 
was  his  worthy  father  before  him  and  he  leaves  no  stone  unturned  whereby 
he  can  aid  the  cause  of  temperance.  He  is  a  public  spirited  man  and  a  loyal 
Democrat,  and  he  very  ably  served  at  one  time  as  a  member  of  the  board 
of  pension  examiners.  Fraternally,  he  is  a  member  of  the  Free  and  Accepted 
Masons,  Lodge  No.  132;  also  the  Knights  of  Pythias,  Diamond  Lodge,  No. 
344.  and  the  Modern  Woodmen  Camp.  No.  7155. 


DAVID  D.  SKELTON. 

The  founders  of  the  family  of  this  name  were  Southerners.  Allen  and 
Elizabeth  (Keysey)  Skelton.  the  former  a  Virginian,  met  and  married  in 
Kentucky.  Soon  after  they  removed  to  Indiana,  living  for  a  while  in 
Morgan  county,  but  later  locating  in  Putnam  county,  near  Reelsville,  in 
about  the  year  185 1.  Allen  was  a  shoemaker  and  worked  at  his  trade  in 
Reelsville.  which  was  on  the  old  National  road.  It  contained  a  mill,  a  store 
and  a  blacksmith  shop.  The  stage  coaches  made  much  travel  both  ways 
and  the  roads  were  enlivened  with  herds  of  hogs  on  their  way  to  the 
packing  house  at  Terre  Haute.  In  1S53  the  Skeltons  located  on  a  farm  in 
Madison  township,  situated  on  Snake  creek  in  the  southern  part,  and  here 
Allen  lived  until  his  death  in  1S63.  His  widow  continued  to  live  with  a 
son  on  the  old  place  until  lier  death,  at  past  seventy-five  years  of  age.  They 
had  five  children:  James  H.,  who  lived  near  the  old  home,  died  at  the  age 
of  forty-five;  David  D. ;,  Samuel,  retired  farmer  in  ^^lonroe  county.  Indiana; 


PUTNAM    COUNTY,    INDIANA.  63 1 

Allen,  a  retired  farmer  of  Monroe  count}',  Indiana:  Sarah,  widow  of  Fred 
Sigel.  who  was  killed  in  a  stone  quarr}-,  is  a  resident  of  Indianapolis. 

Da\-id  D.  Skelton.  tlie  second  chiUI,  was  born  in  Alorgan  county,  In- 
diana. April  14.  1S42.  and  remained  at  home  until  the  completion  of  his 
twentieth  year.  In  October.  i86[.  he  enlisted  in  Company  ?I,  Forty-third 
Regiment.  Indiana  \'olunteer  Infantry,  under  command  of  Capt.  WilHam 
Lane.  He  served  until  the  close  of  the  war.  though  ten  months  of  the 
time  was  spent  in  a  southern  prison  at  Tyler.  Te.xas.  He  was  captured  at 
Marks  Mills  in  Arkansas.  April  25.  1S64.  while  serving  under  General 
Steel,  who  was  moving  to  relieve  General  Banks.  He  was  detailed  as  guard 
of  the  wagon  train  from  Camden  to  Pine  Bluff.  The  stockade  at  Tyler 
held  three  or  four  thousand  prisoners  and  was  a  miserable  den  in  which 
the  Union  soldiers  suffered  much.  Mr.  Skelton  was  finally  exchanged  and 
left  the  stockade  February  25th,  went  to  Xew  Orleans,  drew  a  supply  of 
clothing  and  was  sent  back  to  Indianapolis,  where  he  recruited,  reorganized 
and  did  guard  duty.  ]Mr.  Skelton  was  a  good  soldier,  always  ready  for  duty 
and  was  several  times  promoted,  being  a  sergeant  when  he  was  captured. 
He  re-enhsted  in  Jannar>',  1864.  and  was  with  General  Steel  when  he  en- 
tered Little  Rock.  After  his  discharge.  Mr.  Skelton  returned  to  his  old 
home  and  began  farming  with  his  mother.  In  1867  he  married  Elizabeth 
Jones,  daughter  of  John  and  Hannah  Jones,  born  in  Ohio,  from  which 
state  she  came  with  her  parents  when  six  years  old.  After  marriage  he 
took  charge  of  the  farm  and  managed  it  until  his  mother's  death.  He 
soon  began  to  buy  out  the  interests  of  the  heirs  and  in  a  few  years  owned 
the  entire  estate.  It  consisted  originally  of  one  hundred  and  sixty  acres, 
but  Mr.  Skelton  added  to  it  until  he  owned  two  hundred  and  forty  acres. 
All  of  this,  however,  he  deeded  to  his  children-,  and  in  !March.  1903.  came  to 
his  present  home  of  seventy-five  acres.  His  wife  died  May  14.  1897,-  and 
on  October  19.  1898.  he  married  ]^lrs.  J.  C.  Jones,  who  two  years  before 
had  come,  a  widow,  from  Roanoke  City.  Virginia.  Her  maiden  name  was 
Jennie  Davis,  and  she  was  a  native  of  Giles  county.  Virginia;  she  married 
Mr..  Jones  at  Roanoke  City.  She  came  to  Indianapolis  in  search  of  a 
brother  who  left  Virginia  when  sixteen  years  old.  She  learned  that  he  was 
in  Kansas  City.  Missouri,  where  he  has  since  died.  In  1908  a  twin  brother 
of  the  one  above  mentioned  visited  Mrs.  Skelton  after  an  absence  of  thirty 
years.  'Sir.  Skelton  had  five  children :  John  Allen,  a  farmer  in  Madison 
township:  George  D..  a  stationary  engineer  in  West  Terre  Haute:  Ora  D. 
married  Henry  V.  Thoinas.  of  Clinton  Falls,  Putnam  county:  Sarah  .\. 
married  Adam  Ellis  and  resides  on  the  old  homestead :  Charles  O.  is  an 
engineer  in  ^^"est  Terre  Haute. 


632  vveik's  history  of 


JAMES  W.  CROXTOX. 

Prominent  among  the  business  men  of  Cloverdale,  Putnam  county,  In- 
diana, is  James  W.  Croxton,  who  for  a  number  of  years  lias  been  closely 
identified  with  the  growth  and  development  of  the  communit}-.  Marked 
business  ability,  sound  judgment  and  his  sterling  personal  traits  have  com- 
mended him  to  the  esteem  of  all  who  know  him  and  he  is  numbered  among 
the  leading  men  of  his  community.  James  W.  Croxton  is  a  native  son  of 
the  Blue  Grass  state,  having  been  born  at  Warsaw.  Gallatin  county,  Ken- 
tucky, on  the  6th  day  of  March.  185J.  He  is  a  son  of  Eli  and  Rebecca  Jane 
(Ralston)  Croxton.  The  former  was  born  in  Ohio  and  was  the  son  of 
Thomas  Croxton.  while  the  latter  was  bom  in  Owen  county.  Kentucky. 
Their  marriage  occurred  in  Gallatin  county.  Kentucky,  and  their  union 
was  blessed  with  eleven  children,  namely :  James.  Thomas,  George.  Harriet. 
Margaret,  Luella.  Anna.  Belle.  Laura  and  Xanna.  About  1859  the  family 
moved  to  Switzerland  county,  Indiana,  where  the  father  obtained  employ- 
ment as  engineer  in  a  flour  mill  at  Florence,  and  at  the  same  time  carried 
on  farming  operations.  The  son  James,  under  his  father's  instructions, 
learned  the  trade  of  engineering  in  these  mills,  and  during  the  following 
twenty  years  he  was  engaged  in  that  line  of  work.  When  about  nineteen 
years  of  age  James  Croxton  went  to  Tipton  county.  Indiana,  \\here  he  en- 
gaged as  engineer  and  also  ran  a  sawmill.  Two  years  later  he  went  to  Frank- 
fort. Clinton  county,  where  for  ten  years  he  had  charge  of  a  stationary  en- 
gine. In  1884  he  bought  a  half  interest  in  a  flour  mill  at  Denver.  Miami 
county,  and  in  the  latter  part  of  the  following  year  he  went  to  Delphi.  Car- 
roll county,  where  he  bought  an  interest  in  a  flour  mill,  w  hich  he  operated  for 
about  four  years.  He  then  went  to  Monticello  and  was  employed  as  en- 
gineer in  Laughrv'  Brothers'  flour  mill,  but  six  months  later  he  returned 
to  Delphi  and  during  the  following  six  months  was  engaged  in  the  baking 
and  confectionary  business.  Going  to  Milwaukee.  Wisconsin,  at  the  end 
of  that  period,  he  was  employed  for  a  year  and  a  half  as  engineer  in  the 
street  railway  power  house.  At  the  end  of  that  time  he  returned  to  Denver, 
Indiana,  and  rented  a  half  interest  in  the  mill  with  Avhich  he  had  been 
formerly  connected.  Six  months  later.  October  1892.  Mr.  Croxton  came 
to  Cloverdale.  and  bought  a  half  interest  in  the  flour  mill,  his  partner  be- 
ing Henry  Horn,  the  builder  of  the  mill.  A  year  later,  the  latter  sold  his 
interest  to  Justice  Kerbaugh.  and  Messrs.  Croxton  and  Kerbaugh  con- 
tinued  as   partners   about   four  years,   when   Mr.   Croxton   became   the   sole 


PLTNAM    COLXTV.    INDIANA.  633 

owner,  and  still  continues  to  operate  the  business.  When  Mr.  Croxton  be- 
came connected  with  the  business,  the  mill  was  but  a  small  affair,  but  since 
then  the  property  has  been  greatly  enlarged,  a  more  powerful  engine  and 
new  boilers  being  installed,  and  the  capacity  for  handling  and  shipping  grain 
has  been  greatly  increased.  In  addition  to  the  manufacture  of  flour  and 
feed.  'Sir.  Croxton  is  engaged  extensively  in  the  buying  and  shipping  of 
grain  to  the  eastern  markets,  and  also  deals  in  all  kinds  of  hard  and  soft 
coal.  He  is  president  of  the  Cloverdale  Hardware  and  Lumber  Company, 
whose  store  is  one  of  the  most  complete  of  its  kind  in  the  state  and  whose 
yards  are  filled  with  an  immense  stock  of  lumber  and  all  kinds  of  building 
material.  They  also  have,  in  connection,  a  well-equipped  planing  mill,  the 
only  one  in  that  locality.  In  all  his  business  deals  Mr.  Croxton  exhibits  a 
shrewdness  and  sagacity  which  has  enabled  him  to  realize  a  gratifying  suc- 
cess and  his  advice  is  considered  valuable  in  all  business  affairs. 

In  iSSq  Air.  Croxton  was  united  in  marriage  with  Annie  M.  Gobel.  the 
daughter  of  Samuel  and  Elizabeth  (Price)  Gobel.  These  parents  were  na- 
tives of  Preble  county.  Ohio,  and  afterwards  moved  to  Clinton  county. 
Indiana,  where  l^Irs.  Cro.xton  was  reared.  To  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Croxton  have 
been  born  two  children.  Josephine  and  ]\[argaret.  Josephine  became  the 
wife  of  Charles  Denny,  of  Cloverdale.  and  they  are  the  parents  of  four 
children.  Cecil.  Dolos  Marie.  Rudolph  and  Alarie.  Margaret  married  John 
A.  Omullane.  the  proprietor  of  a  butcher  shop  in  Cloverdale,  and  they  have 
four  children.  Mildred.  Carl,  William  Franklin  and  Frederick  Nomian. 

Religiously  'Sir.  and  Mrs.  Croxton  and  their  daughters  are  members 
of  the  Church  of  Christ  at  Cloverdale.  and  give  to  the  church  a  warm  and 
liberal  support.  They  are  worthy  members  of  society  and  enjoy  the  friend- 
ship of  all  who  know  them. 


GEORGE  EXXIS  RAIXES. 

The  name  of  Raines  has  been  for  many  years  an  honored  and  re- 
spectetl  one  in  Putnam  county,  and  the  gentleman  of  that  name  who  is  the 
immediate  subject  of  this  sketch  is  richly  deserving  of  the  universal  respect 
and  esteem  which  is  accorded  him  in  the  community  in  which  he  lives.  He 
has  achieved  success  in  the  pursuit  of  husbandn.-.  being  numbered  among 
the  progressive  and  enterprising  fanners  of  the  county,  and  he  has  also  been 
accorded    definite    recognition    in    the    political    circles   of   the    county,    being 


634 


WEIK  S    HISTORY    OF 


now  a  member  of  the  board  of  county  commissioners,  in  which  responsible 
position  he  is  serving  his  second  term. 

Mr.  Raines  is  a  native  son  of  the  county  in  which  he  Hves,  having  been 
born  on  the  13th  day  of  March,  1867.     His  paternal  grandparents.  Walker 
and  Tabitha  Raines,  were  natives  of  Virginia,  that  state  from  which  have 
come  so   manv  noted  men   in   our   national   history.      Walker   and   Tabitha 
Raines  were  reared  and  married  in  their  native  state,  subsequently  moving 
to  Kentucky,  and  in   1829  they  came  to  Putnam  county,   Indiana,  locating 
in  Monroe  township.     The   fonner  died  soon  after  locating  here,  but  his 
widow  continued  to  reside  here  until  her  death,  which  occurred  in  August, 
1864.     All  of  their  seven  children  are  now   dead.      Walker   Raines  was  a 
shoemaker  by  trade  and  in  religion  he  was  a  faithful  member  of  the  Metho- 
dist   Episcopal  church.      His   son,   Cornelius   Gillum    Raines,    father   of   the 
subject  of  this  sketch,  was  born  in  ]Montgomery  county,  Kentucky,  Septem- 
ber 26,   I  Si  6,  and  at  the  age  of  thirteen  years  accompanied  his  parents  on 
their  removal  to  Putnam  county,   where  he  was   reared   to   manhood,   re- 
ceiving his  education  the  meanwhile  in  the  common  schools.     In  February, 
1843-,  he  married  Penelope  Dale,  to  which  union  were  born  five  children, 
of  which  number  only  one  is  now  hving,  Sarah,  the  wife  of  Caleb  Reeves, 
of  Kansas.     The  names  of  the  deceased  children  are  James  W.,  Robert  W., 
Selena  and   Elizabeth.     Mrs.   Penelope   Raines  died   in    1856  and  in    1859 
Mr.   Raines  married  Lutetia  Heath,  the  widow  of  Christopher  Heath,   of 
Putnam  county,  and  a  daughter  of  Enos  and  Polly  Hardin,  early  and  well- 
known  settlers  of  this  county.     To  this  union  were  born  nine  children,  of 
whom  six  are  living,  as  follows:    Ella,  the  wife  of  Frank  Allee.  of  Green- 
castle:   George;   Albert;   Artemas;   Minnie,   the   wife   of   Albert   Welch,   of 
Danville,   Illinois:  Emma  J.   became  the  wife  of  James  Farmer,   who  was 
killed  by  a  traction  engine,  and  she  is  now  the  wife  of  Henry  Dorset,  of 
Jefferson   township,   this   county.      The     deceased    children     are    John     D., 
Cornelius  and  Mary.     The  father  of  these  children  located  on  a   farm  of 
two  hundred   and   forty  acres,   west  of   Fillmore,    in    Greencastle   township, 
where  he  successfully    followed  the   pursuit   of  agriculture,   being  also   ex- 
tensively interested  in  stock  raising.     He  was  a  man  of  splendid  business 
qualifications  and  was  a  generous  and  kindly  disposed  man   to  those   with 
whom  he  was  acquainted.     In  politics  he  was  a  Democrat,  though  never  an 
office  seeker.     He  died  Mav  5.   1901.  and  was  buried  in   Union  cemetery. 
Marion  township.     His  widow  and  unmarried  son.   Albert,  now  reside  on 
and  operate  the  old  homestead   farm,  which  is  considered  one  of  the  best 
agricultural  properties  in  the  township. 


PUTNAM    COUXTY,    INDIANA.  035 

George  E.  Raines  remained  on  the  paternal  farmstead,  assisting  his 
father  in  its  operation,  until  he  was  twenty-three  years  old,  receiving  in 
the  meantime  a  good  practical  education  in  the  public  schools  of  the  lo- 
cality. At  the  age  mentioned  he  was  married  and  immediately  went  to 
housekeeping  on  a  farm  of  eighty-six  acres,  which  he  had  purchased,  lo- 
cated two  and  a  half  miles  northwest  of  Fillmore,  where  he  deviated  himself 
to  farming  and  stockraising.  Here  he  has  since  remained  and  has  met  with 
a  satisfacton,'  measure  of  success.  The  place  is  characterized  by  a  spirit  of 
thrift  and  progressiveness  that  at  once  stamps  its  owner  as  a  man  of  sound 
judgment  and  practical  ideas. 

In  1890  ^Ir.  Raines  was  united  in  marriage  with  Elizabeth  Welch, 
the  daughter  of  George  Welch,  of  Fillmore.  After  her  graduation  from 
the  Greencastle  high  school  she  was  a  student  at  the  State  Normal  School 
at  Danville,  and  at  the  time  of  her  marriage  she  was  teaching  in  the  schools 
of  Fillmore.  To  ^Ir.  and  Mrs.  Raines  have  been  born  three  children, 
Gladys  B.,  Gwendolyn  B.  and  Eugene. 

Politically  Mr.  Raines  is  a  stanch  Democrat  and  for  a  number  of 
years  he  has  taken  a  prominent  and  leading  part  in  the  political  affairs  of 
the  county,  enjoying  a  wide  acquaintance  in  his  party.  In  1906  he  was 
elected  a  member  of  the  board  of  county  commissioners,  and  so  satisfactory 
were  his  services  to  the  county  in  this  capacity  that  in  1908  he  was  re- 
elected and  is  now  serving  his  second  term,  being  president  of  the  board. 
He  is  a  sound,  practical  business  man  and  gives  to  the  administration  of  his 
public  duties  the  same  careful  attention  that  he  does  to  his  own  private 
affairs.  Fraternally  he  is  a  member  of  the  Independent  Order  of  Odd  Fel- 
lows and  the  Order  of  Ben  Hur.  ]\Irs.  Raines  is  a  member  of  the  Chris- 
tian church  at  Fillmore  and  is  an  active  worker  in  the  Ladies'  Aid  Society 
connected  with  that  church.  Because  of  his  sterling  qualities  of  head  and 
heart.  Mr.  Raines  is  deservedly  popular  with  all  classes  and  is  numbered 
among  the  leading  men  of  the  countv. 


THOMPSON'  BROWX. 

The  gentleman  whose  name  heads  this  sketch  is  widely  known  as  one 
of  the  old  and  honored  citizens  of  Clo\erdale.  Putnam  county,  Indiana.  He 
has  lived  here  over  a  half  century — indeed,  his  long  life  of  more  than  eight 
decades  has  been  practically  spent  within  the  confines  of  this  county — and 


636  weik's  history  of 

during  the  greater  part  of  this  time  he  was  prominently  identified  with  the 
business  interests  and  the  development  of  the  community.  His  well- 
directed  efforts  in  the  practical  affairs  of  life  brought  to  him  a  fair  measure 
of  prosperity  and  in  all  the  relations  of  life  he  has  commanded  the  respect 
and  confidence  of  those  with  whom  he  has  been  brought  in  contact  and  a 
history  of  Putnam  county  would  be  incomplete  without  a  record  of  his 
career. 

Thompson  Brown  was  Ijorn  in  Warren  township,  four  miles  from 
Greencastle.  Putnam  county,  on  the  17th  day  of  February-,  1829.  His 
bovhood  days  were  spent  on  the  parental  farmstead  and  his  preliminary 
education  was  obtained  in  the  primitive  log  school  houses  of  that  day,  the 
principal  equipment  of  which  was  a  few  hard,  uncomfortable  seats  and  the 
typical  wide-mouthed  fireplace.  At  the  early  age  of  seventeen  years  he 
commenced  life  on  his  own  account  and  went  to  Greencastle  and  appren- 
ticed himself  to  learn  the  business  of  cabinetmaking  and  undertaking,  which 
at  that  time  were  generally  combined.  After  working  three  years,  he 
started  out  to  see  something  of  the  world  and  to  broaden  his  knowledge 
by  personal  observation  and  contact,  going  to  Chicago,  Milwaukee  and 
other  cities,  and  finally  accepting  employment  at  cabinetmaking  in  Chicago, 
where  he  remained  for  a  time.  He  then  went  to  Rockville.  Parke  county, 
Indiana,  and  worked  for  a  time  at  his  trade,  after  which  he  returned  to 
Greencastle  and  entered  into  a  partnership  with  his  old  employer,  Greenup 
Lee,  in  the  furniture  and  undertaking  business.  In  1852  Mr.  Brown  came 
to  Cloverdale  and  entered  upon  a  career  which  continued  without  inter- 
ruption for  the  long  period  of  si.xty  years  lacking  nine  months,  having  re- 
tired from  active  business  in  the  month  of  October,  1905.  During  the 
period  noted  he  witnessed  wonderful  changes  and  transformations  in  his 
own  business.  When  he  first  went  into  business  he  himself  made  practically 
all  the  furniture  and  all  the  coffins  for  his  patrons,  whereas  at  the  present 
dav  these  articles  all  come  from  factories  especially  equipped  for  each  line 
of  work.  There  has  transpired  also  a  marked  change  in  the  style  of  furni- 
f.ire.  almost  every  decade  showing  some  radical  innovation  in  this  line. 

In  connection  with  his  furniture  business,  Mr.  Brown  also  followed 
carpentering  and  contracting,  in  which  he  was  considered  a  leader,  and  dur- 
ing the  fifteen  years  immediately  subsequent  to  1858  he  built  many  of  the 
best  liouses  in  and  about  Cloverdale,  having  done  more  building  than  any 
other  man  in  the  town — indeed  it  is  said  that  one-third  of  the  houses  in 
Cloverdale  were  constructed  by  Mr.  Brown.  Honest  and  conscientious  in 
all  his  work.  Mr.  Brown  acquired  an  enviable  reputation  for  thoroughness 
and  efficiencv  and  nothing  left  his  hands  that  was  not  right  in  all  respects. 


PCTNAM    COUNTY,    IXDIAXA.  637 

In  October,  1850.  ^[r.  Brown  was  united  in  marriage  to  Martha  Mc- 
Pheters,  who  was  reared  northwest  of  Greencastle,  this  county,  though 
their  marriage  occurred  at  Rockville.  Thus,  if  this  worthy  couple  are 
spared  until  October,  1910,  they  will  be  able  to  celebrate  the  sixtieth  anni- 
versary of  their  wedding.  To  them  were  bom  six  children,  all  of  whom 
are  now  dead.  They  are  briefly  mentioned  as  follows:  Sarah  Matilda. 
who  died  in  1S83,  became  the  wife  of  Wesley  O'Danie!  of  Cloverdale,  and 
they  had  one  daughter.  Eva  M.,  who  now  makes  her  home  with  the  sub- 
ject: May  Frances  died  at  the  age  of  eight  years:  Martha  Ellen,  who  died 
February  2g.  1S9J.  was  the  wife  of  Enos  Wood,  and  they  had  a  daughter, 
^Miriam  Esther:  the  latter  married  William  Evans,  of  Cloverdale,  and  they 
have  two  daughters,  Catherine  and  Lillian  :  John  Franklin  Brown,  who  died 
September  16.  1861,  at  the  age  of  about  six  years;  Edward  Oscar,  who  died 
December  iS.  1S60.  in  early  infancy;  T.  Elmer  E.,  who  died  September  8, 
1889.  spent  four  years  in  Asbury  College  at  Greencastle.  after  which  he 
became  assistant  civil  engineer  on  the  Muskingum  Valley  railroad  in  Ohio, 
in  which  capacity  he  was  employed  when  his  health  failed,  his  death  oc- 
curring six  months  later.  The  mother  of  these  children  was  born  in 
(jranger  county,  Tennessee,  and  in  about  1830  at  the  age  of  six  years,  came 
to  Putnam  county,  and  in  point  of  years  of  continuous  residence  she  and 
her  husband  are  probably  the  oldest  couple  in  the  countv. 

Religiously  Mr.  Brown  has  been  a  member  of  the  Methodist  Episcopal 
church  for  over  half  a  centurs'.  and  Mrs.  Brown  has  been  a  member  for 
sixty-nine  }-ears.  and  during  nearly  all  of  this  time  he  has  served  as  an 
officer  of  the  church,  as  steward,  trustee,  class  leader.  Sundav  school  su- 
perintendent, etc.  He  has  at  all  times  taken  a  firm  stand  for  the  moral 
uplifting  of  his  fellow  citizens,  having  been  allied  with  the  Sons  of  Temper- 
ance and  the  Good  Templars  during  the  life  of  these  organizations,  as  well 
as  the  Blue  Ribbon.  Red  Ribbon  and  other  societies  organized  and  main- 
tained in  the  interest  of  temperance  and  sobriety.  For  the  long  period  of 
forty-two  years  he  has  been  a  member  of  the  Independent  Order  of  Odd 
Fellows,  belonging  to  both  subordinate  lodge  and  encampment  and  he  has 
al.-o  been  a  member  of  the  grand  lodge  and  grand  encampment  for  over 
forty  years.  About  twenty-five  years  ago  he  also  joinerl  the  Masonic  order. 
^.Ir.  Brown  is  a  member  of  the  Grand  Army  of  the  Republic,  this 
association  being  consistent  from  the  fact  that  during  the  Civil  war  he 
rendered  valiant  serA-ice  as  a  member  of  Company  F.  Fort\--Third  Re.<^i- 
ment.   Indiana  \'olunteer  Infantry.      The   major  part   of  his   service  was   in 


638 


WEIK  S    HISTORY    OF 


the  State  of  Kentucky,  being  on  duty  most  of  the  time  at  Camp  Burnsides 
and  Camp  Wilson.  In  every  avenue  of  Hfe's  activities  Mr.  Brown  has  stood 
"four  square  to  every  wind  that  blows"  and  when  called  upon  to  take  a  firm 
and  uncompromising  stand  for  any  great  moral  question  he  has  never  been 
found  wanting,  but  he  has  at  all  times  exerted  a  definite  and  potential  in- 
fluence for  the  best  things.  Regardless  of  his  advanced  age,  he  retains  a 
good  memory  of  events  of  the  early  days  and  his  recital  of  early  reminis- 
cences is  extremely  interesting.  Now,  in  the  golden  sunset  of  life,  he  is 
resting  from  his  labors,  secure  in  the  love  and  veneration  of  those  about 
him,  the  "grand  old  man"  of  the  community. 


WINFIELD  SCOTT  IRWIN. 

A  worthy  representative  of  this  well  established  and  highly  honored 
pioneer  family  of  Putnam  county  is  Winfield  Scott  Irwin,  who  has  spent 
his  life  in  Madison  township,  now^  living  on  the  farm  on  which  he  was 
bom  December  13,  1856.  He  is  the  son  of  Smiley  D.  and  Mary  (Bicknell) 
Irwin,  the  father  a  native  of  Hardin  county,  Kentucky,  born  there  Jan- 
uarv-  29,  1820,  the  son  of  Isaac  and  Elenore  (King)  Irwin,  the  former  a 
native  of  Virginia.  The  family  moved  to  Putnam  county,  Indiana,  in 
1829.  when  Smiley  D.  was  nine  years  old,  and  settled  at  Morton,  Clinton 
township,  or  more  properly  the  village  of  Morton,  which  was  later  built 
on  the  land  upon  which  they  settled.  The  elder  Irwin  was  a  great  hunter. 
He  first  came  to  this  locality  from  Kentucky  alone  and  on  foot  in  1823, 
while  on  a  hunt,  sleeping  out  at  night  in  this  vicinity.  He  liked  the  country 
and  decided  to  return  and  make  it  his  permanent  home,  partly  because  of 
the  abundance  of  game  here.  At  that  time  there  were  only  a  few  homes  in 
the  present  city  of  Greencastle;  his  brother  Joseph,  and  his  son.  Lewis, 
had  preceded  him  here  and  had  established  homes,  and  when  he  returned 
for  final  settlement  in  1829  he  found  them  here.  He  located  by  a  fine  spring 
in  :Madison  township,  where  the  village  of  Brunerstown  is  now  located,  and 
there  he  lived  until  his  death,  about  November.  1858,  having  reached  the 
advanced  age  of  eighty-four  years,  having  then  lived  here  about  thirty 
years;  his  wife  preceded  him  to  the  silent  land  two  years,  having  reached 
the  ao-e  of  sixty -nine  years.  Isaac  Irwdn  was  twice  married,  the  following 
children  being  bom  of  the  first  union :  Hiram,  Betsy,  Lewis.  The  children 
of  his  second  wife  were.  John  Rowan,  Hetty,  William.  Isaac.  Smiley.  Sarah 


PUTNAM    COUNTY.    INDIANA.  639 

Ellen.    Charley,    Melvina.    Friscilla    Ann.      All    are    deceased    and    Smiley's 
widow  is  the  only  daughter-in-law  living. 

Smiley  Invin  was  born  January  29,  1S20,  and  was  married  January  15. 
1850.  to  Mary  Bicknell,  daughter  of  George  and  Susan  (^loore)  Bicknell, 
and  she  was  born  in  Chestnut  Hill,  now  a  part  of  the  city  of  Philadelphia, 
Februar}-  10,  1824.  She  came  to  Indiana  in  1S39  and  settled  at  Bruners- 
town,  Putnam  county.  The  place  had  been  given  a  name,  but  there  were 
no  houses  there.  Her  father  set  up  a  blacksmith  shop  there  and  operated 
it  in  connection  with  farming,  working  at  his  trade  for  several  years.  To- 
ward the  latter  part  of  his  life  he  abandoned  his  shop  and  moved  to  La- 
fayette, Knox  county,  Illinois,  where  his  death  occurred  at  the  age  of 
sixty-three  years.  Smiley  Irwin  and  wife  settled  on  the  farm  now  owned 
by  Winfield  S.  Irwin,  in  1851.  It  had  a  good  house  on  it;  the  old  log  house, 
made  of  yellow  poplar,  is  still  standing  on  the  adjoining  farm,  and  is  still 
in  an  excellent  state  of  preservation.  Mrs.  Smiley  Irwin  lived  there  for  a 
period  of  fifty-eight  years  with  the  exception  of  three  years  spent  in  Ne- 
braska, from  1865  to  1868.  They  took  a  homestead  and  bought  additional 
lands,  having  sold  the  old  farm,  but  upon  returning  to  Putnam  county, 
bought  it  back,  ha\ing  grown  tired  of  the  high  winds  and  the  undeveloped 
wild  prairies.  They  moved  to  the  present  house  in  1870.  Mr.  Irwin  be- 
came prosperous  and  finally  owned  three  hundred  and  forty  acres,  which 
he  divided  among  his  children.  Mr.  Irwin  was  a  man  of  excellent 
business  ability,  honorable  in  all  his  dealings  and  a  man  whom  every  one 
liked  who  knew  him.  His  death  occurred  August  31,  1895,  ^^t^r  a  harmoni- 
ous married  life  of  forty-five  years.  Politically  he  was  a  Democrat  and 
served  at  one  time  as  justice  of  the  peace.  He  was  a  faithful  member  of 
the  Otter  Creek  Primitive  Baptist  church  and  was  a  deacon  in  the  same. 
Two  of  his  brothers,  Isaac  and  Charles,  were  ordained  ministers  of  the 
Baptist  church  and  another  brother,  William,  was  ordained  deacon.  Mr. 
Irwin  engaged  in  general  farming  and  kept  an  excellent  grade  of  stock. 
His  family  consisted  of  six  sons  and  two  daughters,  namely:  Henry  Clay, 
who  lived  on  an  adjoining  farm  and  died  at  the  age  of  thirty-three  years; 
George  Edward  died  when  twenty-six  years  old,  unmarried;  John  Rowan 
lives  at  Oblong,  Illinois:  Winfield  Scott,  of  this  review,  who  lives  on  the 
old  homestead;  Robert  Smiley  is  a  fanner  near  Clinton  Falls,  Putnam 
countv;  Isaac  King  is  Hving  in  IMadison  township;  Susan  Ellen  married 
William  White,  of  Chrisman,  Illinois:  :\Iary  Louisa  died  in  young  woman- 
hood. 

Winfield  Scott  Irwin   remained  at  home  until   reaching  legal  age.   as- 
sisting with  the  work  on  the  farm  during  crop  seasons  and  attending  the 


640  weik's  history  of 

district  schools  in  the  winter  months — in  fact,  he  spent  most  of  his  time  at 
home  until  his  marriage,  when  thirty-two  years  old,  marrying  Lizzie  Wright 
on  Alay  2 J,  1889.  She  was  the  daughter  of  Elder  Ezekiel  Wright  and  a 
full  sketch"  of  her  family  is  to  be  found  on  another  page  of  this  work. 

Mr.  Ir\-in  has  devoted  his  life  to  agricultural  pursuits  with  gratifying  re- 
sults, having  remained  on  the  farm,  purchasing  the  old  homestead  of  one 
hundred  and  twenty  acres  which  he  has  improved  in  many  ways.  He  has 
devoted  considerable  attention  to  dairy  stock.  He  is  active  in  township 
politics  and  was  assessor  for  a  period  of  four  years.  He  is  committeeman 
of  his  precinct  and  is  always  to  be  found  at  the  various  conventions  assist- 
ing his  friends  who  are  candidates  for  office.  He  has  long  been  influential 
in  local  politics. 

Mr.  and  Mrs.  Irwin  have  one  son.  Smiley  Wright,  an  interesting  lad 
of  twelve  years;  one  child  died  in  infancy. 

Mrs.  Irwin  is  a  member  of  the  Christian  church.  Fraternally  Mr. 
Irwin  is  a  Mason.  His  home  is  of  the  comfortable,  old-fashioned  sort 
where  hospitality  is  to  be  found.  It  is  still  graced  by  the  serene  presence 
of  his  aged  mother,  who,  despite  the  vicissitudes  of  long  years,  is  well 
preserved. 


GEORGE  W.  HANNA.        ■ 

The  family  of  this  name  originated  in  Scotland,  but  subsequently  by  emi- 
gration figured  extensively  in  Virginia.  Kentucky  and  Indiana.  The  tradi- 
tional history  is  to  the  effect  that  two  brothers  left  Scotland  during  the  early 
half  of  the  eighteenth  century,  crossed  the  ocean  in  a  sailing  ship,  eventually 
-landed  on  the  shores  of  America  and  found  an  abiding  place  in  the  colony  of 
Virginia.  William  Hanna,  a  descendant  of  one  of  these  immigrants,  left  his 
native  Virginia  to  join  the  early  pioneers  of  Kentucky,  where  he  settled  and 
lived  until  his  death.  He  left  a  son.  James  M.  Hanna.  who  was  born  in 
Shelby  county.  Kentucky,  in  January,  1800,  and  removed  to  Indiana  in  1830. 
He  settled  in  Montgomery  county  and  there  pursued  his  trade  as  a  tanner 
until  death  overtook  him  in  January,  1862.  He  married  Sarah  Wilcox,  whose 
people  emigrated  to  America  from  England  and  located  in  Shelby  county.  Ken- 
tucky, where  she  was  born.  There  were  twelve  children  by  this  union,  those 
living  being  as  follows:  Adam.  Thomas.  George  W^.  and  Martha  E..  widow 
of  David  Xealy.  of  Waveland.  James  and  Robert,  two  of  the  sons,  were 
killed  in  the  Civil  war.  The  father  died  in  1862  and  the  mother,  who  was 
born  in  1806,  closed  her  career  at  the  age  of  sixty-seven. 


PUTNAM    COUNTY,    INDIANA.  64I 

George  W.  Hanna,  ninth  of  the  family,  was  born  at  Waveiand,  Mont- 
gomery county,  Indiana,  December  3,  1844.  He  lived  on  rlie  farm  until 
twelve  years  old,  when  his  father  bought  a  farm  near  Brown's  Valley,  in 
Montgomery  county,  and  here  he  lived  with  his  parents  until  the  completion 
of  his  twenty-first  year.  In  August,  186 1,  Mr.  Hanna.  then  a  lad  of  fifteen, 
went  to  Lafayette  and  offered  his  services  to  his  country  in  the  great  civil 
conflict  then  pending,  but  was  refuseil  on  account  of  his  tender  age.  His 
two  older  brothers.  James  and  Robert,  were  accepted  and  both  sacrificed  their 
lives  while  taking  part  in  the  historic  charge  up  Missionarv-  Ridge.  In  1S66 
Mr.  Hanna  located  on  a  fann  near  Morton,  in  Putnam  county,  where  lie 
spent  six  years  and  then  engaged  in  -the  mercantile  business  at  Morton  in 
partnership  with  Walter  Sewall.  This  firm  continued  for  fifteen  years  when 
Mr.  Hanna  sold  his  interest  and  purchased  the  Sammy  Darnell  farm,  which 
he  still  owns.  On  this  place  he  lived  until  his  removal  to  Greencastle  in  1906 
for  the  purpose  of  seeking  retirement.  For  some  years  Mr.  Hanna  served  as 
trustee  of  Clinton  township.  In  1895  he  was  elected  to  the  lower  house  of  the 
Indiana  Legislature  as  a  Republican  and  ser\ed  with  unusual  credit.  He  was 
appointed  as  one  of  the  commissioners  that  built  the  handsome  new  court  house 
in  1904  and  was  complimented  on  all  sides  for  the  business  judgment  aufi  in- 
tegrity displayed  in  carrying  out' that  important  trust.  He  served  two  terms 
as  member  of  the  advisory  board  of  Monroe  township  and  brought  to  the 
discharge  of  his  duties  the  same  good  ju<lgment  that  had  characterized  him  in 
other  positions.  He  has  always  been  a  Republican  and  active  and  influential 
in  the  party  ranks.  He  has  attended  every  state  convention  for  thirty  years 
and  never  missed  a  countv  convention  since  he  was  old  enough  to  vote  or 
shout  for  the  ticket.  He  was  secretary  of  the  temperance  organization  which 
had  charge  of  the  campaign  for  local  option  in  January,  1909,  when  Put- 
nam countv  was  carried  for  the  "drys"  by  a  majority  at  one  thousand  five 
hundred.  At  present  he  holds  the  position  of  president  of  the  Putnam  Civic 
Union.  He  has  always  been  foremost  in  upholding  all  moral  causes  and  is  a 
citizen  without  reproacli  in  all  walks  of  life. 

On  December  5,  1S65,  Mr.  Hanna  married  Mary,  daughter  of  James  I. 
and  Pollv  Xel.son.  of  near  Morton.  Putnam  county.  Mr.  and  ^Irs.  Hanna 
have  had  three  children,  but  two  died  in  infancy.  Xellie,  the  sur\-iving  daugh- 
ter, is  the  wife  of  O.  M.  Tustison.  a  farmer  residing  near  Morton.  The  par- 
ents are  members  of  the  College  Avenue  Methodist  Episcopal  church  and  Mr. 
Hanna  is  a  Knight  Templar  Mas<5n.  The  family  enjoys  the  high  social  con- 
sideration and  general  esteem  among  a  wide  circle  of  acquaintances,  both  of 
the  okler  and  younger  generations. 

(41) 


642  weik's  history  of 


THEODORE  McGIXXIS  LAYXE. 

The  late  Theodore  ^McGinnis  Layne.  of  Cloverdale.  was  long  one  of 
the  leading  citizens  of  Putnam  county,  and  he  is  remembered  as  a  man  of 
rare  force  of  character  and  business  acumen,  eminently  deserving  of  the 
large  success  that  attended  his  efforts,  for  success  in  this  life  does  not  often 
come  to  any  except  the  deserving.  It  is  an  axiom  demonstrated  by  all 
human  experience,  that  a  man  gets  out  of  this  life  what  he  puts  into  it,  plus 
a  reasonable  interest  on  the  investment.  The  individual  who  inherits  a 
large  estate  and  adds  nothing  to  his  fortune  cannot  be  called  a  successful 
man.  He  that  falls  heir  to  a  large  fortune  and  increases  its  value  is  suc- 
cessful in  proportion  to  the  amount  he  adds  to  his  possession.  But  the  man 
\vho  starts  in  the  world  unaided  and  by  sheer  force  of  will,  controlled  by 
correct  principles,  forges  ahead  and  at  length  reaches  a  position  of  honor 
among  his  fellow  citizens,  achieves  success  such  as  representatives  of  the 
two  former  classes  can  neither  understand  nor  appreciate.  To  a  consid- 
erable extent  the  gentleman  whose  name  forms  the  introduction  of  this 
sketch  was  a  creditable  representative  of  this  class  last  named,  a  class  which 
has  furnished  much  of  the  bone  and  sinew  of  the  country  and  added  sta- 
bility to  the  government  and  its  institutions. 

:\Ir.  Layne  was  a  native  of  Putnam  county,  born  here  on  July  29.  1855, 
the  son  of  Joseph  and  Sarah  (^IcGinnis)  Layne.  an  excellent  and  in- 
fluential old  pioneer  family,  the  father  a  native  of  Indiana  and  the  mother 
of  Virginia.  They  came  to  this  country  in  an  early  day  and  soon  became 
well  established  and  were  known  as  people  of  high  honor. 

Young  Theodore  enjoyed  the  advantages  of  an  excellent  education 
in  his  vouth.  having  attended  the  common  schools  and  later  graduated  from 
the  Terre  Haute  Business  College.  He  learned  very  rapidly,  being  an  am- 
bitious lad.  and  when  only  sixteen  years  of  age.  taught  a  very  successful 
school  at  Poplar  Grove,  this  county,  and  he  continued  in  this  line  of  en- 
deavor for  a  period  of  eight  years,  during  which  time  he  gave  the  utmost 
satisfaction  to  both  patron  and  pupil.  But  believing  that  the  business  world 
offered  o-reater  attractions  and  rewards  for  the  exercise  of  his  talents,  he 
launched  into  the  grocery  business,  in  1876,  which  he  continued  for  a  few 
vears  with  varving  success,  and  up  to  the  time  of  his  death,  which  oc- 
curred on  December  27.  1908,  he  was  identified  with  the  commercial  in- 
terests of  Cloverdale.  in   fact,  was  the  leading  business  spirit  of  the  place 


PUTXAM    COUXTV.    IXDIAXA.  643 

and  did  more  for  its  upbuilding  than  any  other  citizen.  He  owned  and 
operated  a  number  of  hardware  stores  and  was  familiarly  known  as  the 
"hardware  man."  for  years  selling  immense  quantities  of  goods  throughout 
this  locality.  He  also  did  a  great  deal  of  general  trading  and  bv  persis- 
tency, close  application  to  his  individual  affairs,  keen  foresight  and  honesty 
in  his  dealings  with  his  fellow  men  he  accumulated  quite  a  fortune,  owning 
at  the  time  of  his  death,  besides  his  Cloverdale  interests,  valuable  farming 
lands,  consisting  of  twelve  hundred  acres,  but  he  managed  all  the  large 
affairs  with  a  masterly  hand  and  made  few  mistakes,  giving  his  personal 
attention  to  almost  ever\-  minute  detail.  He  had  a  beautifully  located,  com- 
modious and  nicely  furnished  home,  in  which  he  took  a  great  delight  and 
which  was  known  as  a  place  of  hospitality  and  good  cheer  to  both  friend 
and  stranger,  for  ^Ir.  Layne  was  something  of  the  old-fashioned,  genteel, 
hospitable  gentleman,  generous,  kind,  considerate  and  always  ready  to  do 
his  full  share  in  promoting  any  worthy  movement.  Politically  he  was  a 
Democrat,  but  he  never  sought  public  office.  He  was  always  active  in 
church  affairs,  being  a  very  religious  man  and  philanthropical  in  church  and 
other  noble  causes.  He  was  a  member  of  the  ^^lasonic  fraternity  and  he 
believed  in  carrying  his  religion  and  the  sublime  precepts  of  this  lodge  into 
his  ever\-day  life.  He  also  belonged  to  the  Independent  Order  of  Odd  Fel- 
lows and  the  Modern  Woodmen  of  America. 

Air.  Layne's  happy  and  harmonious  domestic  life  began  on  October  -■i, 
1876,  when  he  married  Mary  Frances  McCoy,  a  woman  of  many  commend- 
able traits  who  proved"  to  be  of  great  encouragement  to  her  worthy  hus- 
band in  his  life  work.  She  was  the  daughter  of  Andrew  and  Polly  Anne 
(Berry)  McCoy,  both  natives  of  Kentucky  and  early  settlers  in  this  county. 
:Mr.  McCoy  having  owned  the  land  where  the  town  of  Cloverdale  now 
stands.  He  was  long  a  prominent  character  in  this  vicinity  and  he  and  his 
family  were  highly  esteemed. 

Twelve  children  were  born  to  :\rr.  and  Mrs.  McCoy,  three  of  whom 
survive,  namely:  ]\[rs.  Theodore  M.  Layne.  widow  of  the  subject  of  this 
review;  Alexander  IMcCoy  and  Harrison  McCoy.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Layne's 
marriage  was  without  issue  but  they  have  reared  three  orphan  children. 
Clara  Xicholas  (deceased),  Ethel  and  Lela,  neices  of  .Mr.  Layne.  Ethel 
is  now  dead.  Lela  is  the  wife  of  James  D.  Alartin.  a  furniture  dealer  at 
Bedford,  Indiana. 

Mr.  Layne  was  a  member  of  the  Christian  church  and  Mrs.  Layne  wor- 
ships with  this  congregation. 


644  weik's  history  of 


HENRY  HARRISON  HILLIS. 

This  name  was   familiar  to  two  generations  in  Putnam  county  owing 
to   the   prominence   and   wide   business   achievements   of  him   who   bore   it. 
He  passed  his  h'fe  in  useful  employment,  developing  the  industries  of  the 
countv.  giving  employment  to  many  men  and  adding  to  the  general  wealth. 
He  was  a  strong  character,   upright,  honest  and  square  dealing.      In    fact 
Putnam  countv  never  had  a  finer  citizen  than  Henry  Harrison  Hillis,  no 
one   who  did   more  to  develop  the   county's   resources.      He   was  bom   at 
Mount  Pleasant,  Putnam  county.  March  7.   1840.  the  son  of  Abraham  and 
Elizabeth  Peck  Hillis.     After  the  usual  routine  of  children  of  the  pioneers 
with   its    farm   work,   short  terms  of  school   in   the  winter  seasons,   young 
Hillis  became  a  farmer,  but  soon  concluded  that  this  field  was  too  narrow 
for  him  and  that  he  could  do  much  better  in  other  lines.     In   1861  he  en- 
o-ao-ed  in  the  brick  business  at  Oakalla,  some  six  miles    from  Greencastle, 
and  soon  showed  his  aptitude  for  manufacture  by  the  success  he  obtained. 
From  a  small  beginning,  he  steadily  increased  his  business  until  the  output 
of  his  plant  amounted  annually  to  more  than  ten  milhon  brick.     Mr.  Hillis 
was  of  an  ingenious  turn  of  mind  and  was  the  inventor  of  the  improved 
kiln.-   It  is  estimated  that  not  less  than  forty  million  brick  are  now  stand- 
ing in  various  Greencastle  buildings,  all  of  which  were  the  product  of  Mr. 
Hillis'  yards.     This  makes  a  stable  monument  to  the  memory  of  a  man  who 
is  well  worth  remembering.     Not  content  with  the  supervision  of  this  valua- 
ble industry.  Mr.  Hillis  branched  out  in  other  enterprises,  all  of  which  were 
beneficial  to  the  public.     He  purchased  and  operated  a  large  stone  quarr\' 
just  east  of  Greencastle.  developed  it  into  a  fine  paying  property  and  did  a 
large  business  over  a  wide  scope  of  territory  both  local  and  interstate.     He 
employed  thirty  men  and  always  treated  them  with  such  fairness  that  they 
had  for  him  the  greatest  esteem.     In  fact,  it  was  often  remarked  that  ^h. 
Hillis  had  .creat  influence  over  his  employes  and  this  influence  was  always 
-  exercised   for  their  good.     He  himself  was  a  model  citizen  in  all  respects 
and   although  he   accumulated   wealth,   it  did  not   spoil   him,    always   being 
found   bv   those    who   approached   him   the   same   simple   mannered,    unpre- 
tentious man.   wlio  dealt  squarely  with  everybody.     Though   a   Republican 
in  politics.   Mr.   Hillis  was  elected  county  treasurer  in    1879  '"  the  Demo- 
cratic countv  of  Putnam,  which  was  a  trilnite  to  his  great  personal  popu- 
laritv.      He  was  social  in  his  disposition  and  bore  his  full  share  in  pushing 
alon"-   all    movements   calculated    to   better    the    community.      His    fraternal 


PUTNAM    COUNTY,    INDIANA.  645 

relations  were  with  the  Masons  and  Independent  Order  of  Odd  Fellows, 
and  he  was  always  attentive  to  his  lodge  duties.  For  years  he  was  a  mem- 
ber of  the  Methodist  church  at  Mount  Pleasant  and  no  one  could  ever  say 
that  he  was  not  a  true  man  in  all  the  relations  of  life.  When  he  died.  May 
14.  19CO,  it  was  the  universal  remark  that  Putnam  county  had  lost  one  of 
her  most  valuable  citizens. 

On  February  27.  iSfi".  ^Ir.  Hillis  married  Sarah  E.  O'Hair,  member 
of  an  influential  and  widely  distributed  family.  Her  parents  were  James 
E.  and  Margaret  ( Montgomerv-)  O'Hair,  who  were  generally  and  favor- 
ably known  to  all  the  people  of  the  county  (for  further  details  of  this  fam- 
ily's history  see  sketch  of  Bascom  O'Hair.  published  elsewhere  in  this 
\'olume).  Mrs.  Hillis  is  of  distinguished  ancestry,  which  entitles  her  to 
become  a  member  of  the  patriotic  order  of  Daughters  of  the  American 
Revolution.  James  Theodore,  born  August  3.  1868.  the  eldest  of  the  eight 
children  born  to  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Hillis.  is  engaged  in  mining  in  British  Col- 
umbia; Jennie,  born  June  4.  1881,  died  August  25,  1881 ;  Emma  Ethel, 
born  May  26.  1883,  died  October  29.  1883:  Margaret  Elizabeth,  born  Sep- 
tember 20.  1870.  married  Frank  Shoptaugh  and  is  a  resident  of  Green- 
castle:  Edward  Babers.  born  September  5,  1872.  died  March  9.  1874:  Alice 
Alma,  born  October  26.  1874.  married  A.  C.  Lockridge.  of  Roachdale.  son 
of  Robert  Lockridge:  Fred  B..  born  February  25.  1879.  married  Clara 
Caldwell,  of  Ladoga,  and  is  engaged  in  the  coal  business  in  Greencastle  and 
with  Mr.  Shoptaugh  is  engaged  in  well  drilling:  Albert,  born  October  31, 
1876.  died  January  21.  1885. 


ALEXANDER  S.  BRYAX. 

If  it  be  true — and  there  is  good  authority  for  the  statement— that  one's 
environment  has  much  to  do  in  influencing  his  character,  then  the  men  who 
have  had  the  good  fortune  to  pass  their  lives  in  the  midst  of  movements 
which  have  brought  about  the  rapid  development  and  remarkable  advance- 
ment of  Putnam  county,  might  well  be  expected  to  have  exhibited  inde- 
pendence, self-reliance,  enterprise  and  practical  sagacity.  In  the  life  of  the 
late  and  well  remembered  Alexander  S.  Bryan,  long  a  prominent  agricul- 
turist and  stock  breeder  of  this  county,  were  found  to  a  marked  degree 
the  qualities  above  enumerated,  his  success  having  been  based  principally 
upon  a  prompt  and  judicious  use  of  opportunity.  But  while  he  was  \ery 
successful  in  the  management  of  his  individual  affairs,  he  never  neglected 


646  weik's  history  of 

his  duties  to  his  neighbors  and  the  general  pubHc,  but  always  stood  ready 
to  bear  his  just  share  in  the  march  of  progress;  these  commendable  traits, 
together  with  his  unswer^'ing  integrity  and  honor  upon  all  occasions,  ren- 
dering him  popular  and  influential  as  well  in  the  community  where  he  so 
long  maintained  his  home. 

^[r.  Bryan  was  born  of  an  excellent  family  in  Bourbon  county.  Ken- 
tucky, September  18.  1824,  the  son  of  Alexander  and  Elizabeth  (Parker) 
Bryan,  the  father  of  the  former  having  been  a  soldier  in  the  Revolutionary 
war;  his  name  was  James  Bryan,  and  he  was  a  noted  character  in  his  day. 
He  came  to  Indiana  in  1834  and  settled  in  Marion  township,  Hendricks 
county.  In  that  county  his  son.  Alexander  Bryan,  father  of  the  immediate 
subject  of  this  re\-iew.  took  up  the  life  of  a  pioneer  citizen  and  developed 
in  due  course  of  time  an  excellent  farm  and  a  good  home  and  remained 
there  until  1S53,  moving  to  Putnam  county,  Indiana,  the  following  year; 
thus  since  1854  the  name  Br\-an  has  been  well  known  in  this  locality. 

Alexander  S.  Br\an  received  a  limited  education,  public  schools  in  his 
youth  being  of  a  primitive  sort  and,  besides,  it  was  necessary  for  him  to 
assist  with  the  work  of  developing  a  farm  in  a  new  country.  On  April 
10,  1849,  he  married  Susan  J.  Farrow,  daughter  of  Col.  A.  S.  and  Eliza- 
beth (Xelson)  Farrow,  who  came  here  in  1830.  Colonel  Farrow  having 
for  many  years  been  one  of  the  leading  characters  of  this  county,  a  com- 
plete sketch  of  whom  appears  on  another  page  of  this  work.  Colonel  Far- 
row, father  of  Mrs.  Bryan,  was  captured  in  the  British  and  Indian  war  of 
1812.  He  was  a  colonel  in  the  "Home  Guards"'  during  the  war  between 
the  states.  He  was  ever  pronounced  in  his  views  against  intemperance,  as 
was  also  Mr.  Bn,-an. 

To  ^Ir.  and  Mrs.  Alexander  S.  Bryan  the  following  named  children 
were  born:  Belle  (deceased)  was  the  wife  of  E.  X.  Yates:  James  P.; 
Elizabeth  is  the  wife  of  \\'alter  Hamrick :  Elvira  is  the  wife  of  A.  X'.  Keller, 
of  Sterling,  Kansas:  Flora  (deceased);  Marion  f  deceased )  ;  Mary  is  the 
wife  of  John  Stanlev,  of  Denver.  Colorado;  Auta  (deceased)  was  the  wife 
of  Edgar  Harris:  Frederick,  Jennie  (deceased").  Pearl  (deceased),  and 
Frank. 

INIr.  Brvan.  as  has  already  been  explained,  was  a  ver\-  successful 
farmer  and  stock  man,  breeding  some  of  tlie  best  stock  in  the  county,  for 
which  he  alwavs  found  a  ready  sale.  He  operated  a  very  valuable  farm 
and  was  the  owner  of  several  hundred  acres  of  as  valuable  land  as  the 
countv  could  boast:  this  he  highly  improved  and  very  skillfully  cultivated, 
giving  it  his  personal  attention  along  with  his  large  livestock  interests.     He 


PUTNAM    COLWTV,    IXDIAXA.  647 

was  a  public-spirited  man  and  always  ready  to  lend  his  suppijrt  to  any 
measure  looking'  to  the  general  good  of  the  community,  especially  being 
interested  in  the  success  of  the  Republican  party:  however,  he  was  no  office 
seeker,  preferring  to  devote  his  exclusive  attention  to  his  pri\-ate  business 
affairs. 

This  excellent  citizen,  much  liked  neighbor,  indulgent  father  and  kind 
husband,  was  called  to  his  reward  on  a  higher  plane  of  action,  on  June  27, 
iqoi.  lamented  by  all  who  knew  him.  the  community  sustaining  an  irrepar- 
able loss. 


LAWRENCE  H.   ATHEY. 

James  H.  Athey.  founder  of  the  family  of  this  name  in  Indiana,  de- 
serves distinction  as  the  man  who  built  the  tirst  cabin  in  Putnam  county. 
He  was  a  native  of  Bourbon  county,  Kentucky,  and  first  settled  at  Fort 
Harrison,  in  Vigo  county.  After  remaining  there  two  years  he  came  to  Put- 
nam county  in  January,  1S18,  and  entered  land  in  Washington  township 
at  the  forks  of  Eel  river.  On  this  place,  which  is  now  owned  by  Ivan  Huff- 
man, the  old  Kentucky  pioneer  put  up  a  rude  log  structure  in  which  he 
made  his  home  for  manv  years.  John  M.  Coleman,  another  of  the  first 
pioneers,  came  to  the  United  States  with  Grandfather  Athey  and  located  on 
adjoining  land.  Local  histoiy  may  be  said  to  have  begun  in  this  pioneer 
cabin,  as  the  first  court  which  was  held  in  the  county  in  1S22  found  shelter 
under  Mr.  Athey's  roof,  the  records  showing  that  he  was  allowed  twelve  dol- 
lars for  the  use  of  his  premises.  He  married  a  Cunningham  and  had  three 
children,  the  oldest  of  whom  was  Henry  H.  Athey,  and  survived  to  an  ad- 
vanced age  before  death  overtook  him.  Henry  H..  his  son.  was  a  native  of 
Kentuckv  and  moved  to  Washington  township  when  four  years  old.  He 
married  Mary  Movers,  of  Putnam  county,  by  whom  he  had  ten  children: 
Henrv  H.:  ]^Iarv  P.  Carr.  of  Lansing.  Kansas:  Lucinda.  deceased:  Law- 
rence H.:  William  D.,  of  Lansing,  Kansas:  Xannie,  Frances  and  Dora,  de- 
ceased: RoI)ert.  of  Vigo  county,  Indiana:  and  Fl.ira,  wife  of  J.  H.  Lohman, 
of  Lansing,  Kansas.  The  father  died  in  Washington  township  November 
22.  1893,  ■^^'hen  eighty-one  years  of  age. 

Lawrence  H.  Athey.  fourth  of  the  family,  was  born  in  Washington 
township,  Putnam  county.  Indiana.  April  8.  1859.  He  remained  on  the 
farm  until  1906,  when  he  moved  to  Reelsville.  In  the  same  year  he  was 
nominated   for  countv  recorder  on  the  Democratic  ticket  and   was   elected. 


648  vveik's  history  of 

Septemljer  8.  1907.  he  came  to  Greencastle  and  in  January,  1908,  assumed 
the  office  to  which  he  had  been  elected.  He  has  since  been  serving  with  en- 
tire acceptance  to  his  constituents.  He  ranks  as  one  of  the  soHd  citizens 
of  Putnam  county,  where  his  whole  life  has  been  spent,  and  enjoys  general 
esteem  aniong  all  the  people  of  the  county. 

On  November  25,  18S6,  Mr.  Athey  married  Mary  E.  McElroy.  a  native 
of  Washington  township.  Putnam  county.  She  is  a  daughter  of  Stephen 
C.  and  Isabella  (Coltharp)  McElroy.  members  of  an  old  and  well  known 
familv.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Athey  are  members  of  the  Regular  Baptist  church 
and  he  is  a  Mason  and  Knight  of  Pythias. 


SAMUEL  RIGHTSELL. 

It  is  with  a  great  degree  of  satisfaction  to  the  biographer  when  he 
averts  to  the  interesting  life  of  one  who  has  made  the  rough  path  of  life 
smooth  bv  his  untiring  perseverance,  has  attained  success  in  any  vocation 
requiring  definiteness  of  purpose  and  determined  action.  Such  a  life,  whether 
it  be  one  of  calm,  consecutive  endeavor  or  of  sudden  meteoric  accomplish- 
ments, must  abound  both  in  lesson  and  incentive  and  prove  a  guide  to  the 
voung  man  whose  fortunes  are  still  matters  for  the  future  to  determine. 
For  manv  years  Samuel  Rightsell.  prominent  agriculturist  of  Washington 
township,  has  directed  his  efforts  toward  the  goal  of  success  in  Putnam 
county  and  by  patient  continuance  has  won  pronounced  success. 

Mr.  Rightsell  was  born  on  the  farm  on  which  he  now  lives,  April  18, 
1839,  the  son  of  George  and  Margaret  (Sharp)  Rightsell,  both  natives  of 
Greene  countv.  eastern  Tennessee,  near  Greenville,  the  county  seat  where 
President  Andrew  Johnson  maintained  a  tailor  shop  when  a  young  man. 
Thev  grew  to  maturity  and  married  there  and  in  1823  came  to  Union 
countv.  Indiana,  and  in  183 1  moved  to  the  farm  in  Putnam  county  where 
Samuel  Rightsell  now  lives.  He  entered  eighty  acres  from  the  govern- 
ment which  is  still  a  part  of  the  home  place.  He  began  life  in  true  pioneer 
fashion,  first  living  in  a  rude  hewn  beech-log  house.  Prospering  by  hard 
work,  he  later  bought  an  adjoining  eighty,  on  which  his  son  Samuel  now 
lives,  and  after  developing  a  good  fami  and  making  a  comfortable  living 
for  his  familv  for  many  years,  and  becoming  known  in  the  township  as  an 
honest  and  industrious   farmer  of  the  best  type,  he  was  summoned  to  his 


PLTNAM    COUNTY.    INDIANA.  649 

reward  on  January  i.  1865.  at  the  age  of  sixty-four  years  and  six  months, 
his  widow  sur\i\ing  until  March  30.  1874.  at  the  age  of  sixty-nine.  He 
finally  became  the  owner  of  four  hundred  and  fifty-seven  acres,  all  in  a 
bodv.  with  fortv  acres  of  Ixittom  land  on  the  Eel  river.  He  devoted  his  at- 
tention exclusively  to  his  fann,  leading  a  quiet  life,  highly  respected,  for 
he  was  a  first  class  citizen  in  e\'ery  respect. 

To  Mr.  and  Mrs.  George  Rightsell  five  sons  and  three  daughters  were 
born,  namely :  William  remained  on  the  home  farm  with  Samuel,  ds'ing  on 
January  23,  1905,  at  the  age  of  seventy-four  years;  James  lives  in  Clover- 
dale  township;  John  married  Mary  Neese  and  lived  all  his  life  in  Clover- 
dale  and  \\'ashington  townships,  and  he  is  now  tleceased;  Samuel,  of  this  re- 
view; Howard  is  a  farmer  near  Hannony,  Clay  county.  Indiana;  Louisa 
Ann  married  Edward  Huffman,  a  sketch  of  whose  family  appears  on  an- 
other page  of  this  work  under  the  caption  of  Douglas  Huffman;  Matilda 
has  remained  single  and  is  keeping  house  for  Samuel;  Mary  married  James 
McCullough.  of  Washington  township,  and  is  now  deceased,  being  buried 
on  the  Rightsell  homestead. 

William.  Samuel  and  Matilda  Rightsell  were  left  together  on  the  home 
farm.  lia\ing  bought  out  the  other  children.  The  home  place  now  consists 
of  three  hunflred  and  sixty  acres,  which  has  been  well  kept  and  carefully 
tilled.  Mr.  Rightsell  being  a  good  manager  and  with  general  farming  he 
raises  some  good  stock  of  various  kinds,  he  and  his  brother  William  having 
been  successful  feeders  for  years,  always  finding  a  ready  market  for  their 
stock. 

About  twenty-two  years  ago  Mr.  Rightsell  built  an  attractive,  com- 
modious and  comfortable  house,  standing  on  an  elevation  from  which  a 
fine  \iew  may  be  obtained. 

Mr.  Rightsell  is  a  man  in  whom  ever}-  one  who  knows  him  reposes  the 
utmost  confidence  and  he  is  a  good  neighbor  and  true  friend. 


GEORGE  W.  STARR.  M.  D. 

The  life  of  Dr.  George  \\'.  Starr,  a  well  known  and  highly  honored 
druggist  at  Bainbridge.  Putnam  county,  has  always  been  led  along  a  plain 
of  high  endeavor,  always  consistent  with  the  truth  in  its  higher  forms  and 
ever  in  keeping  with  honorable  principles.  He  is  the  scion  of  sterling  ances- 
tors  who  did   much   in  their  dav   for  the  communities  in  which  they  lived. 


650  weik's  history  of 

and  Doctor  Starr  is  a  worthy  descendant  of  his  forbears.  Thus  for  many 
reasons,  not  the  least  of  which  is  the  fact  that  he  was  one  of  the  patriotic 
sons  of  the  North  who,  when  the  tocsin  of  war  sounded,  left  his  comfort- 
able hearthstone  and  business  to  do  what  he  could  in  saving  the  national 
Union,  he  is  gladly  given  conspicuous  representation  in  this  work.  Such 
a  man  is  a  credit  to  any  community  and  his  life  forcibly  illustrates  what 
energy  and  consecutive  endeavor  can  accomplish  when  directed  and  govern- 
ed by  sound  principles. 

Dr.  George  W.  Starr  was  born  January  23.  1S48.  on  his  father's  farm, 
one  and  one-half  miles  northeast  of  Bainbridge.  He  is  the  son  of  John 
and  Mary  (Xethercutt)  Starr,  the  father  born  August  ^,0,  1818,  and  the 
mother  March  6,  1816,  the  father  in  Preble  county  and  the  mother  in  Union 
county,  Ohio.  Each  family  were  pioneers  and  highly  honored  in  their  re- 
spective communities.  John  Starr  received  a  good  education  and  devoted 
his  life  to  the  law,  becoming  an  able  and  noted  attorney  in  his  day.  having 
begun  the  practice  of  law  in  Putnam  county  on  February  13,  1845.  He  was 
a  member  of  the  Methodist  Episcopal  church,  a  truly  useful  and  honorable 
man  who  took  a  delight  in  the  progress  of  his  community  in  all  lines. 

The  family  of  Mr.  and  Mrs.  John  Starr  consisted  of  six  children, 
named  as  follows:  William  E. ;  George  \V.,  of  this  review:  ]\Iartha  A., 
James  W.,  Moses  Milton  and  Mary  Alice. 

Doctor  Starr  received  an  excellent  education  in  the  home  schools  and, 
being  ambitious  to  enter  the  medical  profession,  he  began  studying  to  that 
end,  first  entering  the  drug  business  in  Bainbridge  in  1870,  building  up  a 
verv  satis factorv  business  which  continued  to  increase  from  year  to  year. 
In  point  of  resistance  he  is  the  oldest  citizen  in  Bainbridge  and  he  has  done 
much  for  the  town's  advancement  along  all  lines. 

Doctor  Starr  is  a  graduate  of  the  Indiana  Medical  College,  and  after 
fullv  equipping  himself  for  this  calling  he  practiced  for  a  period  of  three 
years  in  Clay  county,  Indiana,  then  came  to  Putnam  county. 

The  Doctor's  militarv  record  is  one  of  which  he  may  well  be  proud. 
He  enlisted  in  Companv  I,  One  Hundred  and  Fifteenth  Regiment  Indiana 
Volunteer  Infantrv.  in  1S63,  when  only  fifteen  years  old,  anil  served  eight 
months.  Then  he  enlisted  in  the  Eighteenth  Indiana  Battery  and  ser\-ed  till 
the  close  of  the  war.  He  saw  much  active  and  trying  service  in  Tennessee. 
Alabama  and  Georgia,  was  in  the  Atlanta  campaign,  taking  part  in  many 
severe  battles  and  skirmishes. 

Doctor  Starr  was  married  on  October  29,  1878,  to  Jennie  McDonald, 
a   native  of  Wisconsin,   the  daughter  of  a  highly   respected    family.      This 


PUTNAM    COCXTY,    IXDIAXA.  65I 

union  resulted  in  the  birth  of  one  child.  Fred  AT.  Starr,  a  professor  in  Tri- 
State  College,  at  Angola,  Indiana.  He  was  born  November  21,  1879. 
After  the  death  of  the  Doctor's  first  wife,  which  occurred  June  i.  1881,  he 
married  Julia  A.  Springer,  on  July  19,  1SS7.  She  was  the  daughter  of 
Rilev  and  Susan  ( Smith)  Springer,  a  well  known  family,  a  historv-  of 
which  is  given  elsewhere  in  this  volume.  To  them  have  come  one  child. 
Elizabeth  Mabel,  born  October  20.  18S7.  She  is  the  wife  of  Roy  M.  Eads 
of  Roachdale,  Indiana.     She  is  a  gra.luate  of  DePauw  University. 

Doctor  Starr  has  been  very  successful  from  a  financial  standpoint, 
having  managed  his  affairs  well  and  laid  by  an  ample  competency  for  his 
declining  vears.  He  is  the  owner  of  large  and  valuable  tracts  of  land 
which  he  looks  after;  however,  he  is  now  living  practically  retired  from 
active  business.  He  has  held  all  the  offices  in  Post  No.  463.  Grand  Army 
of  the  Republic,  at  Bainbridge,  of  which  he  is  now  adjutant.  He  has  won 
and  retained  the  confidence  and  respect  of  the  people  of  this  community  as 
a  result  of  his  exemplary  life  and  he  has  hosts  of  warm  friends  throughout 
the  county.  Doctor  and  Mrs.  Starr  are  members  of  the  ^Methodist  church, 
and  the  Doctor  is  one  of  the  trustees  and  superintendent  of  the  Sunday 
.school. 


GREELEY   RICHARD   HUFFMAN. 

Greelev  Richard  Huffman  is  a  member  of  the  old  and  well  known  Huff- 
man family  which  has  figured  so  prominently  in  the  affairs  of  Putnam 
county  since  the  pioneer  period,  being  the  youngest  of  the  twelve  children 
of  Edmund  and  Louisa  Ann  (Rightsell)  HufTman.  who  are  mentioned 
elsewhere  in  these  pages.  He  was  born  on  the  family  homestead  one  mile 
south  of  Reelsville.  June  23,  1S73.  and  grew  to  maturity  in  close  touch  with 
nature,  attending  the  meantime  the  district  schools.  His  educational  train- 
ing, however,  was  more  practical  than  scholastic,  consisting  largely  of  the 
knowledge  of  men  and  things  obtained  by  contact  with  the  world,  and  in 
all  that  constitutes  a  well  informed  and  evenly  balanced  mind,  he  stands 
today  a  notable  example  among  the  intelligent  men  of  his  community.  Mr. 
Huffman  was  early  instructed  in  the  duties  of  the  farm  and  grew  up  in  the 
belief  that  labor  is  honorable  and  that  idleness  even  among  those  not  obliged 
to  work  for  a  livelihood  is  akin  to  disgrace.  He  assisted  in  the  cultivation 
of  the  farm  as  soon  as  his  ser\-ices  could  be  utilized  and  remained  with  his 
father  until  his  twenty-third  year,  receiving  in  the  meantime  two  hundred 


652  weik's  history  of 

acres  of  fine  land  in  the  division  of  his  father's  large  estate.  Removing  to 
this  land  about  1893,  he  at  once  inaugurated  a  series  of  improvements  which 
in  due  time  were  carried  to  completion  and  since  then  he  has  added  to  his 
possessions  until  he  is  now  the  owner  of  a  valuable  farm  of  three  hundred 
acres,  all  bottom  land  of  great  fertility  and  admirably  adapted  to  agricul- 
ture and  pasturage.  The  land  lies  on  both  sides  of  Walnut  creek,  which 
affords  ample  water  and  drainage  and,  under  the  masterful  management  of 
the  proprietor,  it  has  been  brought  to  a  very  high  state  of  cultivation,  rank- 
ing among  the  most  productive  farms  in  Putnam  county  and  with  its  splen- 
did improvements  making  a  model  and  in  every-  respect  desirable  home. 

Mr.  Huffman  has  not  been  content  with  the  ample  start  in  life  which 
his  father  gave  him  but,  like  a  wise  and  prudent  man,  has  managed  his 
affairs  so  judiciously  as  to  increase  his  holdings  and  add  largely  to  their 
value.  Forceful,  energetic  and  progressive,  he  has  forged  rapidly  to  the 
front  among  the  leading  agriculturists  of  his  part  of  the  state  and  from 
the  beginning  his  career  presents  a  series  of  advancements  and  successes 
such  as  few  attain.  Like  the  majority  of  enterprising  farmers,  he  does 
not  depend  upon  crops  alone  for  his  income  but  devotes  a  goodly  portion 
of  his  land  to  pasturage,  for  which,  as  already  indicated,  the  land  is  peculi- 
arlv  adapted.  He  has  achieved  distinctive  success  in  the  matter  of  live- 
stock, raising  high-grade  cattle  and  hogs  which  he  feeds  from  the  farm, 
realizing  from  this  service  alone  handsome  profits,  to  say  nothing  of  the 
returns  from  the  products  of  the  soil  which  he  markets  every  year. 

Mr.  Huffman  believes  in  using  his  means  so  as  to  accomplish  the  great- 
est possible  good,  to  which  end  he  has  not  been  sparing  in  providing  those 
dependent  upon  him  with  the  comforts  and  luxuries  of  life.  His  first  con- 
sideration in  this  respect  was  the  home,  in  the  construction  of  which  he  de- 
voted not  a  little  time  and  money  in  making  it  one  of  the  most  desirable 
country  residences  in  the  township.  Within  its  walls  reigns  a  spirit  of 
domestic  concord  which  makes  it  a  home  in  fact  as  well  as  name  and  it  is 
also  the  abode  of  old-fashioned  hospitality  which  all  who  cross  its  thresh- 
hold  have  learned. 

'Sir.  Huffman  is  alive  to  all  that  benefits  the  community  and  is  helpful 
to  his  fellow  men  and  is  not  unmindful  of  the  duties  which  every  true  citi- 
zen owes  to  the  public.  He  manifests  a  lively  interest  in  political  matters  and 
votes  with  the  Democratic  party,  but  has  never  sought  ofiice  nor  aspired  to 
any  kind  of  public  distinction.  The  Knights  of  Pythias  and  Modem  Wood- 
men represent  his  fraternal  relations  and  in  addition  to  these  orders  he  is 
a   friend  of  the  church  and  school,  believing  that  knowledge  and   religion 


PUTNAM    COUNTY,    INDIANA.  653 

properly  disseminated  are  the  great  safeguards  of  a  govemnieiit  in  which 
tiie  people  constitute  the  ruling  power. 

The  domestic  life  of  Mr.  Huffman  dates  from  August  28,  1901,  at 
which  time  he  was  happily  married  to  Belle  Combs,  daughter  of  Stacy  and 
Sarah  Combs,  of  Washington  township,  the  union  being  blessed  with  one 
son.  who  answers  to  the  name  of  Earl  Huffman.  Mrs.  Huffman  has  proven 
a  fit  companion  and  helpmate  to  her  energetic  husband,  being  a  lady  of 
practical  intelligence  and  unexceptional  character,  an  excellent  housekeeper 
and  moving  in  the  best  social  circles  of  the  community.  She  is  not  only 
the  reigning  spirit  of  the  home,  but  enjoys  the  confidence  of  her  neighbors 
and  friends  and  exerts  a  wholesome  moral  influence  among  all  with  whom 
she  mingles.  ]\Irs.  Huffman  taught  school  in  Washington  township  for  six 
vears. 


DAXIEL  CRAFT. 


Among  the  prosperous  and  influential  fanners  and  stockmen  of  the 
southern  part  of  Putnam  county  is  Daniel  Craft,  owner  of  a  beautiful  and 
valuable  landed  estate  in  ^^'ashington  township  where  he  is  ranked  as  a 
model  farmer  and  citizen.  He  was  born  in  Logan  county.  Ohio,  |uly  22, 
1842.  the  son  of  Peter  and  Elizabeth  (Funk)  Craft,  both  natives  of  \'ir- 
ginia,  from  which  state  they  came  to  Ohio  in  an  early  day  with  their  par- 
ents, grew  to  maturity  in  the  Buckeye  state,  met  and  married  there.  Dan- 
iel Craft  accompanied  his  parents  to  Owen  county.  Indiana,  in  iStI.  lo- 
cating southeast  of  Bowling  Green,  later  mox'ed  to  Patricksburg.  that  county, 
where  his  death  occurred  at  the  age  of  se\enty-two  years.  There  were 
nine  children  in  this  family,  six  of  whom  reached  maturity,  four  of  them 
li\ing  at  this  writing,  namely:  Abraham,  living  in  Harvey  county.  Kansas: 
Daniel,  of  this  re\-iew :  Susan,  who  lives  in  Patricksburg,  and  Margaret 
Frances,  who  resides  at  Lewis,  Aigo  county,  Iniliana. 

Daniel  Craft  left  home  when  seventeen  years  of  age  and  worked  as 
a  hired  hand  on  a  farm  for  two  years  until  he  could  get  a  start,  at  sixtv 
dollars  per  year:  howe\'er,  he  could  save  but  little  out  of  so  meager  a  wage. 
He  then  learned  the  tanner's  traile  in  Bowling  Green,  Clay  county,  and  fol- 
lowed the  same  for  a  period  of  three  years,  receiving  one  hundred  and  twentv 
dollars  per  year  and  board,  and  he  became  quite  proficient  in  this  line.  At 
the  end  of  three  years  he  was  able  to  buy  a  house  beside  his  clothing,  etc. 
He  then  started  a  tannery  at  Patricksburg  in  company  with  his  uncle.  Abra- 


654  weik's  history  of 

ham  Funk,  who  suppHed  the  capital,  which  partnership  continued  success- 
fully for  two  years,  when  they  closed  out,  realizing  a  profit  of  about  one 
thousand  dollars  as  a  reward  for  Mr.  Craft's  persistent  labor  and  skill, 
this  sum  proving  to  be  of  great  advantage  to  him  just  at  that  time;  but  he 
then  worked  in  a  saw  mill  for  a  time,  after  which  he  began  farming,  rent- 
ing, for  a  period  of  five  years,  the  farm  in  Washington  township,  Putnam 
county,  which  he  now  owns,  the  place  having  formerly  been  owned  by 
Elias  Garner,  and  is  located  on  Alill  creek  and  the  Eel  river  in  the  southern 
part  of  the  county.  At  the  expiration  of  the  rented  term  he  bought  the 
place,  which  consists  of  two  hundred  and  twenty-four  acres,  for  which  he 
paid  the  sum  of  seven  thousand  and  six  hundred  dollars,  assuming  a  debt 
of  all  but  one  thousand  dollars,  paying  six  per  cent,  interest.  He  proved 
to  be  a  good  manager  and  a  hard  worker  and  greatly  improved  the  place 
from  year  to  year,  paying  off  the  entire  debt  in  fifteen  years.  He  has  cleared 
thirtv  acres,  leaving  forty  acres  of  the  original  natural  timber;  he  has  about 
ninetv  acres  of  rich  corn  land.  He  carries  on  general  farming,  but  his 
principal  dependance  is  in  hogs,  which  he  raises  for  the  market  in  large 
numbers.  He  has  prospered  and  has  added  a  splendid  tract  of  two  hun- 
dred and  ninety  acres,  just  south  of  his  original  farm,  operating  two  places 
as  one.  His  fields  are  well  tilled,  well  kept  and  highly  improved  and  he  has 
a  substantial,  comfortable  and  imposing  dwelling,  built  at  the  foot  of  a 
high  bluff,  near  some  delicious  crystal  springs,  not  far  from  the  river. 

Mr.  Craft  was  married  September  i,  1864,  in  Clay  county,  to  Thursy 
Jane  Crouse.  a  native  of  Clay  county  and  the  daughter  of  Mr.  and  Mrs. 
Henry  Crouse,  her  father  having  operated  a  water  mill  on  Eel  river  on  a 
farm  above  the  Craft  place,  his  mill  being  a  popular  one  for  a  number  of 
years.  It  was  known  as  the  Kinsley  mill,  one  of  the  oldest  in  the  country 
and  it  is  still  standing,  one  of  the  old  mill-stones  now  gracing  the  front 
yard  at  Mr.  Craft's  home. 

Eleven  children  were  born  to  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Craft,  two  of  whom  died 
in  infancy,  the  others  reaching  maturity,  namely:  Van  Milroy  is  farming 
in  Washington  township;  Zora  Frances  is  not  married  and  is  living  at 
home;  Lucretia  Florence  is  married  to  John  Baumunk  and  is  living  in 
Washington  township;  Minnie  Mercy  married  Robert  Evans  and  is  living 
in  Washington  township;  Carrie  Belle  married  Wesley  Neese.  a  farmer  of 
Vigo  county;  Curtis  Theodore  is  operating  part  of  the  homestead:  Ursula 
Ann  married  David  Modisett,  of  Harmony,  Clay  county;  Isaiah  Henry  is 
also  assisting  in  the  management  of  the  home  fami :  Benjamin  Carl  is  still 
a  member  of  the  familv  circle. 


PUTNAM    COUNTY,    INDIANA.  655 

Daniel  Craft  served  one  term  as  justice  of  the  peace  in  a  verv-  accept- 
able manner.  Being  an  independent  tliinker.  he  is  not  aUied  to  any  party, 
preferring  to  vote  for  the  man  of  the  best  principles  and  qualifications.  He 
has  been  a  follower  of  the  teachings  of  the  Christian  church,  and  he  holds 
membership  with  the  Mill  Creek  congregation,  being  a  liberal  supporter  of 
the  local  church,  and  known  as  one  of  the  community's  leading  citizens  in 
every  respect. 


MOSES  DILLON  BRIDGES. 

Putnam  county  has  had  few  finer  citizens  than  the  late  Moses  Dillon 
Bridges,  whose  whole  career  of  sixty-odd  years  was  identified  with  the 
county's  development  and  progress.  He  was  a  man  of  very  active  life  and 
useful  in  many  ways;  whether  it  was  politics,  merchandising  or  general  busi- 
ness, he  was  always  at  the  front  to  have  his  say  and  do  his  part.  His  long 
life  was  lived  without  a  blemish  to  mar  his  integrity  or  stain  his  character.  He 
dealt  honestly  with  all.  never  asking  a  cent  more  than  was  coming  to  him. 
He  was  successful  in  e\erything  he  undertook,  which  after  all  is  the  severest 
test  of  a  man's  ability,  if  not  his  worth.  Aloses  Dillon  Bridges  was  born  at 
Greencastle,  Indiana,  in  Xox'eniber.  1S39,  when  the  village  and  Putnam 
county  were  still  undeveloped.  His  parents,  Moses  Thomas  and  Mary 
(\'ansant)  Bridges,  were  among  the  earliest  of  the  early  pioneers,  coming 
over  from  Kentucky  when  Indiana  was  little  more  than  a  wilderness.  Like 
many  of  the  pioneers,  he  was  forced  by  circumstances  to  become  a  sort  of 
"jack  of  all  trades,"  being  a  farmer,  merchant  and  shoemaker.  For  many 
years  he  conducted  a  general  store  at  Fillmore,  Putnam  county.  His  son. 
3.Ioses  Dillon,  grew  up  on  a  farm  at  a  time  when  school  advantages  were 
difficult  to  obtain.  Such  as  they  were,  however,  run  on  the  subscription  order 
with  the  teacher  "boarding  around,"  young  Bridges  took  advantage  of  at 
brief  intervals  until  he  was  sixteen  years  old.  His  father  started  him  in  the 
general  merchandising  business  at  Groveland  and  also  gave  him  an  interest 
in  the  store  at  Fillmore.  Though  young  at  the  time,  he  soon  "caught  on"  and 
gradually  de\eloped  into  a  successful  merchant  for  those  days,  which  was  be- 
fore trusts,  combines  and  comers  had  been  heard  of  and  all  business  was  con- 
ducted on  the  basis  of  the  freest  kind  of  free  competition.  In  1874  he  removed 
to  Greencastle,  was  elected  county  clerk,  served  four  years,  was  re-elected  and 
afterwards  made  his  residence  at  the  county  seat.  In  office  he  showed  the 
same  fine  qualities  as  in  other  positions  and  so  conducted  official  affairs  as 


656  weik's  history  of 

to  gain  the  good  will  and  confidence  of  ail  the  people.  He  entered  the  Cen- 
tral National  Bank  as  cashier  and  was  subsequently  elected  to  the  position 
of  vice-president.  Here,  too,  in  entirely  new  duties  he  showed  his  level- 
headed qualities  and  his  knowledge  of  general  business,  as  well  as  that  intri- 
cate problem  known  as  human  nature.  He  liked  the  storm  and  struggle 
of  political  campaigns,  took  active  part,  in  all  the  hotly  contested  battles  and 
was  acknowledged  as  one  of  the  foremost  and  safest  of  the  Democratic  local 
leaders.  He  rose  to  the  Knight  Templar  degree  in  Masonry  and  was  reg- 
ular in  his  lodge  attendance.  He  was  a  member  of  the  Christian  church  and 
one  of  the  board  of  trustees,  always  manifesting  interest  in  the  cause  of 
religion. 

Mr.  Bridges  married  Maude  Roberts,  who  was  born  in  Hendricks 
countv  in  January,  1848.  Her  parents,  John  S.  and  Martha  Anna  (Hopwood) 
Roi^erts,  were  natives  of  Kentucky,  who  came  to  Indiana  in  an  early  day. 
Her  father  was  a  furniture  maker  by  trade,  of  Welsh  descent,  and  her  an- 
cestors were  Scotch-Irish  on  the  mothers  side.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Moses  Dillon 
Bridges  had  seven  children:  Ollie,  born  June  10,  1871.  married  Fred  Gordon, 
of  Indianapolis;  Grace  Pearl,  bom  July  i,  1873,  married  Dr.  R.  J.  Gillespie, 
a  dentist  at  Greencastle;  Hallie,  born  September  5,  1876,  married  Dr.  J.  M. 
King,  one  of  the  well  known  physicians  of  Greencastle;  Nellie  married  S.  C. 
Savers,  a  merchant  of  Greencastle;  Hazel,  bom  December  22,  1883,  is  still 
living  under  the  parental  roof;  Harold  Moses,  born  September  26,  1887, 
died  on  Januarv  5.  1892;  Gerald,  born  February  6,  1S92,  is  attending  the 
public  schools. 


-  REV.  JAMES  W.  CARVER. 

It  is  a  pleasure  to  examine  the  life  record  of  such  a  useful  character  as 
the  Rev.  James  \V.  Carver,  for  it  has  been  one  of  unselfish  endeavor  to  amelior- 
ate the  condition  of  his  fellow  men  and  the  good  he  has  done  cannot  be  meas- 
ured in  metes  and  bounds,  for  such  influence  is  far-reaching  and  will  continue 
to  brighten  the  pathways  of  many  for  generations  to  come. 

Mr.  Carver  was  born  of  an  excellent  family  in  Parke  county,  Indiana, 
May  2,  1854.  His  father  was  Benjamin  Durham  Carver,  a  native  of  Dan- 
ville, Kentucky,  who  came  to  Indiana  with  his  parents  when  four  years  old, 
his  father,  Starling  Carver,  coming  to  Indiana  and  settling  near  Russellville, 
later  near  Portland  Mills.  He  was  a  farmer  and  lived  in  this  country  the 
rest  of  his  life,  dying  in  October,  1869,  at  the  age  of  sixty-eight  years.      He 


PUTNAM    COUNTY,    INDIANA.  65/ 

was  one  of  tlie  early  workers  in  the  Methodist  church  and  widely  known  as 
a  great  "class  leader."  For  many  years  he  was  trustee  of  Green  township, 
Parke  county.  He  married  Jane  Durham,  of  near  Danville,  Kentucky,  at 
which  place  her  brother.  Milton  J.  Durham,  who  is  the  oldest  graduate  of  De- 
Pauw  University,  still  lives.  He  has  long  been  a  noted  politician  and  was 
comptroller  of  the  currency  during  Cleveland's  administration.  He  is  a  lineal 
descendant  of  the  famous  Governor  Carver  of  colonial  days.  Nine  children 
were  born  to  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Starling  Carver.  Mrs.  Carver  was  called  to  her 
rest  May  3.  1S89,  at  the  age  of  eighty-three  years. 

William  Carver,  father  of  Starling  Carver,  came  from  Virginia  to  Ken- 
tucky and  thence  to  Illinois.  The  former's  father  was  Joseph  Carver,  a  New 
Yorker  who  later  in  life  moved  to  Virginia.  Not  one  of  the  Carvers  from 
Joseph  to  James  \\".  has  ever  used  liquors  or  played  cards.  A  notable  fea- 
ture of  this  family  is  the  fact  that  they  are  all  physically  large.  The  father 
of  James  \V.,  Benjamin  Durham  Carver,  lived  at  Morton  from  1867  His 
death  occurred  December  19.  1897,  at  the  age  of  seventy  years,  having  been 
born  in  Eoyle  county,  Kentucky,  July  4.  1827.  He  came  to  Russell ville.  Put- 
nam county,  in  1 83 1.  In  185 1  he  married  Margaret  Frances  Johnson,  born 
in  Kentucky,  from  which  state  her  parents  removed  to  Parke  county,  Indiana. 
He  joined  the  Methodist  church  in  his  twentieth  year.  As  steward,  class 
leader,  Sunday  school  superintendent  and  trustee  he  rendered  the  church  splen- 
did service,  bringing  to  the  discharge  of  each  duty  virtue,  piety  and  discreet 
judgment,  and  he  became  one  of  the  best  men  in  his  community.  On  the  day 
of  his  death,  which  was  Sunday,  he  taught  a  class  in  Sunday  school  anrl  closed 
the  morning  service  with  a  fervent  prayer,  took  the  preacher  home  with  him 
for  dinner  and  the  end  came  while  he  was  stooping  over  to  re-kindle  the  fire  in 
the  old-fashioned  fireplace,  which  he  was  very  fond  of,  practically  "dying  in 
the  harness."  ^Many  laymen  have  doubtless  excelled  him  in  special  lines  of 
church  work,  but  in  all  lines,  both  secular  and  spiritual,  his  equal  was  seldom 
found. 

Of  the  nine  children  born  to  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Benjamin  Durham  Can-er, 
four  are  now  living,  namely:  James  W.,  of  this  review:  Clay  B..  of  Rockville; 
Mrs.  Sallie  Ferguson,  also  of  Rockville:  Oscar  R.,  of  Morristown,  Tennessee; 
Oliver  :Morton  was  killed  by  a  horse  falling  on  him  when  he  was  thirty-two 
vears  of  age:  Martha  Ella  died  in  young  womanhood;  Malcolm  died  in  1877; 
Nettie  died  in  1872;  Edgar  died  in  1877. 

Tames  \\".  Carver  spent  his  childhood  on  the  farm  where  he  was  born 
and  which  he  worked,  except  during  the  short  winter  months  when  he  was  in 
(42) 


658  weik's  history  of 

school  until  he  was  twenty-two  years  of  age,  having  received  a  ver\-  good  pri- 
mary schooling  in  the  country  schools.  Ambitious  to  become  highly  educated, 
he  spent  six  years  in  DePauw  University,  graduating  in  the  class  of  1876. 
In  that  vear  he  went  to  Des  Moines,  Iowa,  where  he  entered  the  Simpson  Law 
School,  in  which  he  remained  for  one  year,  having  read  law  before  going 
there.  He  located  in  Boone,  Iowa,  where  he  remained  for  a  period  of  four 
years.  He  started  out  with  a  very  satisfactory  clientele  and  had  he  continued  in 
the  legal  profession  he  would  have  doubtless  become  widely  known  as  an  able 
attorney.  He  was  admitted  to  practice  by  the  supreme  court.  He  was  com- 
pelled to  relinquish  this  profession  on  account  of  losing  the  use  of  his 
voice  for  fc.nir  vears..  He  spent  one  year  at  Sidney,  Iowa,  and  about  four 
years  on  a  farm  near  Ida  Grove,  Iowa.  In  1882  he  began  preaching,  becom- 
ing a  member  of  the  Xortluvest  Iowa  conference  of  the  Methodist  Episcopal 
church,  preaching  first  at  Battle  Center,  Iowa,  for  two  years,  then  he  went 
to  ]\It.  Union,  that  state,  where  he  remained  one  year,  then  at  Gushing  one 
year,  thence  to  Rock  for  two  years,  then  to  Ledyard  two  years,  then  Pierson 
for  two  years,  later  to  Holstein,  then  Danbury.  He  returned  to  Greencastle, 
Indiana,  in  1S99,  when  his  health  failed  and  retired  from  the  active  ministry, 
taking  up  farming;  however,  he  has  continued  to  preach  when  able,  being  at 
present  pastor  of  the  church  at  Knightsville.  During  his  ministerial  career 
he  has  baptised  over  two  thousand  six  hundred  persons  and  during  the  past 
eleven  vears,  since  retirement,  over  nine  hundred,  six  hundred  by  immersion. 
He  is  regarded  as  a  ver}-  forceful  speaker,  earnest,  sincere  and  often  truly 
eloquent,  and  he  is  always  ready  to  minister  to  the  sick  and  do  good  in  any 
way  possible.  He  has  been  very  popular  wherever  his  lot  has  been  cast  and 
held  in  the  highest  esteem  by  all  classes.  He  served  two  years  in  the  city 
council, — 1904  to  1906.  Since  coming  to  Greencastle  he  has  given  his  atten- 
tion very  largely  to  orchard  culture,  having  now  one  of  the  finest  orchards  in 
Indiana.  He  has  studied  horticulture  until  he  is  regarded  as  exceptionally 
well  versed  in  all  its  phases,  in  fact,  an  authority.  Views  of  his  orchard  ap- 
pear in  the  report  of  the  Indiana  Horticultural  Society.  His  orchard  com- 
prises sixty  acres  of  very  valuable  land,  which  raised  over  twelve  hundred 
bushels  of  apples  and  over  three  hundred  bushels  of  peaches  during  1909. 
He  has  been  unusually  successful  in  producing  fine  crops.  He  has  a  pleasant 
and  nicely  furnished  home,  equipped  with  a  large  and  carefully  selected 
librarv  of  the  world's  choicest  literature,  where  Mr.  Can-er  spends  much  of 
his  spare  time. 


PUTNAM    COUXTV,    IXDIAXA.  659 

Mr.  Carver  was  married  on  July  29,  1S79.  to  Louisa  Webb,  born  in 
Ohio,  the  accompHshed  and  refined  daughter  of  Spencer  C.  and  Jemima 
(Street)  Webb,  both  natives  of  Bahimore.  Four  children  born  to  this  union 
died  early  in  life. 

Mr.  Carver  is  a  member  of  ^Morton  blue  lodge  and  the  Greencastle 
chapter  and  commandery  of  the  Masonic  fraternity,  and  he  was  prelate  of 
the  commandery  for  eight  years.  Like  his  religion,  he  has  carried  the  sub- 
lime precepts  of  this  ancient  order  into  his  everyday  life.  Politically  he  is 
a  Republican,  as  was  also  his  father. 

As  might  be  expectetl,  the  subject  is  a  man  of  the  most  excellent  personal 
traits,  courteous,  generous,  obliging,  hospitable,  genial  and  kind  to  stranger 
and  friend  alike,  so  that  it  is  indeed  a  pleasure  to  know  him,  and  especially 
to  be  enlightened  by  his  learned  and  entertaining  conversation.  He  has  been 
a  power  for  good  and  he  never  loses  an  opportunity  to  be  of  service  to  his 
fellow  men,  not  for  their  praise  but  merely  for  the  sake  of  fulfilling  the  com- 
mands of  the  lowly  Nazarene,  in  whose  footsteps  he  finds  great  pleasure  in 
trving  to  tread,  and  whose  approval  and  that  of  his  own  conscience  he  alone 
tries  to  gain  and  reconcile,  not  seeking  the  plaudits  of  men. 


WILLL\A[  H.  WILLL-VMSOX. 

Xotwithstanding  opinions  to  the  contrary,  much  depends  upon  being 
well  born,  and  the  old  adage  that  "Blood  will  tell"  is  not  only  true  but  pro- 
foundly philosophical.  In  a  large  measure  we  are  what  our  antecedents 
were,  their  characteristics  and  attributes  as  a  rule  constituting  a  heritage 
which  have  had  a  powerful  influence  in  moulding  our  lives  for  good  or  evil. 
"Like  produces  like."  a  recognized  law  of  the  physical  world,  also  obtains  in 
matters  of  mind  and  morals,  as  the  experience  of  the  human  race  abund- 
antlv  attest.  That  parents  have  a  wonderful  influence  upon  the  minds  and 
hearts  of  their  offspring  cannot  for  a  moment  be  gainsaid,  hence  the  neces- 
sitv  of  measuring  up  to  the  high  standard  which  both  nature  and  God  re- 
quire of  fatherhood  and  motherhood.  In  matter  of  birth  the  subject  of 
this  sketch  has  indeed  been  fortunate,  inheriting  as  he  does  the  sterling 
characteristics  of  his  ancestors,  who  were  long  distinguished  for  strong 
mentality,  intellectual  acumen  and  moral  worth.  His  father,  John  M.  Wil- 
liamson, a  native  of  Ireland  and  a  son  of  a  merchant,  was  educated  in  the 
L'niversitv  of  Dublin  with  the  object  in  view  of  entering  the  ministi-v  of  the 


66o  weik's  history  of 

church  of  England,  but,  circumstances  preventing  him  from  carrying  his 
intention  into  effect,  he  subsequently  became  a  teacher  and  achieved  marked 
distinction  in  educational  work.  He  came  to  the  United  States  when  young 
and  for  some  time  thereafter  taught  in  Cincinnati,  later  accepting  a  pro- 
fessorship in  a  college,  which  he  held  with  distinguished  success  until  his 
removal  to  Indiana  some  years  afterwards.  While  in  Cincinnati  he  became 
acquainted  with  Maria  James,  an  intelligent  and  highly  accomplished  young 
lady  who  like  himself  was  engaged  in  teaching  and  to  whom  he  was  subse- 
quently united  in  the  bonds  of  wedlock. 

Airs.  Williamson  was  a  native  of  England,  which  country  her  father, 
the  Hon.  James  James,  represented  as  a  minister  at  the  court  of  Norway 
and  Sweden,  having  been  a  man  of  eminent  talents  and  one  of  the  leading 
statesmen  and  diplomats  of  his  day.  He  died  in  the  land  of  his  birth, 
sometime  after  which  his  widow  and  daughters  came  to  the  United  States 
and  located  at  Cincinnati ;  one  of  the  daughters,  Helen  James,  subsequently 
completed  the  prescribed  course  of  Oberlin  College  and  became  a  teacher. 
She  was  employed  in  various  parts  of  Ohio  and  Indiana  and  was  one  of 
the  early  teachers  of  Putnam  county  where  she  taught  for  a  number  of 
years  and  where  som.e  of  her  pupils,  now  venerable  gray-haired  men  and 
women,  still  live  to  honor  her  memor\'. 

Shortly  after  their  marriage,  John  M.  Williamson  and  wife  moved  to 
Franklin  county,  Indiana,  where  their  oldest  child  was  born  and  where  they 
continued  to  make  their  home  until  1854  when  they  changed  their  residence 
to  Putnam  county,  locating  on  the  farm  in  Washington  township  which 
Mr.  Williamson  purchased  and  on  which  he  and  his  faithful  wife  spent 
the  remainder  of  their  days.  Mr.  Williamson  was  in  many  respects  a  re- 
markable man  and  it  is  to  be  hoped  that  some  future  biographer  will  give 
him  the  notice,  which  he  deserves,  but  which  the  limits  of  this  article  for- 
bid. As  alreadv  indicated,  he  was  highly  educated  and  accomplished  and 
during  his  entire  life  he  never  ceased  being  a  student.  While  attending  to 
the  duties  of  the  farm  he  studied  soils  and  their  adaptability  to  the  differ- 
ent crops,  made  careful  notes  of  every  kind  of  plant  and  vegetable  the  place 
produced  and  his  love  of  nature  also  led  him  to  spend  much  of  his  leisure 
in  the  woods,  meadows  and  along  the  by-ways,  where  in  due  time  his  in- 
vestigations made  him  one  of  the  most  thorough  and  accomplished  botanists 
and  naturalists  the  state  of  Indiana  has  ever  known.  It  is  greatly  to  be 
reo-retted  that  he  did  not  publish  the  results  of  his  studies  and  investigations, 
for  had  he  done  so  science  would  have  received  a  wonderful  stimulus  from 
his   active  and  brilliant  mind.     He  not  only   pursued  his   investigations   in 


PUTNAM    COUNTY,    IXDIAXA.  66l 

matters  as  above  mentioned,  but  was  also  a  great  reader,  his  knowledge  of 
the  world's  best  literature  of  all  ages  and  among  all  peoples  having  been 
wide  and  profound.  With  all  his  varied  accomplishments,  he  was  an  hum- 
ble and  sincere  Christian,  a  devout  student  of  the  sacred  scriptures,  who 
exemplified  his  religious  faith  in  his  relations  with  his  fellowmen.  and  it 
was  his  custom  morning  and  evening  to  gather  his  family  about  him  to  thank 
God  for  the  blessings  of  which  they  were  the  recipients.  In  public  matters 
he  always  kept  abreast  of  the  times  and  in  touch  with  the  leading  questions 
and  issues  before  the  people,  on  all  of  which  he  was  thoroughly  informed 
and  an  authority  among  his  neighbors  and  friends. 

Although  not  a  very  practical  farmer.  Mr.  Williamson  was  nevertheless 
possessed  of  fine  business  ability  and  succeeded  in  accumulating  a  comfort- 
able competency  for  his  family,  including  three  hundred  acres  of  fine  land 
much  of  which  was  cleared  and  fitted  for  cultivation  by  his  own  labor.  He 
was  a  man  of  noble  aims  and  high  ideals  and  his  influence  was  ever  for  the 
right  side  of  every  moral  issue.  He  presented  the  highest  type  of  manhood 
and  citizenship  and  his  life  was  a  benediction  and  a  power  for  good  among 
those  with  whom  his  lot  was  cast.  The  death  of  this  excellent  man  occurred 
on  the  6th  day  of  January.  1866.  at  the  age  of  sixty-six  years,  his  widow 
surviving  him  twenty-six  years  and  departing  this  life  in  1892.  shortly  be- 
fore the  eightieth  anniversan."  of  her  birth. 

John  M.  and  ^Nlaria  Williamson  were  the  parents  of  six  children, 
namely:  Mary  M..  who  married  Joseph  ]\Iann  and  moved  to  Oklahoma, 
where  both  afterwards  died:  William  H..  of  this  review;  George,  who  went 
to  Clay  City.  Indiana,  about  thirty  years  ago,  where  he  was  engaged  in  the 
grain  trade  until  his  recent  removal  to  California,  where  he  now  resides; 
Henrs-.  who  died  when  a  young  man  of  twenty-three;  John,  who  has  spent 
the  last  twenty  years  in  California,  and  Emma,  who  married  Samuel  Brown- 
rigg  and  moved  to  Kansas,  thence  to  California,  where  she  now  resides,  the 
subject  being  the  only  representative  of  the  family  in  Putnam  county. 

William  H.  Williamson  spent  his  early  life  on  the  home  farm  in  Wash- 
ington township,  and  received  his  educational  training  in  the  public  schools. 
Blessed  with  excellent  home  influence,  he  grew  up  with  good  habits  and 
while  young  received  the  bent  of  character  which  has  had  such  a  marked 
influence  in  directing  his  life  in  proper  channels  and  developing  a  mind  cap- 
able of  grasping  the  various  problems  which  one  meets  at  the  beginning  of 
his  career.  He  assisted  his  father  until  the  latter's  death,  when  he  began 
buying  his  brothers'  and  sisters'  respective  interests  in  the  estate,  which 
being  accomplished   in   due   time,   he   afterwards   added   one   hundred   eight 


662  weik's  history  of 

acres  to  the  homestead,  making  the  place  four  hundred  five  acres,  its  pres- 
ent area.  His  farm  Hes  in  a  body  extending  across  Deer  creek,  adjacent  to 
\vhich  is  some  fine  bottom  land,  the  part  in  cultivation  amounting  to  one 
hundred  twenty-five  acres,  the  balance  consisting  of  pasturage  and  timber. 
The  latter  he  has  been  at  pains  to  keep  intact  and  he  now  has  a  considerable 
area  of  original  forest  growth,  in  which  are  to  be  seen  some  of  the  finest 
oak.  maple,  walnut,  poplar,  beech  and  other  varieties  of  trees  in  this  part 
of  the  state. 

Mr.  Williamson  has  a  model  farm  and  as  a  tiller  of  the  soil  he  is  pro- 
gressive in  his  methods  and  fully  abreast  of  the  times  in  all  matters  re- 
lating to  modern  agriculture.  He  usually  raises  from  eighty  to  one  hun- 
dred acres  of  wheat,  a  grain  for  which  the  farm  seems  peculiarly  adapted, 
and  about  twenty-five  acres  of  corn,  all  of  which  he  feeds  to  livestock,  to  the 
breeding  and  raising  of  which  he  devotes  special  attention.  He  is  also 
much  interested  in  horticulture  and  has  one  of  the  best  orchards  in  the 
county,  which  he  set  out  himself,  exercising  great  care  in  the  selection  of 
his  trees  and  sparing  no  pains  in  keeping  them  in  healthful  condition  in 
order  to  enhance  their  productiveness.  Mr.  Williamson's  splendid  modern 
dwelling,  furnished  with  all  the  latest  conveniences,  occupies  a  fine  location 
and  is  one  of  the  most  beautiful  and  attractive  rural  homes  in  Putnam 
countv.  His  former  home  was  destroyed  by  fire  in  1884,  since  which  time 
he  has  guarded  against  a  repetition  of  the  loss  by  making  his  present  resi- 
dence as  nearly  fire-proof  as  possible,  and  using  for  heating  purposes  a  fur- 
nace instead  of  stoves.  He  has  been  unsparing  in  the  expenditure  of  money 
for  the  beautifying  of  his  place,  believing  that  home  should  be  made  at- 
tractive in  order  to  be  the  one  ideal  spot  to  which  his  children's  memories 
will  fondlv  return  after  they  have  grown  to  maturity  and  left  the  family 
circle.  For  a  number  of  years  Mr.  Williamson  was  quite  extensively  en- 
gaged in  the  manufacture  of  maple  syrup,  having  a  fine  orchard  of  twenty- 
five  acres,  containing  five  hundred  trees,  the  yield  from  which  each  spring 
season  added  very  materially  to  his  earnings.  Recently,  however,  he  dis- 
continued this  feature  of  the  farm  the  better  to  give  his  attention  to  other 
and  more  profitable  interests. 

Like  his  father,  Air.  Williamson  is  an  intelligent  observer  of  events,  a 
reader  and  thinker  and  his  opinions  on  the  questions  of  the  day  carry  weight 
and  command  respect.  He  is  a  Republican,  but  not  a  partisan  and  has  never 
disturbed  his  quiet  by  seeking  office  or  aspiring  to  leadership.  He  manifests 
a  lively  interest  in  the  welfare  of  the  community,  gives  his  influence  and  as- 
sistance to  any  worthy  enterprise  for  the  good  of  his  fellow  men  and  dis- 


PUTXAM    COUXTV,    IXDIAXA.  663 

charges  the  iluties  incumbent  upon  liim  as  becomes  a  lo}"al  citizen  and  rep- 
resentati\'e  American  of  today. 

On  Febrnan'  9.  1879.  Mr.  "W'ilhamson  was  united  in  marriage  with 
Airs.  Maty  L.  Hedges,  widow  of  the  late  W.  H.  Hedges,  of  Putnam  county, 
and  daughter  of  B.  F.  and  Louisa  {  Harvey)  Utterback.  natives  of  Bourbon 
county.  Kentucky,  the  father  by  trade  a  saddler  and  harnessmaker.  These 
parents  moved  to  Indiana  in  1S52  and  located  at  Putnamville.  where  Mrs. 
Williamson  was  born  on  February  nth  of  the  same  year,  but  subsequently. 
1S64.  thev  changed  their  residence  to  Manhattan,  still  later  to  Reelsville 
where  Mr.  Utterback  died  September  15.  1S87.  at  the  age  of  sixty-three,  his 
widow  surviving  him  until  June  15.  1909.  when  she  was  called  to  her  final 
reward  in  the  seventy-ninth  year  of  her  age.  \\'.  H.  Hedges.  ^Nlrs.  Wil- 
liamson's first  husband,  was  a  graduate  of  Indiana  State  University  and  a 
civil  engineer  bv  profession,  having  been  official  surveyor  of  Putnam  county 
at  the  time  of  his  death  in  1877. 

yir.  and  ^Irs.  Williamson  have  children  as  follows:  Fred  D..  who  is 
interested  with  his  father  in  agriculture  and  stock  raising,  is  an  intelligent, 
wide-awake  voung  man  of  progressive  ideas  and  an  enterprising  farmer 
and  public  spirited  citizen:  he  holds  membership  with  the  Masonic  fratern- 
ity, belonging  to  the  blue  lodge  at  Knistville  and  the  chapter  at  Greencastle. 
Belle,  the  second  in  order  of  birth,  married  Elijah  O'Xeal  and  is  the  mother 
of  three  children.  Florence.  Albert  and  Everett,  the  oldest  and  youngest 
living  with  their  grandmother.  Florence,  the  youngest  of  the  family,  is 
the  wife  of  T.  F.  Talbot  and  lives  at  Harristown.  Illinois:  Mrs.  William- 
son has  been  a  member  of  the  Baptist  church  since  her  girlhood,  both  she 
and  her  husband  belonging  to  the  Walnut  Creek  church  of  that  denomina- 
tion in  Washington  township,  being  deeply  interested  in  the  various  lines 
of  worth  under  the  auspicies  of  the  organization  and  libera!  contributors 
to  its  support. 


CHARLES  J.  ARNOLD. 

Charles  J.  Arnold,  the  efficient  secretary-treasurer  of  the  Star-Demo- 
crat Publishing  Company  of  Greencastle.  and  one  of  the  active  managers 
and  editors  of  the  H'cckly  Star-Democrat  and  the  Daily  Herald,  was  born 
in  Greencastle.  January  Ji.  1S79.  the  son  of  F.  A.  and  Elizabeth  (  Boley) 
Arnold.  The  father  was  a  native  of  London.  Canada,  from  which  place 
he  came  to  Putnam  county.  Indiana,  over  forty  years  ago.     He  became  a 


664  vveik's  history  of 

man  of  influence  and  prominence  in  this  county  after  taking  up  his  resi- 
dence here.  Up  to  1907  and  for  many  years  previous  he  was  editor  and 
pubhsher  of  the  newspaper  now  controlled  jointly  by  his  son  and  his  son- 
in-law.  Charles  J.  Arnold  and  Francis  C.  Tilden.  F.  A.  Arnold  is  now  vice- 
president  of  the  Central  National  Bank  and  one  of  Greencastle's  leading 
and  substantial  citizens. 

Charles  J.  Arnold  was  educated  in  the  public  schools  of  Greencastle 
and  at  BePauw  University,  where  he  made  a  good  record  for  scholarship. 
On  leaving  college  he  turned  his  attention  to  journalism  and  for  some  time 
was  a  member  of  the  reportorial  stafif  of  the  Kansas  City  Star  and  also  the 
Kansas  Citv  Journal.  He  soon  evinced  a  natural  aptitude  for  newspaper 
work  and  in  October,  1906,  he  returned  to  Greencastle  and  became  inter- 
ested in  the  Jl'ccklv  Star-Democrat  and  Daily  Herald,  the  former  the  offi- 
cial organ  of  the  Putnam  county  Democracy,  and  the  latter  an  enterprising 
and  popular  daily.  His  services  with  these  newspapers  has  greatly  bene- 
fited the  community  in  general  and  the  Star-Democrat  and  Daily  Herald 
are  potent  moulders  of  public  opinion. 

Mr.  Arnold  was  married,  October  3,  1906,  to  Mabel  Herring,  the 
daughter  of  Mrs.  Samantha  Herring,  of  Kansas  City. 

Mr.  Arnold  is  secretary  of  the  Greencastle  Merchants'  Association 
and  is  also  secretary  of  the  Indiana  Democratic  Editorial  Association.  He 
is  a  member  of  the  Beta  Theta  Pi  fraternity  and  of  the  Benevolent  and 
Protective  Order  of  Elks.  He  is  a  well  bred,  agreeable,  forceful  and  ener- 
getic voung  man.  of  agreeable  personal  graces  and  unquestionable  business 
abilitv. 


JACOB  CALLEXDAR  PLUM^IER. 

The  subject  of  this  sketch  enjoys  the  distinction  of  being  the  leading 
contractor  and  builder  in  the  southern  part  of  Putnam  county  and  in  the 
pursuance  of  his  trade  has  doubtless  contriI)uted  more  to  the  material  pros- 
perity of  his  section  of  the  county  than  any  other  man.  He  is  a  native  of 
Massac  countv,  Illinois,  where  his  birth  occurred  on  the  first  day  of  Janu- 
arv,  1842.  and  where  his  parents.  Jacob  and  Eliza  (Summers)  Plummer, 
of  Kentucky,  had  settled  in  the  year  1837.  When  Jacob  was  an  infant, 
these  parents  returned  to  Kentucky  and  remained  in  Kenton  county,  that 
state,  until  i860,  when  they  removed  to  Greencastle.  Indiana,  where  the 
father  lived  in  retirement  about  eight  vears.  at  the  end  of  which  time  he 


PL'TNAM    COUNTY,    IN'DIAXA.  665 

changed  his  residence  to  \\"ashington  township,  where  he  made  his  home 
until  his  removal  to  Vigo  county,  where  his  death  occurred  in  1902,  at  the 
age  of  seventy-nine  years,  his  wife  dying  sometime  previous  to  that  date 
in  Clay  count}'. 

Jacoli  C.  Pluminer  was  about  eighteen  years  old  when  his  parents 
came  to  Indiana  and  since  i860  he  has  been  an  honored  resident  of  Put- 
nam county  and  closely  identified  with  the  interests  of  the  people  among 
whom  he  has  lived.  While  still  a  youth  he  manifested  a  decided  preference 
for  mechanical  work  and  it  was  not  long  until  he  turned  his  talent  to  good 
account  by  taking  up  the  trade  of  carpentry,  at  which  he  soon  became  quite 
proficient  and  to  which  his  energies  have  since  been  devoted.  In  1868  he 
came  to  Washington  township,  Putnam  county,  where  he  at  once  took  high 
rank  as  a  mechanic  and  in  the  month  of  March,  1880,  he  moved  to  his  pres- 
ent farm,  fifty  acres  of  which  are  in  cultivation,  the  remainder  consisting  of 
woodland  and  meadow.  Air.  Plummer  devotes  little  time  to  the  cultivation 
of  the  soil,  being,  as  already  indicated,  the  leading  contractor  and  builder 
of  his  part  of  the  county,  with  enterprises  on  hand  which  call  him  from 
home  and  demand  all  his  attention.  The  majority  of  the  better  farm 
dwellings,  barns  and  other  buildings  in  Washington  township  were  erected 
under  his  management  and  elsewhere  throughout  the  county  in  both  towns 
and  rural  districts  are  numerous  edifices  which  bear  the  stamp  of  his  work- 
manship. Among  the  many  country  residences  which  he  has  built  from 
time  to  time  are  those  belonging  to  George  Rissler,  John  Rightsell.  Jack 
Huft'man,  James  Rightsell,  George  Zeener,  Vincent  McCollough,  John  Riss- 
ler and  many  others,  all  of  which  rank  among  the  best  structures  of  the  kind 
in  the  county  and  speak  volumes  in  his  praise  as  a  master  of  his  vocation. 
He  has  also  erected  a  number  of  school  houses,  churches  and  other  public 
edifices,  the  demands  for  his  services  being  such  as  to  call  for  a  number 
of  additional  helpers.  Of  recent  years  he  has  carried  on  several  buildings 
at  the  same  time  and  given  employment  to  from  eight  to  fifteen  mechanics 
and  at  intervals  has  conducted  his  business  in  partnership  with  R,  E. 
Ozment.  a  master  workman  who  learned  the  trade  under  his  direction. 

Mr.  Plummer,  on  Mav  i,  1S64,  was  happily  married  to  Luella  Shop- 
taugh.  sister  of  George  Shoptaugh,  ex-superintendent  of  the  Putnam  county 
poor  asylum.  Mrs.  Plummer  was  born  on  the  old  Shoptaugh  fann,  in 
Marion  township,  August  26,  1834,  and  belongs  to  one  of  the  earliest  and 
best  known  pioneer  families  of  that  part  of  the  county.  Three  children 
ha\e  blessed  the  union  of  Mr.  and  INlrs.  Plummer,  the  oldest  being  Arthur, 


666  weik's  history  of 

who  lives  near  Putnaniville,  in  U'arren  township,  and  who  for  four  years 
served  the  county  as  official  surveyor. 

Laura  Ethel,  the  second  in  order  of  birth,  taught  for  a  number  of 
years  in  the  public  schools  and  achieved  marked  distinction  in  that  profes- 
sion. She  began  her  educational  work  before  becoming  the  wife  of  Prof. 
John  R.  Starr,  of  \Vinaniac,  and  also  spent  a  part  of  her  married  life  in 
the  school  room,  her  husband  being  principal  of  the  commercial  college  at 
Marshalltown,  Iowa.  Mrs.  Starr  was  a  woman  of  fine  mind  and  her  la- 
menteil  death,  four  years  after  her  marriage,  terminated  what  promised 
to  be  an  unusually  brilliant  career. 

Bessie  Lee,  the  youngest  of  the  subject's  family,  married  Jack  Huffman 
and  lives  in  Washington  township,  a  sketch  of  her  husband  appearing  on 
another  page  of  this  work. 

Early  in  life  ^Mr.  Plummer  resolved  to  master  the  vocation  to  which  his 
energies  have  been  directed  and  that  he  has  done  so  is  apparent  to  those 
at  all  familiar  with  his  work.  He  easily  stands  in  the  front  rank  among  the 
builders  of  his  part  of  Indiana,  and  since  engaging  in  his  life  work  he  has 
instructed  (|uite  a  number  of  young  men  in  carpentry,  among  whom  Rufus 
E.  Ozment  and  Ernest  Matthews  are  perhaps  the  best  known  and  most  pro- 
ficient. Mr.  Plummer  has  a  pleasant  home  and  is  well  situated  as  far  as 
material  wealth  is  concerned,  being  in  comfortable  circumstances  with  sufB- 
cient  means  to  insure  his  future  against  the  proverbial  "rainy  day"'  which 
overtakes  so  many  men  in  their  old  age.  He  has  been  a  life-long  Democrat 
in  politics  and  with  his  wife  belongs  to  the  Christian  church,  the  house  in 
which  the  congregation  worships  having  been  erected  some  years  ago. 


JOHN  H.  MEEK. 


The  record  of  the  gentleman  whose  name  forms  the  caption  to  this 
biographical  review  is  that  of  a  man  who  has  worked  his  way  from  modest 
beginnings  to  a  place  of  intluence  and  comparative  independence,  his  life 
having  been  one  of  unceasing  industry  and  perseverance,  and  the 
notably  svstematic  and  honorable  methods  he  has  employed  have  won  him 
the  unbounded  contidence  and  regard  of  those  with  whom  he  has  come  in 
contact. 

John  H.  Meek  was  bom  in  the  central  part  of  the  state  of  Missouri  in 
i8t6,  and  is  the  son  of  Abraham  and  Sarah  Ann  (  Rakes)  Meek.     Abraham 


PUTNAM    COUNTY,    INDIANA.  66/ 

^leek  was  born  Septenilier  i,  1831,  in  Morgan  county,  Indiana,  and  was  the 
son  of  James  and  Samyra  (  Staley)  ]\Ieek.  His  fatlier  died  when  he  was  but 
four  years  of  age.  and  he  inherited  a  tract  of  land  in  Mill  Creek  township. 
Putnam  county.  On  attaining  mature  years  he  married  and  then  lived  on 
this  land  until  i86j.  He  then  sold  the  fann  and  moved  to  near  Bedford. 
Iowa,  where  he  ran  a  stage  line  and  operated  a  hotel.  Subsequently  they 
moved  to  Missouri,  but  a  year  later  they  returned  to  Indiana.  In  1862  they 
again  went  to  Iowa,  where  they  remained  a  year  or  two.  and  then  returned 
to  Putnam  county,  locating  in  Jefferson  township,  where  they  spent  the  re- 
mainder of  their  Hves.  the  mother  dying  on  March  12,  1906,  and  the  father 
on  June  3.  1909.  He  was  a  man  of  prominence  in  the  community  and  served 
as  justice  of  the  peace.  Abraham  Meek  was  married  in  1848  to  Sarah  Ann 
Rakes,  a  daughter  of  John  and  Marjorie  Rakes.  She  was  born  in  Kentucky 
and  in  her  young  girlhood  was  brought  to  Indiana  by  her  parents,  who 
bought  land  in  section  9,  Jefferson  township.  Putnam  county.  At  that  time 
the  young  lady  planted  a  cottonwood  tree,  which  is  still  standing  and  which 
is  now  sixteen  feet  in  circumference.  Only  about  four  acres  of  land  had 
been  cleared  on  this  land,  but  the  father  went  to  work  with  a  will  and 
eventually  developed  a  fine  farm,  and  there  he  and  his  wife  spent  their  re- 
maining years.  The  father  was  a  radical  Republican  in  political  faith  and 
stood  high  in  the  esteem  of  those  who  knew  him. 

John  H.  ^leek  was  reared  on  a  farm  and  accompanied  his  parents 
in  their  several  removals,  finally  locating  in  Putnam  county,  where  he  has 
spent  his  active  years.  He  secured  a  fair  education  in  the  common  schools 
and  has  always  followed  the  pursuit  of  agriculture.  At  the  time  of  his 
marriage,  in  1878.  he  and  his  wife  established  their  home  where  he  now 
lives,  his  real  estate  then  amounting  to  twenty-seven  and  a  half  acres,  on 
which  was  a  small  pioneer  home.  This  humble  building  was  subsequently 
remodeled  into  a  verv  comfortable  home,  which  served  the  fann'ly  as  a  resi- 
dence until  Februarv  i.  1906.  when  it  was  totally  destroyed  by  fire,  causing 
a  serious  loss.  However,  on  the  14th  of  the  following  May  the  family 
moved  into  a  new  home  which  had  been  erected  on  the  ashes  of  the  old.  the 
present  home  being  very  comfortable  and  attractive.  Mr.  Meek's  present 
farm  comprises  two  hundred  acres  of  splendid,  fertile  land,  practically  all  of 
which  is  under  cultivation  and  well  improved  in  every  respect.  All  Mr.  Meek 
has  is  the  result  of  his  own  efforts  and  he  is  eminently  deserving  of  the 
success  which  has  crowned  his  efforts.  Besides  a  general  line  of  farming,  he 
has  run  a  threshing  machine,  been  a  dealer  in  and  shipper  of  livestock,  and 
owned  a  sawmill,  and  in  each  of  these  lines  he  was  successful.     He  possesses 


668  weik's  history  of 

good  business  ability  and  sound  judginent  and  is  practical  and  methodical  in 
all  his  operations. 

On  October  13,  1878.  Mr.  Meek  married  Alice  Lewis,  a  daughter  of 
Gaskin  and  Margaret  (Brinton)  Lewis.  She  was  born  on  the  farm  which 
she  now  lives,  her  father  having  been  a  native  of  Ohio  and  her  mother  of 
Kentucky.  Her  paternal  grandfather  was  James  Lewis,  an  early  pioneer  of 
this  section  of  the  state,  while  her  maternal  grandparents  were  Bryant  and 
Mary  (Tharp)  Brinton,  who  came  here  in  an  early  day  and  entered  a  quarter 
section  of  land  lying  in  sections  9  and  10,  Jefferson  township.  Gaskin  Lewis 
followed  farming,  and  was  also  a  successful  school  teacher,  having  also 
served  as  assessor  of  Jefferson  township.  He  died  in  1872.  being  survived 
a  number  of  years  by  his  widow,  whose  death  occurred  in  June,  1897.  To 
;Mr.  and  ]vlrs.  Meek  have  been  born  five  children,  namely:  Ora  Everett,  who 
lives  on  the  home  place,  married  Marie  Farmer;  Elsie  Jane  is  the  wife  of 
Harrison  Hunter,  of  Marion  township,  and  they  have  two  children,  Helen 
Irene  and  Harold  Harrison ;  Margaret  Ann,  Emma  Opal  and  Wilfred  Claude. 
Politically  Mr.  Meek  is  a  stanch  Republican  and  has  taken  an  active 
interest. in  the  success  of  the  party  in  local  elections,  having  served  for  twelve 
years  as  chairman  of  the  township  committee.  He  has  also  served  as  town- 
ship assessor.  Fraternally  he  is  a  Freemason,  belonging  to  the  blue  lodge 
at  Cloverdale.  Mr.  Meek  has  taken  an  intelligent  interest  in  the  welfare  of 
the  community  and  gives  his  unreserved  support  to  every  movement  that 
promises  to  benefit  the  community  along  moral,  educational  or  material  lines. 
Genial  and  courteous  in  his  relations  with  his  fellow  men.  he  enjoys  a  large 
circle  of  warm  friends,  who  esteem  him  for  his  personal  worth. 


\VILLL\M  THOMAS. 

William  and  Margaret  Thomas,  who  came  from  Kentuck}-  in  1834, 
settled  on  land  just  north  of  Greencastle  and  were  pioneers  of  that  part  of 
the  county.  William  died  in  the  fall  of  1839  and  in  the  following  year  his 
widow,  with  her  two  sons.  George  and  Lewis,  settled  in  Madison  township. 
She  lived  with  George  until  her  death,  in  March.  1863,  aged  sixty-four 
years.  George  has  been  living  in  Parke  county  for  thirty  years,  and  Lewis, 
who  also  removed  to  Parke  county,  died  there  in  1907.  There  were  two 
other  sons.  William  and  Isaac,  who  both  died  in  Parke  county.  Joel  Thomas, 
one  of  the  children,  was  born  in  Mason  county.  Kentucky,  and  was  brought 


PUTNAM    COUNTY,    INDIANA.  009 

to  Indiana  by  his  parents  in  .1834,  when  fourteen  years  old.  He  married 
Mary,  the  daughter  of  Aaron  and  Martha  Stites,  of  Clinton  township.  She 
was  born  in  Ohio,  but  came  to  Indiana  with  her  parents  when  a  young  girl. 
Joel,  after  marriage,  rented  a  fami  for  a  number  of  years  and  in  1854  bought 
one  hundred  fourteen  acres  in  the  wild  wood.  By  hard  work  he  was 
able  to  pav  for  it.  though  the  job  of  clearing  it  was  a  long  and  difficult  one. 
He  built  a  double  log  house  which  at  that  time  was  regarded  as  an  unusually 
fine  residence.  He  spent  the  rest  of  his  life  on  this  fami.  placing  eighty  acres 
in  cultivation.  On  November  8,  1884.  he  was  instantly  killed  by  a  Big  Four 
engine  while  walking  on  the  railroad  track  in  company  with  his  brother  and 
others,  returning  from  a  ratification  at  Carbon,  being  in  the  sixty-fourth 
year  of  his  age.  His  first  wife  died  August  4,  1879,  after  which  he  married 
Elizabeth  Hart,  a  widow  who  died  about  four  weeks  before  her  husband 
was  killed.  His  children,  still  living  in  1910.  consisted  of  eight  sons  and 
one  daughter,  as  follows:  William,  of  this  review;  Hiram,  of  Clinton 
township;  John,  of  Madison  township;  James,  of  Parke  county;  Joel,  of 
Washington  township;  Aaron,  of  Madison  township;  Levi,  of  Vigo  county; 
Isaac  Clarion,  a  resident  of  the  state  of  Washington;  Fanny,  wife  of  Frank 
Burcham.  of  Hickman,  Nebraska. 

William  Thomas,  eldest  of  the  family,  was  born  in  Putnam  county, 
Indiana.  June  17,  1844.  He  remained  at  home  until  over  eighteen  years 
old.  when  he  decided  to  face  the  world  on  his  own  account.  Buying  four 
horses,  he  was  engaged  for  four  years  in  hauling  saw-logs  to  mill  and  thresh- 
ing during  the  other  seasons  of  the  year.  In  about  four  years  he  had  se- 
cured eightv  acres  of  land,  which  he  later  sold  at  an  advance  and  continued 
to  trade  about  until  1873.  when  he  got  possession  of  his  present  farm.  It 
was  the  homestead  of  Joseph  Priest,  eight  miles  west  of  Greencastle.  It  was 
an  improved  place  and  Mr.  Thomas  paid  four  thousand  two  hundred  and 
fifty  dollars  for  the  one  hundred  twenty  acres.  He  has  since  added  until 
his  holdings  in  the  home  farm  amount  to  two  hundred  twenty  acres.  He 
alsiT  owns  one  hundred  acres  in  Parke  county  and  his  land  is  largely  de- 
voted to  raising  and  feeding  hogs  and  cattle.  He  sAll  continues  also  to 
operate  his  threshing  outfit.  He  has  been  with  the  machine  every  season 
since  he  was  eleven  years  old.  making  fifty-four  consecutive  threshing  sea- 
sons. Of  late  years  he  has  added  clover  hullers.  corn  buskers  and  other 
modern  improvements.  Mr.  Thomas  is  well  known  as  a  thresher  over  a 
wide  scope  of  territory.  In  1899  he  won  a  handsome  medal  as  a  prize  offered 
bv  the  Milwaukee  Thresherman  to  the  thresherman  who  had  been  in  the 
service  longest  in  the  United  States.     For  twenty -eight  seasons  he  threshed 


670  weik's  history  of 

for  any  one  of  a  set  of  customers  from  Raccoon  creek,  also  for  a  period  of 
twentv-six  years  for  a  bunch  of  men  in  Clay  county.  He  has  used  more 
machines  than  any  thresherman  in  the  United  States,  being  now  on  his 
twelfth  machine.  The  first  machine  he  was  with  was  a  "groundhog,"  four- 
horse-power  chaff-piler.  He  was  among  the  first  to  use  steam  power.  Mr. 
Thomas  served  seven  years  as  township  trustee,  though  he  did  not  care  for 
or  seek  office. 

On  January  i,  1S63,  Mr.  Thomas  married  Elizabeth,  daughter  of 
George  and  Eliza  (Gregg)  Ewing,  of  Madison  township.  They  came  from 
Fleming  county,  Kentucky,  and  settled  in  AEontgomery  county,  Indiana, 
where  Mrs.  Thomas  was  born  October  5,  1842.  Her  parents  brought  her 
to  Putnam  county  when  she  was  five  years  old  and  settled  in  Madison  town- 
ship when  she  was  eleven  years  old.  Her  father  died  at  the  age  of  forty- 
two.  Her  mother  was  left  with  five  children,  the  eldest  of  whom,  Elizabeth, 
was  only  thirteen  years  old.  The  widow  kept  the  family  together  until  her 
marriage  with  Isaac  Thomas,  a  brother  of  Joel.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Thomas  have 
had  a  large  family,  whose  names  are  as  follows :  Henry,  a  traveling  sales- 
man, resident  of  Indianapolis;  Oscar,  superintendent  of  the  Putnam  county 
schools;  J.  Elmer,  an  attorney  at  Lawton,  Oklahoma;  Charles  B.,  under- 
taker at  Rosedale,  Parke  county,  Indiana;  Fred,  a  buggy  dealer,  of  Green- 
castle;  Cleveland,  a  teacher  in  Putnam  coimty;  all  but  Henry  and  Charles 
have  been  school  teachers;  Dora,  widow  of  Charles  Reeves,  living  at  home, 
is  a^ trained  nurse.  Three  of  the  daughters  reached  maturity.  Eliza  mar- 
ried Charles  J.  Priest  and  died  at  the  age  of  eighteen  years ;  Leona,  a  teacher, 
married  Edward  Wiley  and  died  at  twenty-three  years  of  age;  Bertha,  a 
teacher,  died  at  the  age  of  twenty-three. 


JOSEPH  D.  TORR. 


Few  families  have  left  a  more  distinct  impression  upon  Putnam  county 
than  that  of  the  Torrs,  who  have  been  identified  with  this  section  for  over 
eighty-two  years.  The  first  arrival  reached  here  in  1828  when  James  moved 
his  brother  William  to  Indiana  with  a  six-horse  team.  James  came  himself 
in  1842  and  located  near  his  brother.  He  at  once  secured  the  farm  in  Mad- 
ison township  which  has  figured  so  conspicuously  in  the  family  affairs  and 
been  regarded  as  one  of  the  county's  landmarks.  He  first  purchased  two 
hundred   acres,    whose   only   improvement   was   a   log   cabin.      To    this   he 


PUTNAM    COLXTV.    INDIANA.  67I 

shortly  afterward  added  two  hundred  acres  more,  and  to  the  clearing,  cul- 
tivating and  improving  of  this  fine  tract  he  devoted  the  rest  of  his  life.  The 
present  house  was  built  in  1854  and  at  the  time  was  regarded  as  one  of  the 
finest  countr}-  residences  in  the  county.  It  was  constructed  almost  entirely 
of  a  fine  yellow  poplar.  This  splendid  tree,  which  grew  nearby,  was  one 
hundred  feet  to  the  first  limb,  two  hundred  feet  in  height  and  seven  feet 
in  diameter.  Sawed  with  an  old  fashioned  upright  saw,  it  made  the  lumber 
for  the  house,  including  the  frame,  rafters  and  most  of  the  interior  work,  as 
well  as  the  shingles.  The  finishing  was  done  in  black  walnut  and  Mr.  Torr 
burned  his  own  lime  in  log  heaps.  He  devoted  his  place  to  the  raising  of 
stock,  grain  and  fruit,  fed  many  cattle  and  other  kinds  of  stock,  practically 
the  entire  farm  being  kept  under  cultivation  all  the  time.  He  was  friendly 
to  the  cause  of  religion  and  his  house  and  bam  were  open  at  all  times  for 
services  bv  the  itinerant  ministers.  He  was  a  great  friend  of  Asbury  Uni- 
versity, now  DePauw,  and  provided  one  of  the  scholarships.  In  1874  Mr. 
Torr  developed  a  stone  quarry  on  his  land,  by  the  line  of  the  Big  Four  rail- 
road, which  then  ran  through  his  place.  He  built  a  lime  kiln  and  conducted 
this  industry  for  six  years,  the  product  being  of  sui^erior  quality.  Some 
ten  or  fifteen  men  were  employed  at  the  start  and  this  force  was  increased 
to  thirty-five  or  fifty.  He  had  a  passion  for  fine  orchards  and  set  several 
acres  in  fruit  trees.  He  was  also  a  lover  of  flowers  and  took  great  pride  in 
his  lawn,  which  was  laid  out  with  beautiful  taste  and  ornamented  with 
shrubs,  evergreens  and  various  kinds  of  flowers.  He  was  a  self-educated 
man.  as  three  months  would  cover  all  the  schooling  he  received.  His  death 
occurred  Tune  30,  1S80,  as  the  result  of  an  untoward  accident.  While  re- 
turning home  from  Greencastle,  his  buggy  was  struck  by  a  train  at  the  rail- 
road crossing,  his  injuries  resulting  fatally  a  few  hours  later.  His  wife 
died  December  4,  1893,  after  becoming  the  mother  of  fourteen  children. 
Twelve  of  these,  six  sons  and  six  daughters,  reached  maturity  and  nine  are 
living  in  1910.  }vlrs.  Torr  was  an  accomplished  woman  and  learned  German 
in  order  that  she  might  talk  it  to  her  children. 

Joseph  D.  T(3rr,  one  of  the  sons,  was  born  September  14,  1S56,  and  was 
the  first  of  the  children  to  see  the  light  of  day  in  his  father's  new  house.  He 
spent  four  years  in  the  classical  course  at  DePauw  University.  After  leaving 
the  university  he  engaged  as  a  coal  dealer  at  Greencastle  and  carried  on  farm- 
ing operations  with  his  father.  After  the  latter's  death  he  formd  a  partner- 
ship with  his  elder  brother,  William  M.,  to  conduct  the  stone  quarries  and 
lime  kiln.  Joseph  rented  the  home  farm  of  his  mother  during  her  lifetime, 
though  he  continued  to  live  at  Greencastle.     He  installed  a  crushing  plant, 


6^2  WEIK  S    HISTORY    OF 

and  in  company  with  his  brother  contracted  to  build  bridges  for  the  county, 
furnish  material  for  buildings  and  finally  took  charge  of  railroad  bridge 
work.  The  quarries  closed  when  the  railroad  changed  its  route  and  left 
them  bv  the  wayside.  The  Torr  Company  had  extensive  contracts  for  all 
stone  work  on  the  Big  Four  railroad,  and  later  they  secured  contracts  for  two 
years  with  the  Vandalia  railroad,  since  then  shipping  crushed  stone  to  the 
extent  of  ten  carloads  daily.  Joseph  Torr  finally  bought  the  old  home  farm, 
and  devotes  it  principally  to  stock  feeding,  several  cars  of  stock  being  pre- 
pared for  market  on  the  place  every  year.  On  March  4,  1885,  Mr.  Torr  mar- 
ried Josephine  Cavins,  of  Bloomfield,  Greene  county,  Indiana.  Her  father. 
Col.  Aden  G.  Cavins,  commanded  the  Ninety-seventh  Regiment  Indiana 
Volunteer  Infantry  during  the  Civil  war.  She  is  a  graduate  of  DePauw 
University,  class  of  1884.  and  was  for  a  time  one  of  the  teachers.  Mr.  and 
Mrs.  Torr  have  had  eight  children :  Aden  Cavins.  Maynard  Deem,  Harold 
Livingston.  Lucile,  Helen,  Josephine;  Eleanor  Matilda  having  died  in  child- 
hood, and  Margaret.  Mr.  Torr  is  a  member  of  the  Delta  Kappa  Epsilon 
fraternity.  The  original  Torr' residence,  or  one  that  stood  near  the  present 
homestead,  served  as  the  first  court  house  in  the  county,  at  least  the  first 
court  was  held  there. 


-:        DORSEY  LEAKIN  ANDERSON.      ' ' 

In  1664  Edward  Dorsey,  of  Essex.  England,  settled  in  :\Iar}iand  on 
land  granted  by  the  king. 

Col.  Edward  Dorsey.  a  son.  was  commissioned  as  an  officer  of  Colonial 
troops,  was  a  member  of  the  House  of  Burgesses,  was  keeper  of  the  great 
seal  and  trustee  of  the  port  town  of  Annapolis,  besides  holding  various  other 
positions  of  public  trust  from  1682  to  1704. 

Rachel  Dorsey.  a  descendant  of  Edward  Dorsey.  was  married  to 
Cliarles  Van  Dyke  Anderson,  of  Flemingsburg.  Kentucky.  Their  son,  Eli 
D.  Anderson,  moved  his  family  from  Kentucky  to  Greencastle  in  1862 
and  engaged  in  the  hardware  business  under  the  firm  name  of  Dorsey  & 
Anderson.  Success  followed  this  undertaking  and  ^Nlr.  Anderson  became  a 
man  of  considerable  influence  in  local  affairs.  He  was  a  member  of  the 
Greencastle  school  board  when  the  high  school  luiiiding  on  Elm  street  was 
erected  (1877).  which,  aside  from  the  east  college  Iniilding  and  the  court 
house,  was  then  the  most  beautiful  piece  of  architecture  in  the  city. 


DORSEY  L.   ANDERSON 


PUTNAM    COUNTY,    INDIANA.  6/3 

Among-  Mr.  Anderson's  carehilly  cherished  papers  were  found,  after 
his  .leath,  letters  from  James  A.  Garfield.  WiHiam  H.  Seward.  Zachar>-  Tay- 
lor and  several  from  Benjamin  Harrison,  all  of  which  testify  to  the  personal 
regard  and  high  estimation  entertained  for'  Mr.  Anderson  bv  the  writers. 
Dorsey  Leakin  Anderson,  son  of  Eli  D.  and  Eliza  A.  f  Still  well)  Ander- 
son, the  youngest  of  a  family  of  eleven  children,  was  born  October  20,  1863, 
at  the  old  Anderson  home  on  Elm  street.  He  graduated  from  the  high  school 
and  attended  DePauw  University  until  his  sophomore  year.  When  but 
eighteen  years  of  age  he  left  college  to  take  a  position  with  Cole  Brothers" 
lightning  rod  factory  and  was  in  full  charge  of  the  factory  at  the  time  of  his 
death,  which  occurred  September  g,  1907. 

Air.  Anderson  was  keenly  alive  at  all  times  to  the  welfare  of  the  public 
and  there  was  no  one  more  loyal  to  the  interests  of  his  native  city.  For 
nearly  fourteen  years  he  had  been  treasurer  of  the  city  school  board  and  it 
was  one  of  his  rigid  principles  that  all  the  money  earned  by  public  money 
should  revert  to  the  public  and  in  that  time  he  turned  many  hundreds  of 
dollars  into  the  treasury  thereof.  As  a  member  of  the  board  and  also  through 
love  for  his  own  city  he  originated  and  became  active  in  the  movement  to 
secure  a  Carnegie  Library'  and  it  was  principally  to  his  perseverance  and 
energy  that  the  present  magnificent  home  of  the  library  was  built  and  it 
will  be  a  lasting  monument  to  his  memorj-  along  with  that  of  its  donor.  One 
of  his  mi«t  clierished  plans  was  to  see  a  handsome  high  school  building 
erected  on  the  "Xutt''  and  adjoining  property,  for  the  purchase  of  which 
he  had  long  worked  and  had  but  finally  consummated. 

He  was  active  in  his  political,  religious  and  social  relations  at  all  times. 
He  was  a  member  of  the  Christian  church,  sen-ed  several  times  as  treasurer 
and  at  the  time  of  his  death  was  chairman  of  the  parsonage  building  com- 
mittee. In  his  lodge  affiliations  he  was  a  Mason,  a  Knight  Templar.  Knight 
of  Pythias,  reaching  the  title  of  major  in  its  Uniform  Rank,  and  was  also  a 
member  of  the  Modern  Woodmen  order. 

On  October  i,  1890,  Mr.  Anderson  was  married  at  Oswego,  Xew  York, 
to  Xellie  E..  daughter  of  Capt.  W.  S.  Turner  and  Mary  fMead)  Turner.' 
Mrs.  Anderson  graduated  from  the  Oswego  State  Xormal  School  and  taught 
in  DePauw  University,  also  in  the  State  X'ormal  School  at  Winona.  Minne- 
sota. The  only  son  of  .Mr.  and  Mrs.  .Anderson.  Dorsey  Mead,  born  June 
13.  1894,  is  a  student  in  the  Greencastle  high  school. 

Tlie  following  is  included  in  the  minutes  of  the  board  of  education  under 
date  of  September  10.  1907: 
(43) 


674 


WEIK  S    HISTORY    OF 


"Dorsey  L.  Anderson,  October  20,  1863— September  9,  1907. 

"Our  treasurer,  our  co-worker,  has  passed  from  labor  to  reward. 
"In  an  old  record  under  date  of  July  i,  1893.  'S  to  be  found  a  minute 
sioiied  'D.  L.  Anderson,  Act.  Pres."  It  is  subscribed  to  the  minutes  contain- 
ing a  memorial  in  honor  of  the  Hon.  Marshall  A.  Mo<3re.  who  signed  the 
preceding  minutes  of  July  19th.  Like  his  predecessor.  Mr.  Anderson  at- 
tended the  meeting  of  the  board  preceding  the  one  that  records  his  memorial. 
It  was  the  evening  of  August  23rd.  07.  He  was  a  sick  man  then,  but  work 
called  him  and  his  habit  was  to  answer.  Every  school  board  for  fourteen 
years  has  known  Dorsey  L.  Anderson  as  a  worker.  He  was  each  year  loaded 
with  the  onerous  duties  of  the  school  city's  treasurer.  He  has  introduced  a 
svstem  of  bookkeeping  that  is  a  model  for  simplicity  and  comprehensiveness. 
"D.  L.  Anderson  was  thoroughly  indoctrinated  in  the  gospel  of  work. 
He  was  a  good  planner ;  but  a  good  plan  was  unsatisfactory  to  him ;  his  joy 
was  complete  when  working  the  plan  out.  The  impractical  plan,  no  matter 
how  seemingly  reasonable,  must  be  abandoned.  He  was  ver>-  generally 
right ;  but  if  he  sometimes  saw  more  clearly  the  material  side  than  the  culture 
phase  of  school  needs,  it  was  because  he  was  pre-eminently  a  business  man. 
It  was  his  wish  to  act  for  the  best,  and  if  he  was  sometimes  mistaken  in  the 
worth  of  an  end  he  sought  to  attain,  it  was  because  of  the  warmth  of  his  im- 
pulses;  nor  was  he  ever  known  to  continue  such  a  proposition  after  having 
time  to  deliberate. 

"Possessing  a  lightning-like  business  perception  and  great  promptness 
in  acting,  he  always  carried  more  than  his  full  share  of  every  burden.  If  no 
one  else  was  against  the  load,  he  pushed  it  along  alone.  He  won  many  vic- 
tories, but  if  he  had  any  tendency  to  self-congratulation  over  them,  it  was  not 
discovered ;  he  had  not  time  between  battles  to  display  it.  He  coveted  friends 
and  he  had  them,  most  among  those  who  knew  him  best,  and  if  he  sometimes 
trampled  the  grain  in  someone's  pet  field,  it  was  because  he  saw  the  object 
of  attack  onlv  and  was  going  straight  toward  it.  He  was  ambitious.  Ambi- 
tion is  a  most  valuable  asset.  But  he  was  public-spirited  and  liberally  divided 
that  asset  with  his  city.  Owing  to  his  official  capacity  the  city's  educational 
interest  has  received  its  full  sharg.  This  is  to  be  seen  in  school  buildings 
sanitarv  in  appointment,  aesthetic  in  decoration,  modern  in  equipment;  in 
the  public  librarv;  in  increased  playgrounds  for  children;  ground  acquired 
for  the  needed  new  high  school  building;  in  all  these  he  has  borne  his  full 
share  and  as  much  more  as  he  could  get  his  shoulder  under. 

"The  profound  svmpathy  of  each  member  of  this  board  goes  out  in  its 


PUTNAM    COUXTV,    IN'DIAXA.  675 

fullness  to  the  wife  bereaved  of  a  stalwart  companion,  a  ter.der  husband,  and 
to  the  son.  himself  dangerously  ill  and  unconscious  of  his  father's  fall,  for 
he  will  need  the  father's  gxiiding  hand  and  will  miss  the  father's  solicitous 
care  for  him." 


JAMES  EDG.\R  HOUCK. 

Xot  alone  are  those  worth}-  of  biographic  honors  who  have  moved 
along  the  loftier  planes  of  action,  but  to  an  equal  extent  are  those  deserving 
wh(3  are  of  the  rank  and  file  of  the  world's  workers,  for  they  are  not  less 
the  conservators  of  public  prosperity  and  material  advancement.  In  these 
pages  will  be  found  mention  of  worthy  citizens  of  all  vocations,  and  at  this 
juncture  we  are  pennitted  to  oflfer  a  resume  of  the  career  of  one  of  the  sub- 
stantial and  highly  esteemed  representatives  of  the  agricultural  interests  of 
Putnam  county,  of  which  he  is  the  popular  commissioner,  serving  his  con- 
stituents in  a  manner  that  elicits  their  hearty  praise,  and  where  he  and  his 
family  are  well  known,  the  Iloucks  having  been  prominent  in  this  locality 
for  several  generations. 

^Ir.  Houck  was  born  September  5.  1855.  For  a  full  history  of  his 
parents  and  other  members  of  the  family  the  reader  is  directed  to  the  sketch 
of  David  Houck.  appearing  on  another  page  of  this  work.  He  spent  his 
boyhood  on  the  home  farm  in  Madison  township  and  on  the  day  he  was 
twelve  years  of  age  his  parents  brought  him  to  the  farm  where  he  now  lives. 
He  received  a  verv  serviceable  education  in  the  local  schools  and  decided  early 
in  life  to  devote  his  attention  to  farming,  in  which  line  he  has  been  ver}- 
successful.  From  1876  to  1892  he  was  associated  with  his  brother.  John,  a 
sketch  of  whom  is  to  be  found  elsewhere  in  this  book:  in  fact,  they  are  still 
in  partnership  in  the  stock  business,  although  they  divided  their  real  es- 
tate in  190J.  James  E.  taking  the  old  home  place,  the  present  home  having 
been  l;uilt  by  John  Gilmore  about  1861.  but  it  has  been  thoroughly  over- 
hauled and  modernized.  One  of  the  bams  was  built  about  1845  by  Mr.  Gil- 
more,  the  other  was  built  by  the  present  owner  of  the  place,  the  first  barn 
being  of  hewn  timbers.  In  1892  the  father,  David  Houck.  left  the  farm. 
This  place  is  near  Hamrick  Station,  six  miles  from  Greencastle,  on  the  Van- 
dalia  railroad.  O.  X.  Houck.  son  of  David,  also  owns  a  fine  farm  near 
there. 

James  E.  Houck  was  married  December  21.  1882.  to  Flora  Landes, 
daughter  of  Christian  Landes.  A  full  sketch  of  this  family  is  to  be  found 


676 


WEIK  S    HISTORY    OF 


elsewhere  in  this  volume.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  James  E.  Houck  are  the  parents  of 
one  son,  David  W.,  now  sixteen  years  old,  and  a  student  in  the  Greencastle 
high  school. 

Mr.  Houck  has  a  fine  farm,  which  he  has  managed  in  such  a  manner 
as  to  stamp  him  as  a  man  fully  abreast  of  the  times  in  all  agricultural  matters 
and  as  a  stock  man  he  ranks  second  to  none  in  his  township. 

Although  he  has  always  been  a  very  busy  man,  Mr.  Houck  has  found 
time  to  take  an  interest  in  county  affairs,  and  in  November,  1908,  he  was 
elected  county  commissioner  from  the  third  district,  having  been  selected  at 
the  primaries,  and  his  record  has  been  so  satisfactory  that  he  was  re-nom- 
inated at  the  recent  primaries.  He  is  a  man  in  whom  his  neighbors  and 
friends  have  always  reposed  the  utmost  confidence  and  respect. 


JAMES  M.  TRUSEDEL. 

The  career  of  the  widely-known  and  public-spirited  citizen  whose  name 
appears  above  affords  an  impressive  example  of  what  energy,  directed  and 
controlled  by  correct  moral  principles,  can  accomplish  in  overcoming  an  un- 
favorable environment  and  lifting  its  possessor  from  a  comparatively  humble 
origin  to  a  position  of  usefulness  and  comparative  affluence. 

James  M.  Trusedel  was  bom  in  Hamilton  county,  Illinois,  in  1857,  and 
is  a  son  of  James  H.  and  Mary  (Yates)  Trusedel.  The  former  was  born  in 
Maysville,  Kentuckv,  November  26,  1828,  and  the  latter  was  born  in  the 
state  of  Ohio  April  21,  1826.  She  died  June  21,  1S76,  when  her  son,  the 
subject  of  this  sketch,  was  about  nienteen  years  old.  In  about  1858  the 
family  moved  from  Illinois  to  Putnam  county,  Indiana,  locating  in  Jefferson 
township,  where  the  father  carried  on  fanning  operations  the  remainder  of 
his  life,  his  death  occurring  December  29,  1908.  James  H.  and  Mary 
(Yates)  Trusedel  had  six  children,  viz:  John,  born  May  19,  1850,  died 
Februarv-  5.  1879;  Jesse,  born  October  24.  1851,  lives  on  a  farm  in  Clover- 
dale  township,  married  Johanna  Dix.  no  children:  William  H,  Trusedel, 
born  December  2,  1854,  and  died  October  12,  1873:  James  M.,  of  this  re- 
view; Benjamin  Franklin,  born  December  18,  1859.  and  died  August  7, 
1893:  Maiy  Jane  Trusedel,  born  February  14,  1865,  married  Joe  Young, 
and  died  January  7,  1886. 

James  M.  Trusedel's  grandfather  was  Jesse  Trusedel,  born  in  Kentucky 
April    12,    1806.     On   February  4.    1828.   he  married   Harriet   Sparks,   born 


PUTXAM    COL'XTY.    IXDIAXA.  677 

September  14.  1805.  in  Kentucky,  and  they  had  five  children,  viz:  James 
H.  (father  of  subject),  born  Xovember  26.  1828:  Hilary  A.,  born  Xovember 
4.  1830.  and  died  September  19.  1849;  William  H.  Triisedel.  bom  February 
4.  1837,  and  lives  on  a  farm  south  of  Cloverdale.  having  married  Jane 
Piercy  and  they  had  tliree  children,  only  one  living.  Hattie,  who  lives  in 
Kentucky:  the  fourth  child  was  Jesse  Trusedel.  bom  December  4.  1839, 
married  Rebecca  Steele,  and  had  three  children,  two  living.  Andrew  and 
Mrs.  Belle  Watson:  John  'SI.,  born  June  2S.  1842.  married  Mattie  Sackett. 
and  had  two  children,  one  living.  Mrs.  Hattie  r^IcGill. 

James  ]\[.  Trusedel  was  reared  on  the  farm  until  the  age  of  sixteen  or 
seventeen  years,  when  he  started  out  on  his  own  account,  working  by  the 
month  for  others.  At  the  time  of  his  marriage,  in  1881.  he  began  farming 
for  himself  in  Jefferson  township,  but  afterwards  moved  to  Cloverdale  town- 
ship, and  still  later  to  Warren  township.  Five  years  after  his  marriage  he 
bought  a  farm  of  eighty  acres  in  the  eastern  part  of  Cloverdale  township,  in 
the  Eel  river  bottom,  but  about  three  years  later  he  moved  back  to  a  small 
fami  which  he  owned  in  Jefferson  township,  where  he  lived  during  the  fol- 
lowing se\en  or  eight  years.  In  1900.  selling  both  of  his  farms,  he  bought 
one  hundred  and  sixty  acres  of  good  land  in  \\'arren  and  JefiFerson  town- 
ships, the  place  being  bounded  on  the  south  by  the  Cloverdale  town.ship  line. 
Here  he  lived  until  about  1905.  when  he  bought  residence  property  in  Clover- 
dale. which  he  soon  afterwards  sold  and  bought  another  property  in  the 
same  town,  where  he  now  makes  his  home.  He  continues  the  operation  of 
the  farm,  which  he  has  maintained  at  a  high  standard  of  excellence  and 
which  is  a  source  of  considerable  income.  It  is  well  improved  in  every  re- 
spect and  is  considered  one  of  the  good  farms  of  the  locality. 

On  April  7.  1881.  Air.  Trusedel  was  united  in  marriage  to  Lucretia 
Wright,  the  daughter  of  William  Wright,  and  to  them  have  been  born  five 
children.  Elmer.  Ethel.  Fred.  James  and  William.  Mrs.  Tmsedel  died  on  Aug- 
ust 17.  1895.  and  on  April  7,  1897.  he  married  Arrettia  Miller,  daughter  of 
Thomas  and  Equilla  (  Stierwalt)  ]\[il!er.  She  was  born  two  and  a  half 
miles  west  of  Gosport.  Indiana,  both  of  her  parents  also  being  natives  of 
this  state,  the  father  born  near  Gosport  and  the  mother  near  Ouincy.  Owen 
county.  Mrs.  Trusedel's  paternal  grandparents  were  Bryce  and  Elizabeth 
(Glover)  Miller,  the  latter  being  a  daughter  of  William  and  Xancy  Glover. 
The  Glovers  were  originally  from  Virginia,  while  the  Millers  came  from  the 
Carolinas.  Equilla  (Stierwalt)  Miller  was  a  daughter  of  Frederick  and 
Janie  (.Asher)  Stierwalt.  At  the  age  of  fifteen  years  Frederick  Stierwalt 
ran  awav  from  his  Carolina  home  and  went  to  Kentucky,  and  about   four 


678  weik's  history  of 

years  later  came  to  Owen  county,  Indiana,  locating  about  a  mile  and  a  half 
north  of  Gosport.  He  accompanied  William  Asher  from  Kentucky  and  after 
coming  here  he  married  the  latter's  daughter  Janie.  He  entered  a  tract  of 
government  land  in  the  northwestern  part  of  Morgan  county,  east  of  Emin- 
ence, and  subsequently  entered  several  other  tracts,  at  one  time  owning  an 
entire  section  of  land  south  of  Ouinc}-,  Owen  county,  though  some  land 
\vas  sold  from  time  to  time.  Frederick  Stierwalt  was  the  father  of  ten 
children,  of  which  number  Equilla  was  the  eighth  in  order  of  birth.  To  Air. 
and  Mrs.  Trusedel  have  been  born  four  children,  namely:  Glen  M.,  Gale  T., 
Glee  O.  M.  and  Gladys  Dorthia.  Of  the  children  by  his  first  union,  Elmer 
married  Lena  McKamey,  daughter  of  John  and  Ella  McKamey,  and  they 
live  in  Jefferson  township,  being  the  parents  of  four  children,  Austin,  Velva, 
Vesta  and  Eugene,  Vesta  dying  at  the  age  of  fourteen  months ;  Ethel  is 
the  wife  of  James  Scott,  living  on  the  old  Scott  farm  in  Warren  township, 
and  they  have  two  children,  Lucile  and  Marcellus ;  Fred,  who  operates  a 
farm  in  Jefferson  township,  married  Elsie  Grissom,  and  they  have  two  chil- 
dren. Albert  and  Earl;  James  makes  his  home  with  his  brother  Fred;  Wil- 
liam died  October  28,  1904,  at  the  age  of  thirteen  years.  The  children  by 
the  second  marriage,  the  eldest  of  who  is  eleven  years  old,  are  all  at  home 
with  their  parents. 

Mr.  Trusedel  is  noted  for  his  industrious  habits  and  good  management. 
During  his  earlier  years  he  was,  by  dint  of  necessity,  compelled  to  practice 
the  most  rigid  economy  and  this  habit  of  husbanding  his  resources  was  one 
of  the  keynotes  to  his  future  success.  He  established  a  reputation  for  relia- 
bility and  sound  judgment  and  met  with  gratifying  success  in  every  line  of 
effort  to  which  he  applied  himself.  For  over  twenty  years  he  has  been  in 
the  threshing  machine  business,  covering  a  wide  field  from  Martinsville 
through  ^Morgan,  Owen,  Clay  and  Putnam  counties,  and  in  this  territory  he 
enjoys  a  large  acquaintance.  Religiously  he  and  his  wife  are  members  of  the. 
Christian  church,  to  which  they  give  an  earnest  support. 


JOHN  ERANXEMAX. 

One  of  the  leading  agriculturalists  of  Cloverdale  township  is  John 
Branneman,  who  was  born  in  Knox  county,  Ohio,  June  19,  185 1.  the  son  of 
Jacob  and  Elizabeth  ( Stillinger)  Branneman  and  the  grandson  of  Daniel 
Branneman.     The  father  came  to  Ohio  from  \'irginia  with  his  parents,  and 


PUTNAM    COLNTV.    INDIANA.  6/9 

there  he  married  Elizabeth  Stillinger.  She  was  born  in  Darmstadt.  Gennany, 
and  was  brought  to  America  by  her  parents  when  eight  years  of  age,  the 
voyage  across  the  Atlantic  requiring  sixty-three  days,  owing  to  persistent 
high  winds  against  the  old-fashioned  sailing  vessel  on  which  they  made  the 
trip.  The  Stillingers  and  Brannemans  were  of  German  blood.  Daniel  Bran- 
neman  and  wife,  being  German  born,  spoke  more  of  that  language  than  they 
did  of  English. 

In  1S54  John  Branneman  came  to  Indiana  with  his  father  and  located 
in  Jefferson  township,  but  he  soon  came  to  Cloverdale  township,  where  the 
father  bought  a  farm  three  or  four  miles  southwest  of  Cloverdale,  con- 
sisting of  one  hundred  and  twenty  acres  and  there  spent  the  rest  of  his  days, 
dying  in  1865,  and  his  wife,  mother  of  John,  of  this  review,  died  at  Clover- 
dale, in  March,  1893. 

John  Branneman  grew  up  on  the  home  farm  southwest  of  Cloverdale, 
he  being  the  fifth  child  in  a  family  of  eight  children,  named  as  follows  :  Joseph 
married  and  is  now  deceased,  one  daughter  surviving  him.  named  Almeda; 
Samuel  married  and  li\ed  in  the  eastern  part  of  Cloverdale  township,  where 
he  died,  leaving  seven  children ;  Marilla  married  Frederick  Wander  and  lives 
south  of  Cloverdale;  she  died  leaving  one  son  and  one  daughter;  Lydia  lives 
at  Boulder,  Colorado;  Emma,  the  sixth  child,  married  Henry  Sacket,  a 
soldier  in  the  Union  army  during  the  Civil  war;  he  died  in  this  county  and 
liis  widow  moved  to  Colorado  City,  Colorado;  five  children  were  born  to 
them.  William  grew  to  maturity  in  Cloverdale  township,  but  lives  at  present 
in  Indianapolis,  is  married  and  had  seven  children,  three  dead,  four  living. 
Charlie  died  when  twenty-four  years  of  age.  unmarried. 

John  Branneman  grew  to  maturity  in  Cloverdale  township  and  with  the 
rest  of  the  children,  attended  the  public  schools.  On  October  2^.  1877,  he 
married  Telitha  Davis,  daughter  of  Arabian  and  Kizzia  (Williams)  Davis. 
Mrs.  Branneman  was  born  west  of  Cloverdale  in  Cloverdale  township,  where 
slie  lived  until  her  marriage  and  where  she  was  educated.  Her  father  was 
bom  in  Xurth  Carolina  and  when  a  child  his  parents  moved  to  near  Nash- 
ville. Tennessee,  where  he  married  and  where  five  of  his  children  were  born. 
This  family  came  to  Indiana  about  1835.  living  in  Owen  county  for  a  time, 
later  coming  to  Putnam  county,  and  about  1850  bought  the  old  home  place 
where  Mrs.  Branneman  was  bom.  She  was  the  youngest  of  thirteen  chil- 
dren. There  her  parents  reared  their  children  and  spent  the  balance  of  their 
days,  owning  one  hundred  and  forty  acres  of  land.  Mr.  Davis  died  Decem- 
ber 4.  1886.  and  Mrs.  Davis  died  .\pril  i.  i8Sj. 

After  their  marriage  Mr.  and  ^Irs.  Branneman  lived  two  years  on  his 


68o  weik's  history  of 

father's  farm,  then  moved  to  the  east  part  of  Cloverdale  township  and  bought 
one  hundred  and  nineteen  acres  and  hved  there  sixteen  years.  He  got  an 
excellent  start  and  then  bought  the  fine  farm  where  he  now  resides  in  section 
4,  east  part  of  Cloverdale  township.  He  follows  diversified  farming  and  has 
been  ver\'  successful.  He  has  divided  up  his  land  among  his  children,  still 
retaining  enough  to  insure  him  a  comfortable  income,  but  is  not  now  so 
actively  engaged  in  farming  as  fomierly. 

To  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Branneman  eight  children  have  been  born,  six  of 
whom  are  li\ing  at  this  writing,  one  dying  in  infancy.  They  are  Retha  Elta, 
who  marrietl  \'erley  O.  Greenlee  and  lives  in  the  east  part  of  Cloverdale 
township,  is  the  mother  of  one  son.  Delbert;  Cora  Annis  is  living  at  home 
with  her  parents;  Hattie  Jane  married  Cass  Broadstreet  and  lived  on  the 
farm  a.djoining  that  of  her  father,  where  she  died  February  19,  1907;  her 
three  children  all  preceded  her  to  the  grave:  Oren  Reginald  married  Bonnie 
]May  Rule  and  li\'es  on  the  old  home  place  where  her  father  formerly  lived  in 
the  east  part  of  Cloverdale  township;  Flossie  married  Vetta  O.  Mann  and  lives 
one  and  one-half  miles  northeast  of  her  father's  present  home;  she  has  one 
son.  Gerna:  Ezra  died  in  infancy;  Clarence  is  at  home  with  his  parents; 
Hazel  is  also  a  member  of  the  home  circle. 

Mr.  Branneman  is  a  Democrat,  but  not  an  office  seeker;  however,  he  has 
been  on  the  advisory  board  of  his  township  for  a  period  of  eight  years,  a 
position  which  he  still  holds,  but  which  he  did  not  seek :  he  very  ably  dis- 
charges the  duties  of  the  same  and  if  he  would  consent  to  do  so  his  neighbors 
and  friends  would  be  very  glad  to  confer  upon  him  many  local  favors  in  the 
\\a\-  of  offices,  but  he  prefers  to  lead  a  quiet  home  life  and  look  after  the  in- 
terests of  his  family.  He  and  his  wife  are  both  members  of  the  Christian 
church. 


BEXTOX  C.  BURKETT. 

One  of  the  highly  honored  and  successful  farmers  of  the  past  genera- 
tion in  Putnam  county  whose  name  should  be  perpetuated  in  his  country's 
history  was  Benton  C.  Burkett.  who  was  born  in  1822  in  Russell  township, 
in  the  pioneer  days,  and  he  lived  to  see  and  take  part  in  the  great  subsequent 
development  of  this  county.  He  was  the  son  of  Abram  and  Catherine 
(Hire)  Burkett.  who  came  from  North  Carolina  very  early.  They  lived 
to  advanced  ages.     Benton  C.  Burkett  grew  up  in  much  the  same  manner  as 


PLTXAM    COUXTY,    INDIANA.  68l 

Other  children  of  first  settlers,  learning  what  hard  work  meant  when  hut  a 
small  boy,  and  being  compelled  to  forego  the  advantages  of  higher  learning. 
When  he  reached  maturity  he  married  Rebecca  Xutgrass,  daughter  of  Har- 
rison and  Xancy  (Johnson)  Xutgrass,  of  Clinton  township,  her  parents 
being  from  Kentucky.  Rebecca  was  born  in  1S30  and  she  was  four  years  of 
age  when  her  parents  settled  in  this  vicinit}'. 

Benton  C.  Burkett  first  located  in  Russell  township,  and  began  clearing 
land  and  de\"eloping  a  farm,  adding  to  his  first  holdings  until  he  owned  about 
twelve  hundred  acres  of  valuable  land  and  was  regarded  as  one  of  the  leading 
farmers  and  substantial  citizens  of  this  part  of  the  county  in  his  day  and 
generation.  All  of  his  land  was  in  Russell  township  and  was  so  managed 
as  to  yield  him  a  ver\'  satisfactory  income  from  year  to  year.  He  also  dealt 
extensively  in  livestock  and  was  successful  in  whatever  he  undertook.  He 
had  the  confidence  of  all  his  neighbors,  which  he  never  betrayed,  for  he  was 
upright  in  all  his  relations  with  his  fellow  men. 

The  death  of  this  well  remembered  and  influential  citizen  occurred  on 
August  II.  1879,  at  the  age  of  fifty-seven  years,  six  months  and  fifteen  days. 
}ilrs.  Burkett  died  on  August  2.  1894,  at  the  age  of  sixty-four  years,  three 
months  and  one  day.  They  are  buried  at  the  old  Blakesburg  cemetery.  They 
were  members  of  the  Dunkard  church  at  Ladoga,  twelve  miles  distant:  they 
also  attended  the  Little  \\'alnut  church,  about  seven  and  one-half  miles 
distant.  This  congregation  held  services  frequently  at  the  old  L'niversalist 
church  at  Blakesburg, 

To  Mr.  and  ;\[rs.  Benton  C.  Burkett  eleven  children  were  born,  all 
living  at  this  writing,  named  as  follows :  Xancy  C,  commonly  known  as 
"X'an,"  married  Joseph  A.  Thomas,  whose  sketch  appears  elsewhere;  Rudy 
H..  of  Greencastle;  Sarah  E.  married  Milt  Bowers,  of  Franklin  township; 
Rachael  ^L  married  Sanford  Bales,  of  Russell  township;  Mary  Jane  is  the 
widow  of  Henry  Crodian  and  lives  on  a  part  of  her  father's  land;  Sophia  A. 
married  Walter  Gosling,  of  Franklin  township;  F.  Marion  lives  on  a  part  of 
his  father's  estate;  Dulcina  D.  married  James  Skillman,  of  Franklin  town- 
ship; Susan  Edna  married  \\'illiam  Obenchains  and  lives  on  the  old  home- 
stead; Effie  B.  married  Charles  Shannon  and  lives  on  part  of  her  father's 
estate;  Ida  Olivia  married  Harvey  Gardner,  of  Roachdale.  They  all  live  in 
Putnam  countv,  as  do  also  all  of  the  Thomas  children. 


682  weik's  history  of 

WILL] AM  JEFFERSOX   FLORER. 

The  mission  of  a  great  soul  in  this  world  is  one  that  is  calculated  to  in- 
spire a  multitude  of  others  to  hetter  and  grander  things,  and  its  subsequent 
influence  can  not  be  measured  in  metes  anil  bounds,  for  it  affects  the  lives 
of  those  with  whom  it  comes  in  contact,  broadening  and  enriching  them  for 
all  time  to  come.  Such  thoughts  are  inspired  by  a  contemplation  of  the 
eminently  worthy  career  of  William  Jefferson  Florer.  who,  although  long 
since  a  pilgrim  to  "the  sunset  land  of  souls,"  left  such  a  record  behind  him 
as  to  influence  for  good  the  li\es  of  many  who  remember  him,  for  his  efforts 
proved  of  the  greatest  value  to  his  fellow  citizens  as  well  as  to  himself.  He 
so  shaped  his  career  along  worthy  lines  and  directed  them  along  well  defined 
channels  of  endeavor  as  to  stamp  him  as  a  man  of  distinct  force  and  indi- 
viduality, of  marked  sagacity,  of  undaunted  enterprise,  yet  a  man  who  was 
genial,  courteous  and  easily  approached;  consequently  his  career  was  such 
as  to  warrant  the  trust  and  confidence  of  the  business  world  and  his  activity 
in  industrial,  commercial  and  financial  circles  forms  no  unimportant  chapter 
in  the  history  of  the  state  honored  by  his  citizenship. 

Mr.  Florer  was  born  in  Newport,  Indiana.  February  12,  1834,  the  scion 
of  a  fine  old  pioneer  family,  noted  for  their  piety  and  hospitality,  qualities 
that  characterized  his  entire  life.  He  was  reared  to  manhood  in  Vermillion 
county,  Indiana,  where  he  attended  the  graded  schools  and  afterward  the 
seminarv'  at  Newport.  He  made  the  best  possible  use  of  every  opportunity 
and  received  a  very  serviceable  education  which  in  later  life  was  greatly 
augmented  by  home  reading  and  by  contact  with  the  world.  It  was  indeed 
interesting,  in  later  life,  to  listen  to  his  quaint  and  charmingly  told  reminis- 
cences of  the  early  days,  of  the  vast  changes  he  witnessed  and  took  part  in 
and  of  the  marked  difference  in  the  modes  and  customs  of  a  half  century, 
the  most  interesting  in  the  history  of  the  state.  He  remained  in  Vermillion 
countv  until  1S61.  then  moved  to  Coles  county.  Illinois,  where  he  lived 
until  the  early  seventies,  successfully  continuing  his  chosen  vocation — bank- 
ing. 

Believing  that  an  excellent  opportunity  existed  in  Wabasha.  Minnesota, 
to  engage  in  the  banking  business,  he  moved  to  that  place  and  established 
such  an  institution,  which  was  so  sanely  and  conseni-atively  managed  by  him 
that  it  was  well  patronized  and  won  a  reputation  for  being  one  of  the  sound- 
est and  safest  banks  in  that  country.  Mr.  Florer  soon  becoming  one  of  the 
most  influential  men  in  financial  and  other  circles  of  that  place,  being  con- 
sulted on  matters  of  financial  import  by  people  of  all  classes  and  religions. 


PUTNAM    COUNTY,    INDIANA. 


685 


He  remained  in  Wabasha  until  the  final  summons  came  to  close  his  earthly 
accounts,  on  July  21,  1881.  the  community  losing  one  of  its  most  highly 
respected  and  valued  citizens. 

Mr.  Florer  was  married  at  Newport.  Indiana,  on  July  19.  1S57.  to  IMary 
Ann  Louise  Washburn,  daughter  of  James  Elliott  and  Mary  Ann  (Cain) 
Washburn,  natives  of  Vermont  and  Massachusetts,  respectively,  each  repre- 
sentatives of  sterling  New  England  families.  :\Irs.  Florer  was  educated  in 
the  Vermillion  County  Seminary  and  developed  int(5  a  woman  of  rare  charm 
of  character  and  a  fit  companion  for  her  worthy  husband,  \\ith  whom  she 
sympathized  and  encouraged  in  his  unilertakings.  She  moved  to  Green- 
castle,  Indiana,  soon  after  his  death  in  order  to  get  the  benefit  of  the  schools 
for  her  children,  and  she  has  resided  here  continuously  since  188 J.  She  has 
long  been  a  favorite  with  a  host  of  warm  personal  friends  here  who 'delight 
in  the  genial  sunshine  of  her  declining  years  which  are  replete  with  good 
and  permeated  by  a  wholesome  atmosphere. 

To  Mr.  anil  Mrs.  William  J.  Florer  four  children  were  born,  named  as 
follows:  Clara  Collett  married  Dr.  Frank  H.  Lammers,  late  a  well  known 
physician  of  Greencastle,  now  deceased,  ]\Irs.  Lammers  still  making  her 
home  here,  a  full  sketch  of  the  Doctor  appearing  on  another  page  of  this 
work.  Dana  Washburn  is. deceased.  Warren  Washburn.  A.  B..  graduated 
from  DePauw  University  in  1890.  receiving  the  degrees  of  Master  of  Arts  and 
Doctor  of  Philosophy;  he  then  became  assistant  professor  of  German  in 
the  University  of  Michigan.  Of  him.  "Who's  Who  in  America"  has  the  fol- 
lowing sketch:  "Member  of  Modern  Languages  Association  of  America: 
Das  Konigliche  Deutsche  Seminar,  Leipzig  University;  Der  Acadamie  Neu- 
phil  Verein  of  Germany;  Delta  Tau  Delta;  Sons  of  American  Revolution; 
Free  and  Accepted  Masons;  contributor  to  'Poet  Lore'  and  educational  maga- 
zines ;  author  of  various  text  books  and  studies  in  German  literature."  Laura 
Lelia.  a  teacher  in  the  Greencastle  public  schools,  graduated  from  DePauw 
Universitv  in  1892  with  the  degree  of  Bachelor  of  Arts.  She  is  a  member  of 
the  Kappa  Kappa  Gamma  sorority. 

Mr.  Florer  was  a  [Methodist  and  a  liberal  supporter  of  the  church,  and 
Mrs.  Florer  has  also  been  a  faithful  member  of  this  denomination  since  her 
vouth.  Mr.  Florer  was  a  Republican  in  politics,  and  fraternally  he  was  a 
Mason,  having  attained  the  Royal  Arch  degree.  He  was  a  truly  good  and 
useful  man.  successful,  and  worthy  of  the  high  esteem  in  which  he  was  uni- 
versallv  held.  The  funeral  services  were  conducted  by  the  Rev.  John  W. 
Rav  and  he  was  laid  to  rest  in  beautiful  Riverview  cemetery',  as  he  desired, 
"with  stately  bluffs  standing  untiring  sentinels  and  the  mighty  Mississippi 


684  weik's  history  of 

singing  an  eternal  requiem."  The  Sabbath  following  Mr.  Florer's  demise, 
his  good  friend.  Father  Trobec.  later  Bishop  Trobec,  pronounced  a  eulog\' 
in  St.  Feli.x's  church— a  wonderful  tribute. 


CHARLES  B.  BRIDGES. 

Charles  B.  Bridges,  late  successful  farmer  of  Franklin  township,  Put- 
nam county,  clearly  demonstrated  what  an  honest,  earnest,  hardworking  man 
can  accomplish,  although  he  had  to  hew  his  own  fortune  from  the  obstacles 
that  beset  his  way,  for  he  started  life  with  no  great  aid  from  anyone.  But 
he  was  industrious  and  economical,  so  that  he  became  the  owner  of  a  fine 
farm  and  had  a  competency  so  that  he  was  able  to  enjoy  an  old  age  of  com- 
fort and  quiet.  He  was  born  March  19.  1854,  in  Russell  township,  and 
was  the  son  of  Robert  L.  and  Catherine  (Leaton)  Bridges,  the  former  a 
native  of  Montgomery  county,  Kentucky,  and  he  was  four  years  old  when 
his  parents  brought  him  to  Putnam  county,  Indiana.  He  was  the  son  of 
Charles  Bolds  Bridges,  who  was  a  native  of  Kentucky.  He  married  Rachael 
O.  Lockridge.  Thev  came  to  Putnam  county,  Indiana,  in  1835  and  remained 
here  the  rest  of  their  lives,  Mr.  Bridges  being  a  farmer  and  a  store-keeper, 
and  he  became  well  and  favorably  known  here.  Robert  L.  Bridges  was 
three  years  old  when  he  was  brought  to  Putnam  county.  Here  he  grew  to 
maturitv,  was  educated,  married  and  reared  a  family  of  three  daughters  and 
four  sons,  named  as  follows:  Charles  B.,  John  L.,  William  B.,  Clay  D., 
Marv-  Alice,  Bettie  and  Rachael.  Mary  A.  became  the  wife  of  J.  C.  Wil- 
liams;  Bettie  became  the  wife  of  H.  C.  Cooper:  Rachael  married  Grant 
Williams. 

Charles  B.  Bridges  was  the  oldest  of  the  family  and  he  began  working 
on  the  farm  and  attending  the  district  schools  during  the  winter  months, 
remaining  on  the  farm  with  his  father  until  twenty-one  years  of  age. 

Mr.  Bridges  married  Alman  J.  Hymer,  daughter  of  Jesse  P.  Hymer,  a 
highly  respected  citizen  of  this  county,  their  wedding  occurring  in  March, 
1875.  Two  children  have  been  born  to  this  union,  namely:  Laura  C,  born 
August  2T,,  1877.  died  September  13th,  following:  Xellie.  born  May  31, 
1879,  received  a  common  school  education  and  is  now  the  wife  of  Alonzo 
McGaughev,  a  furniture  dealer  and  undertaker  in  Russellville.  Indiana. 

Mr.  Bridges  was  the  owner  of  one  hundred  and  sixty  acres  of  well 
improved    and   productive   land    in    Franklin   township,    which    he    carefully 


PUTNAM    COUNTY,    INDIANA.  '  685 

tilled,  but  he  later  retired  from  active  farm  work.  His  death  occurred  on 
April  10,  1910.  He  was  very  successful  in  his  life  work  and  was  surrounded 
by  the  evidences  of  thrift  of  his  earlier  years  of  endeavor. 

Mrs.  Bridges  is  a  member  of  the  Universalist  church  at  Fincastle,  hav- 
ing been  active  in  the  good  work  many  years.  Politically  he  was  a  Demo- 
crat, but  he  never  had  an  ambition  to  be  a  party  leader  or  an  office  holder, 
preferring  to  lead  a  quiet,  unassuming,  honorable  and  straightforward  life, 
consequently  he  wi~>n  the  confidence  and  esteem  of  all  who  knew  him. 


JOHN  L.  BRIDGES. 


Among  the  representative  farmers  and  honored  citizens  of  Franklin 
township,  Putnam  county,  is  John  L.  Bridges,  who  has  found  it  to  his  best 
interests  to  remain  in  his  native  community,  and,  judging  from  the  eminent 
success  that  has  attended  his  efforts,  he  was  wise  in  doing  so.  for  he  is  the 
owner  of  one  of  the  finest  farms  in  the  northern  part  of  the  county  and  he  is 
carrying  on  the  \'arious  departments  of  his  enterprise  with  that  discretion 
and  energx'  which  always  find  their  natural  sequence  in  definite  success  if 
persisted  in.  To  such  men  as  ^[r.  Bridges  we  turn  with  particular  satis- 
faction as  oftering  in  their  life  histories  justification  for  works  of  this  char- 
acter, owing  to  the  life  of  honesty  and  sobriety  he  has  led  and  his  energetic 
nature  and  patriotic  spirit.  His  birth  occurred  here  on  August  13,  1S58,  and 
he  is  the  son  of  Robert  L.  and  Catherine  ( Leaton )  Bridges,  the  former  being 
the  son  of  Charles  B.  Bridges,  who  was  a  native  of  Kentucky  and  who  came 
to  Putnam  county,  Indiana,  about  1835,  settling  in  Russell  township,  spend- 
ing the  remainder  of  his  life  in  this  county.  He  was  a  man  of  sterling  prin- 
ciples and  a  hardy  pioneer.  His  son,  Robert  L.,  was  four  years  old  when 
the  family  moved  to  Putnam  county.  The  son  grew  to  maturity  here  and 
assisted  with  the  hard  work  of  clearing  and  developing  a  farm  in  a  new 
cinmtrv-.  Besides  farming  he  later  in  life  successfully  conducted  a  mercan- 
tile establishment  at  Fincastle,  Franklin  township,  for  a  period  of  fifteen 
years.  He  also  traded  in  stock  and  was  widely  known  and  highly  respected. 
Flis  wife,  Catherine  Leaton,  was  born  in  Putnam  county.  Indiana,  the 
daughter  of  John  Leaton,  an  early  settler  and  prominent  farmer,  who  was  a 
justice  of  the  peace  many  years.     He  died  in  August,  1904. 

To  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Robert  L.  Bridges  seven  children  were  born,  namelv  : 
Charles  B. ;  AFary  .V.  is  the  wife  of  James  C.  Williams:  John  L.,  of  this  re- 


686  weik's  history  of 

view;  William  B. ;  Clay  B. :  Elizabeth  is  the  wife  of  Clay  Cooper;  Rachael 
is  the  wife  of  Grant  Williams. 

John  L.  Bridges  was  reared  on  the  home  farm  in  Franklin  township 
and.  as  already  intimated,  has  resided  in  the  township  all  his  life.  As  soon 
as  he  was  old  enough  he  began  working  on  his  father's  farm  and  attended 
the  district  schools  during  the  winter  months;  he  also  took  one  years  work 
at  the  Danville  Normal  School,  then  gave  his  entire  attention  to  farming. 

Mr.  Bridges  was  married  on  October  6,  1881,  to  Vina  Harris,  who  was 
bom  and  reared  at  Carpentersville.  this  county,  her  birth  occurring  on 
August  12.  1863,  and  she  grew  to  maturity  there,  being  educated  in  the  dis- 
trict schools  of  her  home  town,  where  the  Harris  family  had  become  well 
known  and  influential  people.  Two  children  were  born  to  Mr.  and  Mrs. 
Bridges,  namely :  Hettie  A.,  who  died  when  fourteen  years  of  age,  and 
Chasie,  who  was  born  in  1886,  was  a  student  at  Western  College,  Oxford, 
Ohio ;  she  married  Franz  O.  Myers,  and  they  live  near  Ladoga,  Montgomery 
county.  Indiana;  two  children  have  been  born  to  them,  Howard  B.  and 
Aladona. 

Mr.  Bridges  has  been  veiy  successful  as  a  farmer  and  stockman,  because 
he  has  been  a  hard  worker,  a  good  manager  and  has  been  quick  to  seize 
opportunities  at  the  right  time.  He  is  now  the  owner  of  three  hundred  and 
twenty  acres,  all  in  Franklin  township,  which  is  under  a  high  state  of  culti- 
vation and  is  well  improved  in  every  respect  and  ranks  with  the  best  farms 
in  this  part  of  the  county.  He  started  out  as  a  farmer  with  only  eighty  acres 
of  land,  but  he  has  so  managed  his  business  as  to  reap  the  large  rewards  that 
always  attend  properly  applied  principles  of  business.  He  skillfully  rotates 
his  crops  so  as  to  get  the  best  results  and  at  the  same  time  preserve  the 
strength  of  the  soil.  He  has  an  attractively  located,  comfortable  and  nicely 
furnished  home,  excellent  barns  and  outbuildings. — in  fact,  all  that  goes  to 
make  a  complete  and  desirable  rural  home. 

Mr.  and  Mrs.  Bridges  are  members  of  the  Universalist  church  at  Fin- 
castle.  Indiana.  Politically.  Mr.  Bridges  is  a  Republican  and.  while  he  has 
been  too  busv  to  take  any  special  interest  in  politics,  he  has  always  been 
readv  to  do  his  just  share  in  promoting  the  county's  interests  in  any  way. 
He  was  elected  countv  commissioner  from  the  first  district  by  seventy-nine 
votes  when  the  countv  was  six  hundred  Democratic,  and  he  very  acceptably 
and  faithfully  served  in  that  capacity  for  a  period  of  three  years,  from  1895 
to  189S.  giving  the  utmost  satisfaction  to  all  concerned,  irrespective  of  party 
alignment.  The  fact  that  he  was  elected  to  this  office  in  the  face  of  such  over- 
whelming odds  is  certainly  evidence  enough  of  his  high  standing  in  the  com- 
munitv  and  of  the  confidence  reposed  in  him  by  his  fellow  citizens. 


PL'TNAM    COUNTY,    INDIANA.  687 

BEXJAMIX  F.  WALLS. 

Agriculture  has  been  the  true  source  of  man"s  dominion  on  eanh  e\er 
since  the  primal  existence  of  labor  and  it  has  ever  since  controlled,  for  the 
most  part,  all  the  fields  of  action  to  which  his  intelligence  and  energ\-  have 
been  devoted.  Among  this  sturdy  element  of  Putnam  county  whose  labors 
have  profited  alike  themselves  and  their  neighbors  is  Benjamin  F.  Walls. 
who  owns  a  good  farm  in  Jackson  township,  where  he  was  bom  on  March 
7.  1S70.  He  is  the  son  of  William  and  Mary  (X'orris)  Walls,  the  father 
being  a  nati\e  of  Buone  county.  Indiana ;  he  followed  farming  and  was  \'erv 
successful  in  his  life  and  he  and  his  wife  were  highly  respected. 

Benjamin  F.  Walls  was  reared  on  the  farm  which  he  began  working 
when  a  mere  lad.  the  home  place  being  situated  three-fourths  of  a  mile  from 
where  he  now  lives.  He  attended  the  district  schools  in  the  winter  months 
and  became  fairly  well  educated,  leaving  school  when  about  eighteen  years 
of  age.  and  he  has  continued  farming  ever  since,  having  first  rented  land 
when  he  began  life  for  himself.  Being  economical  and  a  hard  worker,  he 
soon  accumulated  enough  to  purchase  a  place  of  his  own.  his  present  farm 
consisting  of  ninety-six  acres  in  section  i6.  Jackson  township,  which  he  has 
carefully  managed  and  which  has  yielded  him  a  good  income.  He  has  a 
comfortable  home  and  he  devoted  considerable  time  to  stock  raising,  feeds 
and  ships  cattle  and  hogs  in  large  numbers  and  owing  to  his  intimate  knowl- 
edge of  the  stock  business  he  has  been  very  successsful  in  this  line. 

Politically  yiv.  A\'alls  is  a  Democrat  and  he  has  long  been  active  in  local 
aftairs.  He  was  elected  trustee  of  Jackson  township  in  X'ovember,  1908, 
assuming  charge  of  the  ofifice  in  January,  1909.  which  he  has  since  conducted 
in  an  able  and  conscientious  manner  and  to  the  entire  satisfaction  of  all  con- 
cerned. He  is  regarded  as  straightforward  and  honorable  in  all  his  dealings 
with  his  fellow  men  and  he  and  his  family  bear  a  good  reputation. 

Air.  Walls  was  married  in  1890  to  xAnna  E.  Dickerson,  who  was  born 
in  Montgomery  county,  Indiana,  August  26.  1868.  where  her  family  was 
well  and  favorably  known.  She  is  a  daughter  of  Floyd  and  Elizabeth  (Pen- 
nington) Dickerson,  both  natives  of  Indiana,  where  they  were  married.  He 
was  engaged  to  marry  before  the  late  war  and  carried  his  sweetheart's  picture 
with  him  when  he  was  fighting  for  the  maintenance  of  the  Union.  After 
the  war  he  married  and  settled  down  to  farming.  He  continued  through 
life  a  Democrat,  but  never  aspired  to  ofifice.  He  formerl_\-  was  a  member  of 
the  Independent  Order  of  Odd  Fellows;  later  he  withdrew  from  his  lodge 
work.     Six  children  blessed  their  union.  Emma  S.   (second  wife  of  the  sub- 


638  WEIK  S    HISTORY    OF 

ject.  whom  she  married  in  1898).  Charles,  W'ilham,  James,  Hattie  (Mrs. 
Daniel  Shackleford)  and  Anna  E.  Mrs.  Anna  Walls  died  on  June  12,  1895, 
no  chiklren  having  been  born  to  the  union,  and  in  1898  Mr.  Walls  married 
her  sister.  Emma  S. 


JOHN    BRECKEXRIDGE    BURRIS. 

John  Breckenridge  Burris  was  born  in  Putnam  county,  Indiana,  Sep- 
tember 5,  1859.  the  son  of  James  A.  and  Mary  A.  (Piercy)  Burris.  each 
representative  families,  the  father  born  in  Bourbon  county,  Kentucky,  where 
he  spent  his  boyhood  and  where  his  people  were  well  known  for  several 
o-enerations.  James  A.  Burris  received  a  fairly  good  education  in  the  com- 
mon schools  of  the  early  days  and  he  began  working  on  a  farm  wheti  a  mere 
lad.  He  devoted  his  life  to  agricultural  pursuits  with  a  reasonable  measure 
of  success,  being  a  good  manager  and  honorable  in  his  dealings  with  his 
fellow  men.  His  farm  in  Jefferson  township,  Putnam  county,  was  one  of 
the  best  tilled  in  that  locality.  He  died  some  time  ago,  his  widow  surviving, 
being  well  known  in  this  locality,  where  she  has  many  friends,  having  spent 
her  "life  in  this  county  where  she  was  born.  Four  children  were  born,  of 
whom  two  sun-ive  Mrs.  Burris  :  James  Clay,  deceased ;  William  Sims  ;  Mary 
Ellen  (deceased),  and  John  Breckenridge,  of  this  review. 

The  last  named  spent  his  boyhood  days  on  the  paternal  homestead,  where 
he  assisted  with  the  work  during  the  crop  season,  attending  the  district 
schools  during  the  winter  time,  later  graduating  from  the  high  school,  and 
Purdue  University  in  1888.  with  the  degree  of  Bachelor  of  Science,  having 
made  an  excellent  record  there  for  scholarship. 

Mr.  Burris  married  Harriet  McCoy,  on  October  25,  1899.  »  lady  of  ex- 
cellent educational  attainments,  having  graduated  from  DePauw  University 
in  the  class  of  1898.  She  is  the  daughter  of  James  H.  and  Ellen  (Utterback) 
McCoy,  both  natives  of  Putnam  county  and  representatives  of  old  families. 

;Mr.  Burris  carries  on  extensive  farming  interests  with  an  energy  and 
discretion  that  always  result  in  success,  having  made  a  very  careful  study  of 
'•intense'"  farming,  employing  as  far  as  possible  scientific  methods  in  farming 
and  stock  raising.  Some  fine  specimens  of  livestock  are  to  be  found  on  his 
place  at  all  times.  His  land  is  well  improved  in  every  respect  and  his  is  one 
of  the  attractive  and  desirable  farms  of  Putnam  county.     He  has  a  comfort- 


PUTXA.M    COUNTY,    INDIANA.  OO9 

able  residence  and  gocal  outbuildings.  He  has  added  very  extensively  to  the 
estate  left  him  by  his  father.  Although  his  residence  is  in  Cloverdale,  he 
operates  his  farm  himself.  He  is  widely  regarded  as  an  authority  on  all 
agricultural  questions,  having  devoted  his  life  to  studying  the  same.  He  is 
deeply  interested  in  institute  work  and  is  widely  known  as  a  well  informed 
and  interesting  lecturer  on  agriculture.  He  was  at  one  time  president  of  the 
Imliana  Corn  Growers'  Association,  his  work  in  the  same  resulting  in  the 
accomplishment  of  much  good  and  the  fostering  of  new  enthusiasm. 

Mr.  Burris  has  traveled  extensively,  having  made  a  trip  around  the 
world  which  greatly  broadened  his  views,  having  observed  many  things 
which  will  be  of  permanent  and  inestimable  value  to  him.  In  every  sphere 
of  endeavor  in  which  Mr.  Burris  has  taken  part,  his  unpretending  bearing  and 
integrity  have  elevated  him  in  the  contidence  of  his  fellow  men. 


JAMES   M.   OWSLEY. 

The  rec(jrd  of  the  gentleman  whose  name  introduces  this  article  con- 
tains no  exciting  chapter  of  tragic  events,  but  is  replete  with  well  defined 
purposes  which,  carried  to  successful  issue,  have  won  for  him  an  infiuential 
place  in  business  circles  and  high  personal  standing  among  his  fellow  citi- 
zens. His  life  work  has  been  one  of  unceasing  industn,-  and  perseverance, 
and  the  systematic  and  honorable  methods  he  has  ever  followed  have  resulted 
not  only  in  gaining  the  confidence  of  those  with  whom  he  has  had  dealings, 
but  also  in  the  building  up  of  a  large  industry. 

James  M.  Owsley  is  a  native  of  the  old  Blue  Grass  state,  having  been  born 
in  Cumberland  county.  Kentucky.  May  3,  1856.  the  son  of  Oscar  and 
Almira  (Aliddleton)  Owsle}',  who  were  highly  respected  and  honorable  peo- 
ple, spending  their  lives  on  a  farm  in  that  state,  rearing  their  son,  James  M., 
to  farm  work,  alternating  the  same  with  work  in  the  district  schools.  While 
yet  a  young  man  he  went  to  Missouri,  where  he  continued  farming  and  at- 
tending school  until  he  was  about  seventeen  years  of  age.  when  he  started  in 
life  for  himself,  having  gained  the  consent  of  his  parents.  Having  heard  of 
the  opportunities  existing  in  Putnam  county,  Indiana,  he  came  here,  his  total 
capital  upon  arriving  aggregating  something  o\er  one  dollar.  But  even  at 
that  early  age  he  manifested  traits  of  character  that  never  fail  to  win  in  the 
battle  of  life,  for  he  was  courageous,  was  not  afraid  of  hard  work  and  was 
not  overawed  at  seeminglv  insurmountable  obstacles.  He  soon  hired  out  as 
(44) 


690 


WEIK  S    HISTORY    OF 


a  farm  hand  at  from  eighteen  to  twenty-one  dollars  per  month,  and.  having 
faith  in  his  future  aljility  to  make  money,  he  was  not  especially  economical 
at  that  period,  spending  most  all  he  made  until  his  marriage,  which  event 
took  place  on  Fehruan,'  19.  1879.  His  choice  for  a  life  partner  was  Mary 
E.  Sutherlin,  who  was  born  in  Jackson  township,  this  county,  the  daughter 
of  a  well  known  family  there.  His  father-in-law  furnished  the  young  couple 
a  place  to  live.  Prospering,  in  a  short  time  he  purchased  the  place  and  he 
has  ever  since  been  gradually  climbing  to  the  front  until  he  has  become  of 
the  leading  agriculturists  of  Jackson  township,  owning  at  one  time  four 
hundred  and  forty  acres  of  rich  land  which  he  placed  under  an  excellent 
state  of  cultivation  and  improvement.  He  proved  to  be  a  good  manager  and 
made  few  mistakes  in  the  management  of  his  large  affairs.  Having  given 
his  son-in-law  help  in  buying  a  farm  near  his  home  he  now  owns  three  hun- 
dred and  twenty  acres.  Most  of  his  present  handsome  competence  he  has 
made  unaided  by  skillful  fanning  and  the  judicious  handling  of  stock,  having 
long  been  accustomed  to  raising  and  selling  large  numbers  from  year  to 
year  while  for  several  years  he  has  bought  and  fed  cattle  for  market.  He 
introduced  the  breed  of  Shorthorn  cattle  which  are  proving  to  be  a  great 
stride  for  this  country. 

Mrs.  Owsley  has  been  of  great  assistance  to  her  husband  in  his  every- 
day affairs  in  the  way  of  encouragement  and  sane  counsel.  She  owns  stock 
in  the  Roachdale  Bank,  also  in  the  Central  National  Bank  at  Greencastle. 
Thev  ha\e  a  pleasant  and  attractively  located  home,  well  furnished  and 
commodious,  and  the  outbuildings  on  the  place  are  all  that  could  be  desired. 
One  daughter.  Alma,  has  been  born  to  this  union,  her  birth  occurring 
on  December  24.  1884.  She  is  a  graduate  of  the  Roachdale  high  school  and 
is  the  wife  of  Allie  Miller,  of  Jackson  township,  a  member  of  a  prominent 
family  of  the  county. 

Mr.  and  Mrs.  Owsley  are  members  of  the  Christian  church,  of  which 
Mr.  Owslev  has  been  elder.  In  politics  he  is  a  Democrat,  but  has  never  taken 
much  interest  in  political  affairs,  preferring  to  devote  all  his  time  to  his 
individual  affairs:  however,  he  may  always  be  depended  upon  to  lend  his 
support  in  the  promotion  of  any  movement  looking  to  the  general  good  of 
Putnam  countv. 


AAROX  B.  STEWART. 

The  subject  of  this  sketch  has  spent  his  useful  and  unusually  active  life 
in   Putnam  county,  antl  he  has  always  had  deeply  at  heart  the  well  being 


PUTNAM    COUNTY.    INDIANA.  69I 

and  improvement  of  the  community  with  the  result  that  he  has  always  been 
held  in  high  esteem  by  all  who  knew  him,  as  were  his  ancestors.  He  was 
bom  in  the  house  where  he  now  lives  in  Jackson  township.  September  8, 
1S58.  the  son  of  Lewis  H.  and  Elizabeth  (Gillen)  Stewart,  highly  respected 
people.  Thev  were  the  parents  of  eleven  children.  Aaron  B.  being  the 
fourth  in  order  of  birth.  He  was  reared  on  the  home  farm,  which  he 
worked  when  he  became  of  proper  age.  attending  the  district  schools  in  the 
winter  time,  remaining  at  home  until  his  marriage  with  Lilly  Keithy.  daugh- 
ter of  Doctor  Keithy,  a  well  known  local  physician.  To  this  union  one 
daughter,  Lillie,  was  born,  who  became  the  wife  of  Rev.  Arthur  Hackleman, 
of  Montpelier.  Luliana.  Mrs.  Lilly  Keithy  Stewart  died  when  this 
child  was  born,  and  Mr.  Stewart  married  Mar}-  Hixon  in  December,  1878. 
She  was  born  February  25.  1858.  in  Parke  county,  wdiere  she  was  reared 
and  educated,  and  she  is  the  daughter  of  Michael  Hixon.  a  successful  farmer 
wdio  lived  on  the  land  his  grandfather  entered  from  the  government  in  a 
ver}-  earlv  day.  They  first  located  on  the  farm  where  he  lived,  but  later 
moved  to  a  farm  in  Franklin  township.  Two  sons  were  born  of  this  union, 
namelv :  Otto  M.  born  November  25.  1SS8.  is  living  at  home  and  is  a  grad- 
uate of  the  Roachdale  high  school:  Lewis  H.  was  born  October  20,  1890,  is 
a  graduate  of  the  Roachdale  high  school  and  is  living  at  home. 

Mr.  Stewart  has  a  good  farm,  well  improved  and  carefully  tilled  and  he 
makes  a  very  comfortable  living  from  his  fields  year  by  year,  at  the  same 
time  laying  by  something  for  the  future.  He  has  a  pleasant  home  and  is 
deserving  of  credit  for  what  he  has  accomplished,  for  he  has  received  little 
help  from  outside  sources.  He  is  engaged  in  the  stock  business,  buying  hogs 
and  cattle  wdiich  he  feeds  for  market. 

Fraternally  he  is  a  member  of  Roachdale  Lodge.  No.  602,  Free  and 
Accepted  ]\Iasons.  Both  he  and  his  wife  are  members  of  the  Eastern  Star, 
Chapter  No.  247.  Mrs.  Stewart  being  associate  matron.  Politically  Mr. 
Stewart  is  a  Democrat,  but  he  never  takes  much  interest  in  politics,  pre- 
ferring- to  attend  strictlv  to  his  individual  affairs. 


JOSEPH  WEST. 


This  venerable  pioneer  and  representative  farmer  of  Jackson  township 
has  long  been  identified  w-ith  the  interests  of  Putnam  county,  and  thus  he 
has  witnessed  and  taken  part  in  the  development  of  this  section  of  the  state 


692  weik's  history  of 

from  a  sylvan  wild  to  its  present  status  as  a  progressive  locality.  He  early 
began  to  contribute  to  the  work  of  clearing  and  improving  the  land  of  its 
primitive  forests,  later  assisted  in  establishing  schools  and  better  public 
improvements  and  facilities,  while  his  course  has  been  so  directed  as  to 
retain  for  him  the  unqualified  approval  of  the  community  in  which  he  lives. 

Joseph  West  was  born  in  Madison  county,  Kentucky,  November  26, 
1832,  the  son  of  Richard  and  Lavina  (Hochersmith)  West,  both  natives  of 
Madison  county,  Kentucky,  where  they  grew  to  maturity,  were  educated  in 
the  early  pioneer  schools  and  there  married,  spending  most  of  their  lives 
in  the  Blue  Grass  state.  They  came  to  Indiana  later  in  life,  but  did  not 
remain  long  until  they  returned  to  Kentucky,  where  they  spent  the  remainder 
of  their  lives.  Joseph  West  was  eighteen  years  of  age  when  he  came  to 
Hendricks  county,  Indiana.  He  was  first  employed  by  Doctor  Hoadley  and 
he  remained  there  three  years,  then  he  returned  to  Kentucky,  where  he  re- 
mained until  1856  when  he  came  to  Putnam  county,  Indiana.  He  had  been  a 
hard  worker  through  his  youth  and  had  saved  his  money,  having  about  one 
hundred  and  seventy  dollars  when  he  arrived  here.  He  first  rented  a  farm 
and  later  moved  to  Ladoga,  Indiana. 

Mr.  West  married  Mariah  L.  Merchant  shortly  after  taking  up  his 
residence  in  Putnam  county,  of  which  she  was  a  native.  After  living  a  year 
in  Montgomery  county,  they  rented  for  five  years  and  then  located  on  'Mr. 
West's  present  farm  of  one  hundred  and  sixty  acres,  the  same  which  he 
rented  and  which  his  wife  inherited  later.  He  has  sold  a  part  and  yet  owns 
one  hundred  and  seven  acres.  His  land  is  highly  improved  and  well  culti- 
vated so  that  he  has  been  amply  rewarded  for  his  toil  from  year  to  year. 
He  has  also  been  a  very  successful  stockman,  having  long  raised  various 
kinds  of  livestock  for  the  market ;  however,  he  is  at  present  living  practically 
retired  from  the  active  duties  of  life,  renting  his  farm.  He  has  a  comfortable 
and  substantial  dwelling  and  is  spending  his  declining  years  in  peace,  sur- 
rounded by  plenty. 

To  !Mr.  and  Mrs.  West  three  children  were  born,  named  as  follows : 
Millie  T-.  wife  of  George  Ratliff.  of  Roachdale,  this  county:  George  R.  is 
living  at  home,  and  John  lives  in  Decatur  county,  Indiana.  ^Irs.  West  died 
Febniarv  25,  19 10.  Mr.  West  belongs  to  the  Christian  church,  having  been 
one  of  the  deacons  of  the  local  congregation  and  long  active  in  its  affairs.  He 
is  a  member  of  the  Roachdale  Lodge.  Xo.  602,  Free  and  Accepted  Masons. 
In  politics  he  is  a  Democrat,  but  he  has  never  taken  much  part  in  political 
affairs.  He  is  highlv  honored  by  all  who  know  him,  for  his  life  has  been 
led  alone:  safe  and  honorable  lines. 


PUTNAM    COUNTY,    INDIANA.  693 


IRA  MORELAXD. 


This  well  known  and  highly  honored  citizen  of  Jackson  township  is 
eminentlv  entitled  to  conspicuous  mention  in  this  history,  owing  to  the  fact 
that  he  was  one  of  the  worthy  pioneers  of  Putnam  county,  having  seen  and 
participated  in  the  development  of  the  same  from  the  early  days  and  the  life 
he  has  led  is  one  of  commendation  and  worthy  of  emulation  by  younger  gen- 
erations, for  it  has  been  led  along  lines  of  usefulness  and  integrity. 

Ira  Moreland  is  a  native  of  Jackson  township,  this  county,  his  birth 
having  occurred  on  January  lo,  1844.  His  parents  were  James  and  Fannie 
(Shedals)  Moreland.  who  in  the  early  days  here  were  influential  and  did  their 
full  share  in  blazing  the  forests  and  laying  the  foundation  for  later  generations 
to  enjoy  the  richness  of  the  opportunities  found  here.  They  were  each  from 
honorable  and  industrious  families,  James  Moreland  having  been  born  in 
Harper's  Ferrv-,  Virginia,  and  Fannie  Shedals  was  a  native  of  Kentucky. 
Thev  grew  to  maturity  in  their  native  states  and  received  a  meager  schooling 
in  their  native  communities.  They  were  married  in  Montgomery  county, 
New  York,  and  migrated  to  Putnam  county,  Indiana,  as  early  as  1838,  locat- 
ing in  Jackson  township  where  they  developed  a  good  home  from  the  virgin 
soil,  reared  their  children  in  respectability  and  spent  the  rest  of  their  lives, 
James  Moreland  was  influential  in  local  politics.  He  was  a  skilled  mechanic 
and  spent  much  of  his  life  engaging  in  this  line  of  work,  which,  in  those  pio- 
neer days,  was  a  great  treat  to  the  early  settlers  for  they  were  remote  from 
large  towns  where  gunsmiths,  etc.,  could  be  found  to  do  their  repairing.  I\Ir. 
Moreland  was  not  only  skilled  in  his  work.  but.  owing  to  his  thoroughly  honest 
dealings  with  all  his  neighbors,  he  established  a  reputation  that  brought  him 
many  customers  who  invariably  remained  his  friends. 

To  Mr.  and  Mrs.  James  Moreland  nine  children  were  born,  four  of  whom 
are  living  in  1909,  viz:  Rebecca  (^Vlrs.  Murphy),  Ira  (the  subject),  Joseph, 
of  Jackson  township,  and  Thomas,  also  of  this  township. 

Ira  Moreland  was  reared  on  the  farm  which  he  assisted  in  developing 
when  he  became  of  proper  age,  beginning  work  in  the  fields  when  but  a  mere 
lad.  He  had  a  limited  opportunity  to  attend  school,  but  he  improved  such 
as  he  had.  When  a  young  man  he  learned  the  plasterer's  trade,  becoming 
very  proficient  in  the  same  and  for  many  years  his  services  were  in  great  de- 
mand and  he  did  contracting  in  Putnam,  Montgomery.  Boone  and  Hen- 
dricks counties,  some  of  his  contracts  being  large  ones,  and  he  was  enabled 
to  lav  b\-  a  competency  at  this  which  enabled  him  to  buy  a  farm  of  seventy 


6g4  weik's  history  of 

acres  later  in  life,  which  he  now  owns  and  which  he  manages  in  such  a  skill- 
ful manner  that  he  reaps  abundant  harvests  from  year  to  year.  He  has  a  good 
home  and  is  very  comfortably  situated  to  enjoy  old  age  in  peace  and  sur- 
rounded by  plenty.  Besides  farming,  he  raises  and  feeds  stock  for  the  market, 
in  which  he  meets  with  gratifying  success. 

;Mr.  Moreland  was  married  to  Sarah  Morgan,  who  was  born  in  1845 
and  reared  in  Fountain  county.  Indiana,  where  her  people  were  well  estab- 
lished. This  union  has  resulted  in  the  birth  of  two  children,  William  and 
Nellie  O..  both  single  and  at  home. 

Mr.  Moreland  is  a  charter  member  of  the  Carpentersville  Independent 
Order  of  Odd  Fellows,  and  he  also  belongs  to  the  encampment.  Politically 
he  is  a  Democrat.  During  his  long  and  useful  life  in  Putnam  county  he  has 
witnessed  many  momentous  changes  and  he  has  played  well  his  part  in  the 
subsequent  development  of  the  locality,  for  when  he  was  a  boy  the  country 
was  in  its  primitive  state,  abounding  in  vast  forests  through  which  roamed 
wild  beasts  and  much  wild  game,  and  it  has  been  just  such  sturdy  pioneers  as 
he  who  have  reclaimed  the  country  and  brought  it  to  its  present  high  state 
of  prosperity.  He  is  well  known  here  and  his  life  has  been  led  along  honor- 
able lines  at  all  times. 


HESEKIAH  EVAXS. 


Hesekiah  Evans  was  one  of  the  old  and  greatly  esteemed  pioneers  of 
Putnam  countv  who  have  now  passed  on  to  the  undiscovered  mystic  land, 
leaving  behind  a  priceless  heritage,  the  memory  of  good  deeds  and  an  ex- 
emplary life,  for  he  was  a  type  of  man  seldom  met  with  now — sterling, 
rugged,  honest  and  hard  working,  kind  to  his  neighbors  and  hospitable  alike 
to  friends  and  strangers. 

The  first  one  of  the  Evans  family  of  which  there  is  any  authentic  record 
was  Thomas  Evans.  St.,  great-great-great-grandfather  of  Simpson  F.  Evans, 
born  at  Delornes,  Wales,  about  1662,  and  died  in  December  1756.  at  the  age 
of  ninety-four  years.  He  married  Sarah  Martha  Elizabeth  Roberts  at  Phila- 
delphia in  1730,  and  she  died  in  Pennsylvania  on  June  i,  1803,  at  the  age  of 
one  hundred  and  eleven  years. 

Thomas  Evans,  Jr.,  their  son.  was  born  in  Pennsylvania  in  1739.  He 
ran  away  from  home  and  joined  the  army  under  Col.  George  Washington 
and  fought  under  him  in  the  French  and  Indian  wars.  He  ser^-ed  during  the 
whole  Revolutionarv  struggle.    1776- 1783.     He  died  in   Kentucky   in    1825. 


PUTNAM    COUXTY,    IXDIAXA.  695     ' 

He  was  married  in  ijoj  to  Sarah  Clark,  born  [March  i,  1743.  and  died  at 
Russellville.  Indiana,  June  5,  1834.  Rev.  John  Evans,  their  son,  born  Oc- 
tober 25,  1763,  died  at  Russellville,  July  J,  1841,  aged  seventy-eight  years. 
He  was  married  in  Kentucky  to  Susanah  Prater,  who  was  born  in  1766  and 
died  at  Russellville,  Indiana,  October  25,  1S31. 

James  Evans,  their  son.  was  born  June  i,  1797,  in  Bath  county,  Ken- 
tucky, and  died  August  22,  1878,  aged  eighty-one  years.  He  was  married 
Fel)ruar\-  14.  1822,  to  Ruth  Vanschoiack,  born  in  Nicholas  county,  Ken- 
tucky. September  21,  1802.  and  died  March  24.  1867,  Hesekiah  Evans  was 
the  son  of  James  Evans  and  Ruth  Vanschoiack. 

He  was  born  January  18.  1826,  and  received  a  limited  education  in  the 
primitive  schools  of  his  day.  coming  to  Putnam  county  when  a  young  man. 
Here  he  met  and  on  April  19.  1858,  married  Hannah  M.  Pratt,  who  was 
born  September  9,  1837:  she,  too.  came  to  this  county  with  her  parents, 
when  young,  in   1827. 

James  Evans  bought  land  in  section  6,  he  and  Mr.  Forgy  buying  a  tract 
of  three  hundred  and  twenty  acres  in  one  body,  dividing  the  same  between 
them,  it  being  agreed  in  the  division  that  the  last  half  was  the  better  and 
to  make  an  equal  division,  the  west  part  was  to  contain  one  hundred  sixty- 
seven  and  one-half  acres  and  the  east  half  one  hundred  and  fifty-two  and  one- 
half  acres.  Tossing  coppers  for  choice,  Mr.  Evans  secured  the  first  pick  of 
the  land  and  chose  the  east  side.  On  this  he  erected  a  log  cabin,  cleared  the 
land  and  began  farming  which  he  followed  all  his  life  in  connection  with 
stock  raising,  being  one  of  the  best  known  stock  men  of  his  day.  He  was  a 
breeder  of  fine  horses,  keeping  the  best  in  his  neighborhood.  Politically  he 
was  a  Republican  and  he  and  his  wife  were  both  members  of  the  IMethodist 
church  for  a  period  of  about  sixty  years.  He  died  at  the  age  of  eighty-one 
years,  falling  dead  on  the  fair  grounds  which  he  had  leased  from  a  neighbor 
for  the  purpose  of  holding  fairs.  He  and  his  wife  were  the  parents  of  seven 
children.  i\\-e  bovs  anti  two  giris :  it  was  a  coincidence  that  the  two  previous 
generations  of  his  ancestors  had  families  of  five  boys  and  two  girls,  making 
the  same  in  numbers  for  three  succeeding  generations. 

The  father  was  reared  to  manhood  on  the  home  farm  and  attended  the 
common  schools  of  his  day.  His  wife  was  the  daughter  of  Austin  Pratt,  of 
Parke  countv.  Indiana,  and  she  and  Mr.  Evans  began  their  married  life  on 
a  farm  in  Brown  township.  Montgomery  county,  on  one  hundred  and  sixty 
acres  which  Mr.  Evans  purchased.  The  father  and  sons  worked  together, 
helping  each  other  until  each  son  had  his  own  farm.  Hesekiah  Evans  later 
added  one  hundred  acres  to  his  place,  owning  then  two  hundred  and  sixty 


696  weik's  history  of 

acres  when  his  father  died.  He  and  his  brother  Daniel  bought  the  heirs  out 
and  later  the  father  bought  the  interest  of  his  brother  and  gave  his  attention 
to  the  feeding  of  shorthorn  cattle.  He  showed  them  at  the  county  fairs  and 
took  a  number  of  premiums.  Mr.  Evans  reached  the  advanced  age  of  eighty- 
one  years,  retaining  his  active  faculties  to  the  last,  dying  May  8,  1907,  and 
was  buried  in  the  cemetery  at  Russellville.  His  widow  makes  her  home 
among  her  children.  They  are,  James  W.,  born  February  22,  1863,  married 
Lena  Summers  and  they  have  the  following  children :  Harold,  John,  Howard 
and  Vernon,  the  last  named  being  deceased;  Henry  G.,  born  June  30,  1864, 
married  Florence  Allen  and  they  have  two  children.  Lee  and  Josephine; 
Simpson  F..  whose  sketch  appears  elsewhere  in  this  volume. 


ALEXANDER  CAMPBELL  STEVEXSOX. 

The  above  named  gentleman  was  born  in  Woodford  county,  Kentucky, 
X'ovember  21,  1802,  and  died  January  2,  1889,  at  the  advanced  age  of  eighty- 
seven  years.  He  was  the  eldest  son  of  James  Stevenson  and  Margaret 
(Campbell)  Stevenson.  His  mother  was  a  daughter  of  Alexander  Campbell, 
a  pioneer  of  Kentucky.  His  paternal  grandfather,  Benjamin  Stevenson,  of 
the  eastern  shore  kif  Maryland,  was,  during  the  war  of  the  Revolution,  a 
soldier  of  the  patriot  army,  and  soon  after  that  conflict  removed  from  Mary- 
land to  Kentucky,  when  the  latter  was  a  territory  of  Virginia.  His  son 
James  entered  the  United  States  army  in  the  war  of  18 12,  as  a  private,  and 
in  that  struggle  endured  such  hardships  that  he  ever  afterward  remained  an 
invalid.  This  fact  made  the  subject  of  this  sketch,  while  yet  a  boy,  the  stay 
and  support  of  the  family.  This  constant  labor  and  training  gave  to  him 
a  splendid  phvsical  and  intellectual  manhood.  Educational  advantages  he 
had  but  sparingly.  The  schools  of  Kentucky  in  that  day  were  but  indiffer- 
ent and  seminaries  and  colleges  distant  and  expensive;  he  therefore  made 
nature  his  principal  text  book,  and  acquired  wisdom  and  diligence  from  her 
precepts.  He  was  strongly  opposed  to  slavery  and  the  injustice  of  that 
institution  made  strong  impressions  on  his  mind,  and  he  determined  to  seek 
a  home  in  a  land  of  free  institutions,  where  to  labor  was  honorable.  Impelled 
bv  this  principle,  he,  at  the  age  of  nineteen,  in  1821,  left  Kentucky  and  came  to 
Indiana  seeking  a  location.  He  entered  land  northward  horn  where  Rock- 
ville  now  stands.  He  was  not  disappointed  with  the  country  and  from  that 
time   regarded   Indiana   as   his   home,      .\fter   satisfactorily   prospecting   the 


J.^, 


MjU 


PUTNAM    COUNTY.    INDIANA.  697 

Hoosier  state,  he  returned  to  Kentucky  where  he  was  intkiced  by  his  familv 
to  study  medicine.  On  completing  his  course  he  entered  Transylvania  Uni- 
versity at  Le.xington.  Kentucky,  and  subsequently  received  his  medical  degree 
at  that  institution  in  the  days  when  the  illustrious  Dr.  Benjamin  Dudle\-  was 
the  head  of  the  school  and  in  the  height  of  his  surgical  renown. 

.\fter  recei\ing  his  medical  degree  Doctor  Ste\'enson  practiced  his  pro- 
fession for  a  short  time  in  his  native  state,  but  in  1826  he  set  his  face  for 
final  residence  in  Indiana.  On  his  return  he  was  most  favorably  impressed 
with  the  situation  and  advantages  of  Greencastle  and  the  "blue  grass"  lands 
surrounding.  These  considerations  induced  him  to  cast  his  lot  with  the 
people  of  that  place,  \\here  he  engaged  in  the  practice  of  his  profession  and 
in  other  pursuits  for  a  period  of  more  than  t-liree-score  years.  On  his  ar- 
rival at  Greencastle  he  was  without  money,  friends  or  acquaintances,  but  he 
had  good  health,  excellent  medical  attainments  and  energy,  with  determina- 
tion to  succeed,  reinforced  with  all  the  natural  shrewdness  and  business  ca- 
pacity  requisite  to  bring  about  the  result.  Riding  a  borrowed  horse  loaned 
by  a  relative,  he  halted  at  the  village  tavern  and  said  to  the  proprietor,  "I  am 
a  doctor:  my  name  is  Stevenson,  from  Kentucky.  I  desire  to  locate  with 
you,  but  have  no  ready  means  to  pay  my  way:  but  if  you  will  board  me  and 
my  horse  for  the  first  si.x  months  and  use  your  influence  for  me  in  the  com- 
munity I  will  give  yott  half  I  make."  As  there  were  two  physicians  from  the 
^\'est.  well  stocked  with  the  necessary  outfit  required  to  practice  medicine  in 
that  early  day.  already  established  in  the  locality  of  the  tavern,  the  keeper 
hesitated  to  accept  his  proposition,  but  told  him  to  stay  all  night  with  him 
anyhow  and  he  would  think  the  matter  over.  Being  favorably  impressed  with 
his  personal  address  and  conversational  powers,  he  concluded  the  following 
morning  to  accept  the  arrangement.  Doctor  Stevenson  was  soon  acti\-ely 
engaged  in  the  treatment  of  diseases  incident  to  a  new  country.  Numerous 
incidents  might  be  cited  to  show  that  he  was  a  man  for  emergencies,  and  he 
was  not  required  to  wait  long  until  opportunities  presented  themselves  to 
show  his  judgment,  decision  and  ability  as  a  physician  and  surgeon.  He 
rose  rapidly  to  eminence  in  his  profession  and  as  a  surgeon  was  without  a 
peer.  His  parents  came  to  him  in  Indiana,  and  he.  with  them,  brought  from 
Kentucky  the  sla\es  owned  by  his  father  and  gave  them  their  freedom,  and 
they  remained  in  Indiana  until  after  the  constitution  of  1850  w-as  adopted. 
That  instrument,  as  he  thought,  restrained  them  of  liberty  and  he  aided  them 
to  a  home  in  the  colony  of  Liberia.  In  his  own  life  total  abstinence  had 
been  the  rule,  and  he  felt  that  moral  suasion  was  the  true  remedy.  A  man 
of  strong  will   and   unquestioned  courage,   these   convictions   soon    impelled 


698  weik's  history  of 

him  into  cuiiHict  with  intemperance,  and  tins  conflict  was  life-long.  He  it 
was  who  delivered  the  first  temperance  lecture  in  this  county,  and  the  novelty 
of  it  brought  friends  and  foes  to  hear.  Men  brought  with  them  whisky  in 
bottles  and  drank  bumpers  to  each  otlier  and  t(3  the  speaker,  while  he,  in  noth- 
ing daunted,  hurled  anathemas  at  the  traffic  and  deplored  the  evils  of  in- 
temperance. 

Careful  investigation  and  thorough  study  convinced  him  that  free  insti- 
tutions were  wholly  dependent  on  morality,  integrity  and  intelligence.     This 
conviction  made  him  the  friend  of  common   schools  and  higher  education. 
In  the  securing  of  Asbury  University  for  Greencastle  he  was  a  liberal  and 
active  co-worker  and  contributor,   became  a  member   of   its   first  board   of 
trustees;  saw  ten  years  continuous   service  as   such,   three  years  of  which 
time  he  was  the  president  of  the  joint  board.     He  was  an  active  participant 
in  securing  free  schools  for  Indiana,  and  did  much  to  bring  his  adopted  county 
into  line  in   favor  of  that  system.     Some  educational  opinions  then   enter- 
tained by  him   were  in  advance  of  the  times.     Insisting  that  the  common 
schools  should  be  thorough  and  facilities  for  higher  education  ample,  he.  in 
an  address,  urged  the  necessity  for  schools  in  which  complete  training  in  agri- 
culture and  mechanical  arts  could  be  acquired.     This  brought  him  in  con- 
flict with  some  leading  educators,  but  time  has  demonstrated  the  wisdom  of 
his  thought,  as  Rose  Polytechnic  Institute  and  Purdue  University  evidence. 
Eminent  as  a  phvsician,  his  lucrative  practice  enabled  him  to  acquire  a 
large  estate  in  wild  lands.     This  he  did  preparatory  to  returning  to  agri- 
culture as  a  profession.     From  these  lands  the  inferior  timber  was  removed 
and  the  land  set  in  blue  grass.     This  at  that  time  was  considered  a  waste  by 
many,  but  he  reaped  from  it  afterwartls  abundant  harvest  of  rich  pasture  and 
fat  cattle.     Though  engaged  in  an  arduous  profession,  he.  through  study,  be- 
came a  believer  in  and  an  advocate  of  the  American  system  of  Mr.   Clay. 
This  brought  him  earlv  into  political  prominence  as  he  had  the  courage  of  his 
convictions,  the  result  was  that  in  1831,  1832.  1844  and  1845  he  represented 
his  county  in  the  Indiana  House  of  Representatives  and  in  the  last  term  was 
speaker  of  the  house.     In  1839,  1840  and  1841  he  was  the  Whig  candidate 
for  lieutenant-governor  of  Indiana.     In  1850  he  was  elected  to  the  convention 
that  framed  the  constitution  of  Indiana  in   1851,  and  was  active  in  the  de- 
liberations of  that  bodv.     His  services  in  this  convention  closed  his  political 
career.     He  sympathized  with  labor  and  with  men  too  intensely  to  readily 
reconcile  himself  to  the  compromise  measures  of  1850.  and  never  again  be- 
came a  candidate.     In  i860,  however,  he  earnestly  advocated  the  election  of 
Lincoln  and  gave  to  his  administration  an  earnest,  loyal  and  enthusiastic  sup- 


PUTNAM    COUNTY,    INDIANA.  699 

port.  Shortly  after  the  Civil  war  he  was  the  caucus  nominee  for  United 
States  senator,  with  certainty  of  election  to  that  high  office,  but  declined  the 
honor.  In  1843  '''^  removed  from  Greencastle  to  his  farm  two  miles  east 
of  that  town,  and  gave  up  his  medical  practice  as  rapidly  as  his  patients 
would  permit.  Tlience  forward  he  devoted  his  time  to  farming  and  stock 
raising.  For  a  time  he  edited  an  agricultural  department  in  a  newspaper, 
and  in  this  way,  as  well  as  in  public  addresses,  sought  to  introduce  better 
modes  of  farming.  More  through  his  efTort  than  of  any  other  was  the  Put- 
nam County  Agricultural  Society  organized.  He  introduced  into  the  county 
and  bred  large  flocks  of  Spanish  Merino  sheep  and  for  a  time  made  sheep 
husbandry  most  prominent.  While  thus  engaged  he  endeavored  to  organize 
an  incorporated  company  for  the  purpose  of  importing  and  breeding  Short- 
horn cattle.  Xot  succeeding  in  this  through  defects  in  Indiana  law,  he  began 
that  enterprise  alone.  In  1848  he  purchased  and  brought  into  Putnam 
county  the  first  thoroughbred  Shorthorn  cattle.  In  1847  he  was  commis- 
sioned by  Governor  Whitcomb  a  member  of  the  Indiana  state  board  proper 
and  was  himself  a  member  of  the  board  for  several  years,  during  three  of 
which  he  was  honored  as  president.  It  was  while  he  was  a  member  of  the 
board  that  the  plans  were  matured  and  action  taken  which  have  enabled  that 
body  and  its  agencies  to  accomplish  so  much  for  the  stock  breeding,  agri- 
cultural, mechanical  and  mineral  interests  of  Indiana.  And  in  these  labors 
he  assumed  his  share,  doing  his  full  portion  of  the  work.  In  1853,  at  his 
own  instance  and  cost,  he  went  to  England,  inspected  the  principal  Short- 
horn herds  of  that  kingdom  and  bought  for  himself  a  small  herd  of  the  best 
and  brought  them  to  Putnam  county,  and  this  was  the  first  importation  of 
Shorthorns  direct  from  England  into  Indiana.  His  prominence  as  a  stock 
grower  caused  him  to  become  prime  mover  in  calling  the  Indiana  Shorthorn 
Breeders'  Convention,  which  assembled  at  Indianapolis  on  May  21,  1872. 
He  was  made  president  of  the  convention  and  was  afterward  president  of  a 
national  organization  of  the  same  kind.  His  efforts  were  not  wholly  con- 
fined to  stock  raising.  He  organized  the  company  that  built  in  1867  the 
first  gravel  road  in  the  county.  The  line  was  nineteen  miles  long,  and  is  yet 
operatetl.  though  its  success  was  originally  doubtful.  Xow  in  the  county  are 
maintained  over  one  hundred  fifty  miles  of  improved  roads.  From  1840  until 
about  1880  Doctor  Stevenson  was  a  man  of  wealth,  but  wishing  to  administer 
on  his  own  estate,  he  divided  his  lands  and  goods  among  his  twelve  children, 
giving  to  each  an  equal  share,  and  reserving  for  himself  and  wife  a  modest 
competency  during  the  remainder  of  their  lives.  He  was  always  delighted 
with  employment  and   instructed   his  children   to  lalwr,   often   himself  going 


700  WEIK  S    HISTORY    OF 

with  them  to  the  fields  and  by  precept  and  example  showing  them  how  to  ac- 
complish the  best  results.  He  was  from  early  life  a  consistent  member  of 
the  Methodist  Episcopal  church.  Liberal  in  his  views,  clear  in  convictions, 
logically  a  reasoner,  far-sighted  and  methodical  in  business,  firm  and  per- 
sistent in  purpose,  able  and  persuasive  in  argument,  careful  of  the  rights  of 
others,  of  profound  thought  power,  industrious,  hospitable,  courteous  and 
generous,  a  good  husband  and  a  kind  father,  he  made  firm  and  lasting  friends 
and  led  a  successful  life.  He  lived  to  see  his  county  acquire  and  maintain 
hiofh  rank  among  the  best  in  the  Hoosier  state. 


Y.  N.  XEW.  M.  D. 


There  is  no  class  to  whom  greater  gratitude  is  due  from  the  world  at 
large  than  to  those  self-sacrificing,  sympathetic,  noble-minded  men  whose 
life  work  has  been  the  alleviation  of  suffering  that  exists  among  humanity, 
thus  lengthening  the  span  of  human  existence.  There  is  no  known  standard 
by  which  their  beneficent  influence  can  be  measured:  their  helpfulness  is  as 
broad  as  the  universe  and  their  power  goes  hand  in  hand  with  the  wonderful 
laws  of  nature  that  come  from  the  ven,-  source  of  life  itself.  The  skillful 
phvsician.  then,  by  the  exercise  of  his  native  talents  and  his  acquired  abilities, 
is  not  only  performing  a  service  for  humanity,  but  is  following  in  the  foot- 
steps of  the  divine  teacher  himself. 

One  of  the  best  known  and  most  successful  practitioners  of  medicine  in 
the  northern  half  of  Putnam  county  is  Dr.  Y.  X.  Xew.  a  resident  of  Jackson 
township,  who  was  born  in  Hancock  county,  Indiana,  Xovember  26,  1869, 
the  son  of  John  J.  and  Hannah  (Xewhouse)  Xew,  a  well  established  family, 
who  moved  to  Boone  county,  this  state,  in  1870.  The  Doctor  while  yet  a 
mere  lad  began  assisting  with  the  work  about  the  home  place,  attending  the 
district  schools  during  the  winter  months.  He  was  an  ambitious  lad  and 
studied  hard,  passing  through  the  district  schools.  Later  he  entered  the 
schools  of  Valparaiso,  Indiana,  then  took  a  preparatory-  course  in  medicine 
in  the  Danville  Xormal  School,  having  made  a  splendid  record  in  all  these 
institutions.  For  five  years  he  followed  teaching  ver}-  successfully,  but  he 
did  not  take  kindly  to  this  line  of  work  and  he  began  the  study  of  medicine 
in  earnest,  entering  the  School  of  Medicine  at  Louisville,  Kentucky,  from 
which  he  was  graduated  in  the  year  1893.  and  in  1894  he  located  at  Barnard. 
Putnam  countv.  Indiana,  and  he  has  since  been  engaged  in  the  practice  here. 


PUTNAM    COUNTY,    INDIANA.  "01 

his  success  having  been  gratifying  from  the  first,  and  he  is  now  enjoying  a 
very  extensive  and  increasing  patronage.  He  is  deserving  of  a  great  deal  of 
credit  for  the  eminent  success  he  has  attained  owing  to  the  fact  that  he  is 
purely  a  self-made  man  and  was  compelled  to  work  his  way  through  college. 

Besides  an  attractive  home  at  Barnard,  he  is  the  owner  of  a  valuable 
farm  of  one  hundred  and  twenty-six  acres  in  Jackson  township,  this  county, 
his  wife  also  owning  a  tract  of  twenty  acres  in  Clinton  township,  this  county. 

Doctor  New  was  married  in  1S96  to  Naomi  Wilson,  born  February  8, 
1873.  daughter  of  B.  F.  and  Mary  A.  (Carman)  Wilson,  a  highly  respected 
family  of  Barnard,  this  county,  where  Airs.  New  was  born  and  reared.  She 
is  a  graduate  of  the  common  and  high  schools  and  is  a  woman  of  culture. 
This  union  has  been  blessed  by  the  birth  of  one  child.  Cecil  A.,  born  March 
10,  1898. 

Doctor  New  is  a  member  of  the  county  and  state  medical  societies,  and 
politically  he  is  a  Democrat.  His  career  has  been  fraught  with  much  good 
to  the  people  of  Putnam  county  and  he  is  held  in  high  esteem  bv  all  classes. 


SHELBY  H.  BLAYDES. 

Although  a  Kentuckian  by  birth.  Shelby  H.  Blaydes,  a  successful  and 
highly  honored  agriculturist  and  stock  man  of  Jackson  township,  has  been 
deeply  interested  in  its  general  progress  since  locating  here,  having  at  heart 
the  well  being  and  improvement  of  Putnam  county,  using  his  influence 
wherever  possible  for  the  promotion  of  enterprises  calculated  to  be  of  lasting 
benefit  to  his  fellow  men,  besides  taking  a  leading  part  in  all  movements  for 
the  advancement  of  the  community  along  social,  intellectual  and  moral  lines. 
He  has  won  a  host  of  warm  friends  since  coming  here,  which  he  retains,  be- 
ing popular  with  all  classes  in  his  community  where  he  maintains  a  home  that 
is  comfortable,  substantial  and  pleasant  in  all  its  appointments  and  which  is 
regarded  as  a  place  of  generous  hospitality  and  good  cheer;  all  this  he  has 
made  himself  by  hard  work  and  proper  business  principles  persistently  applied. 

Mr.  Blaydes  was  bom  in  Hardin  county,  Kentucky,  September  2,  1850, 
the  son  of  John  S.  and  Nancy  D.  (Cash)  Blaydes.  each  coming  from  a  fine 
old  Southern  ancestry  and  highly  honored  in  their  community. 

Shelby  H.  Blaydes  was  reared  on  a  farm  in  his  native  state,  and  when  a 
mere  lad  began  working  on  the  same  and  he  has  ever  followed  this  line  of 
endeavor  in  a  manner  that  stamps  him  as  a  master  of  modern  agricultural 


J02  WEIK  S    HISTORY   OF 

details.  He  attended  the  public  schools  of  his  neighborhood  and  received  a 
fairly  good  education.  In  the  fall  of  1865  he  came  to  Putnam  county,  Indi- 
ana, arriving  here  with  only  fifty  cents  in  his  pocket ;  but  he  was  a  courageous 
lad  and  he  set  to  work  with  a  will,  nothing  daunted,  and  soon  had  a  foothold 
in  the  new  country.  He  began  here  as  a  farm  hand  at  one  dollar  per  day, 
working  with  his  brother,  John  W.  Blaydes,  for  a  period  of  two  years. 

Mr.  Blaydes  married,  on  December  31.  i860,  America  A.  Dean,  who 
was  born  and  reared  on  a  farm  in  this  county  and  received  a  common  school 
education  here.  She  was  called  to  her  reward  on  April  16,  1909,  after  prov- 
ing to  be  a  most  faithful  and  kind  helpmate,  no  children  being  born  to  this 
union.  He  was  married  January  18,  1910.  to  Mrs.  Sophia  A.  Simmons, 
widow  of  George  T.  Simmons,  and  the  daughter  of  John  S.  Michael,  a  prom- 
inent farmer  of  Floyd  township,  this  county. 

Mr.  Blaydes  is  the  owner  of  a  fine  farm  of  one  hundred  and  nine  and 
one-half  acres,  and  he  is  worth  about  nineteen  thousand  dollars,  all  of  which 
he  has  made  himself,  being  an  excellent  manager  and  straightforward  in  his 
dealing  with  his  fellow  men.  He  formerly  dealt  extensively  in  livestock  and 
made  considerable  money  in  this  way.  He  has  a  well  improved  and  highly 
cultivated  farm  in  which  he  has  always  taken  a  great  pride.  His  place  is 
called  the  "Jackson  Park  Farm,"  and  is  located  three  miles  from  Roachdale. 
Here  often  come  admirers  of  his  fine  Poland-China  hogs,  for  which  he  has 
long  been  noted. 

Politically  Mr.  Blaydes  is  a  Democrat  and  he  has  always  taken  more 
or  less  interest  in  local  political  affairs,  although  too  busy  with  his  farm  and 
stock  to  waste  any  time  seeking  office ;  however,  he  desires  to  see  good  men 
in  the  local  offices  and  assists  the  best  he  can  to  this  end. 


WILLIAM  B.  MODLIX. 

Although  William  B.  Modlin  does  not  claim  Putnam  county  as  his  place 
of  birth  and  his  honored  ancestors  lived,  wrought  and  died  in  another  com- 
monwealth, he  has  been  deeply  interested  in  the  general  progress  of  this 
locality  and  has  ever  stood  ready  to  do  his  part  in  carrying  on  the  splendid 
work  begun  by  the  first  settlers.  He  has  a  neat  little  farm  which  he  so 
manages  as  to  make  a  very  comfortable  living  from  year  to  year.  He  was 
born  in  Tennessee,  January  19,  1867,  the  son  of  Edmund  and  Martha 
(Owens)  Modlin.  who  spent  their  early  lives  in  Tennessee,  coming  to  Put- 


PUTXAM    COCXTV,    INDIANA.  JOT, 

nam  county,  Indiana,  in  i86g  and  settled  in  Jackson  township,  where  Mr. 
Modlin  still  lives.  He  at  tirst  rented  land  until  he  got  a  good  start.  He  has 
been  veni-  amply  rewarded  for  his  toil  here  and  has  a  pleasant  home.  He  is 
highly  honored  in  his  community. 

William  B.  Modlin  was  reared  on  the  farm  which  he  worked  when 
merely  a  lad  and  he  therefore  took  naturally  to  this  line  of  endeavor  and  has 
always  followed  it  for  a  livelihood.  He  attendeil  the  district  schools  in  the 
winter  time  and  received  a  fairly  good  education. 

Mr.  Modlin  was  married  on  October  2^.  1890.  to  Sarah  E.  Boner,  who 
was  born  and  reared  in  this  county  and  educated  in  the  public  schools  and 
DePauw  University.  The  young  couple  immediately  located  on  a  farm  and 
they  have  now  a  good  little  place  of  fort}-  acres,  well  fenced  and  otherwise 
well  kept,  located  in  one  of  the  richest  sections  of  Jackson  township. 

Mr.  and  Mrs.  Modlin  are  members  of  the  ^lethodist  Episcopal  church  at 
Roachdale.  this  county,  and  Mr.  Modlin  belongs  to  Roachdale  Lodge.  Xo. 
602.  Free  and  Accepted  ilasons.  also  Roachdale  Lodge.  Xo.  297.  Knights  of 
Pythias.  They  are  both  members  of  the  Pythian  Sisters.  Mrs.  Modlin  having 
passed  all  the  chairs  in  the  local  lodge,  and  has  been  a  delegate  to  the  grand 
lodge.  Mr.  ]\[odlin  is  a  past  chancellor  of  his  lodge.  Politically  he  is  a 
Repulilican.  but  does  not  take  any  special  interest  in  the  affairs  of  his  partv 
or  aspire  to  public  office.  He  and  his  wife  are  well  liked  by  their  neighbors 
for  they  are  kind  and  honorable  to  all.  Their  daughter.  Alice,  is  spending 
her  second  vear  in  high  school  and  is  also  a  member  of  the  Methodist  church. 


SIMPSOX  FLETCHER  EVAXS. 

Bv  a  life  of  persistent  and  well  applied  industry,  led  along  the  most 
honorable  lines,  the  gentleman  whose  name  appears  above  has  justly  earned 
the  right  to  be  represented  in  a  work  of  the  character  of  the  one  at  hand, 
along  with  the  other  men  of  Putnam  county  who  have  made  their  influence 
felt  in  their  respecti\-e  communities. 

Simpson  Fletcher  Evans  was  born  September  24.  1S66.  in  Montgomery 
county.  Indiana,  and  was  reared  to  manhood  on  his  parents'  farm  in  this 
county,  receiving  a  good  common  school  education.  August  21,  1889.  he 
married  Ella  ]vlay  Kendall,  daughter  of  Philip  and  Xancy  Jane  Kendall,  na- 
tives of  this  county,  both  now  deceased,  Ella  May  being  the  third  in  a  family 
of  five  children,  namelv:   Horace  R.,  Stella.  Ella  May.  Rose  and  X'ell.     Three 


704 


WEIK  S    HISTORY   OF 


children  have  been  born  to  Air.  and  Airs.  Evans,  named  as  follows:  Shirl, 
born  December  7,  1892;  Hesekiah  Earl,  born  November  20,  1894;  Olive, 
born  October  31,  1899. 

Air.  Evans  owns  and  lives  on  the  old  home  place,  consisting  of  one 
hundred  and  fifty-three  acres,  near  Russellville,  which  is  valued  at  one  hun- 
dred and  twenty-five  dollars  per  acre.  It  is  one  of  the  best  farms  in  the 
community,  having  been  carefully  tilled  and  well  managed,  so  that  the  soil 
is  just  as  productive  as  formerly.  He  has  a  neat,  comfortable  home  and  is 
regarded  as  one  of  the  township's  best  citizens.  Considerable  attention  is 
paid  to  stock  raising,  he  being  an  extensive  breeder  of  shorthorn  cattle, 
which  are  admired  by  all,  and  with  which  he  makes  a  very  creditable  showing 
at  the  county,  fairs,  having  taken  many  premiums,  and  no  small  part  of  his 
annual  income  is  derived  from  the  judicious  handling  of  stock. 

Air.  and  Airs.  Evans  and  two  sons  are  members  of  the  Alethodist  church 
at  Russellville.     Politicallv  Air.  Evans  is  a  Republican. 


LOUIS  WEIK, 


Of  the  men  closely  identified  with  the  early- commercial  history  of 
Greencastle  no  one  has  contributed  more  to  its  proper  development  and  suc- 
cess than  the  late  Louis  Weik,  who  died  at  his  home  in  that  city  April  11, 
1898.  Air.  Weik  was  born  in  the  grand  duchy  of  Baden,  one  of  the  little 
states  or  divisions  of  the  German  empire,  June  18,  1830.  His  birthplace  was 
called  Bischofsheim. — in  English,  the  Bishop's  Home, — a  village  near  the 
eastern  bank  of  the  Rhine  and  about  seven  miles  from  the  city  of  Strass- 
buro-.  famed  alike  for  its  great  cathedral  and  its  memorable  siege  during  the 
Franco-German  war  of  1870.  His  father  was  the  village  baker,  as  also  was 
his  o-randfather — in  fact,  for  generations  back,  that  industry  had  been  con- 
trolled bv  the  Weik  family.  Even  today  the  business  is  still  carried  on  by 
a  member  of  the  present  generation  and  in  the  same  room  in  which  the  com- 
mon ancestor.  Christian  Weik,  erected  the  oven  and  molded  bread  in  the 
latter  half  of  the  eighteenth  century.  After  learning  the  trade,  the  subject 
of  this  sketch  crossed  the  Rhine  into  French  territory,  where  he  found  work 
in  Strassburg,  near  the  house  where  Gutenburg.  the  inventor  of  printing, 
experimented  with  his  "mo\able  types."  Aleanwhile  he  had  been  an  earnest 
and  diligent  student  at  the  public  schools  of  the  day  and  by  virtue  of  per- 
sistent application  had  made  unusual  progress  in  his  studies.      In  the  cur- 


PUTNAM    COUNTY,    INDIANA.  7O5 

riculum  of  the  German  schools  great  stress  has  always  been  laid  upon  mental 
arithmetic  antl  in  this  regard  the  young  pupil  was  remarkably  apt  and  pro- 
ficient. 

There  being  thirteen  children  in  his  father's  family,  of  which  he  was  the 
fifth  in  order  of  birth  and  also  the  eldest  son.  Louis  W'eik  concei\-ed  the  idea 
of  setting  out  in  the  world  for  himself  and  thus  making  a  little  more  room 
for  the  already  crowded  household.  Besides,  he  yearned  longingly  for  a 
sight  of  the  great,  unsettled  and  inviting  land  across  the  Atlantic.  In  due 
time  his  opportunity  came.  Two  of  his  friends  having  determined  to  emi- 
grate to  America,  he  secured  the  consent  of  his  parents  to  join  them.  .Accord- 
ingly, on  the  1st  day  of  August,  1848.  he  bade  his  family  and  friends  fare- 
well, took  a  seat  in  the  diligence  for  Paris  and  rode  away  from  his  birth- 
place destined  never  to  see  it  again.  Two  days  later  he  sailed  from  Havre 
in  the  good  ship  "L'Aurore"  bound  for  New  York. 

An  ocean  \-oyage  in  those  days  was  no  inconsequential  matter,  especially 
if  one  shipped  as  a  steerage  passenger;  and,  in  this  instance,  it  was  forty- 
three,  days  before  the  young  immigrant  passed  through  the  gates  of  Castle 
Garden  in  New  York  harbor.  A  few  days  later  he  left  the  great  city  on 
^lanhattan  island  en  route  to  his  destination,  Cincinnati.  The  journey  was 
long  and  tedious,  by  river,  canal,  lake  and  rail ;  but  once  arrived,  he  promptly 
went  to  work  at  his  trade.  The  river  traffic  of  that  day  outstripped  all  other 
kinds  of  inland  transportation  and  Cincinnati,  being  the  most  important  point 
between  Pittsburg  and  New  Orleans,  was  indeed  the  Queen  City  and  reigned 
supreme.  It  was  a  splendid  school  for  the  young  artisan,  eager,  vigorous 
and  determined  to  win.  After  several  years  spent  in  Cincinnati  he  decided 
to  try  life  in  a  country-  town  and  accordingly  accepted  a  situation  in  Green- 
castle,  Indiana,  to  which  place  he  removed  in  the  spring  of  1853.  It  was 
the  last  remo\al  he  e\-er  made.  For  several  years  he  followed  his  trade, 
being  employed  by  John  Weinhart,  Jesse  Holmes,  J.  F.  Duckworth,  Pleasant 
Hubbard  and  John  Burley  in  succession  till  1858,  when  he  became  the  partner 
of  the  last  named  in  a  business  already  estaljlished.  In  i86j  he  withdrew 
from  the  fimi  and  formed  a  partnership  with  \\'illiam  \A'.  Lyon,  which  con- 
tinued till  1S75.  From  the  latter  year  until  1S80  he  was  associated  with 
Edward  .\llen.  after  which  he  carried  on  the  business  himself,  with  the 
assistance  of  his  sons,  until  his  death. 

On  February  11,  1854.  'Sir.  W'eik  was  married  to  ^Mary  E.  King,  who 

gave  birth  to  a  daughter  July  it,  1855,  and  died  December  17th  in  the  same 

vear.     On  November  17,   1856,  he  was  united  in  marriage  with  Katherine 

Schmidt,  who  died  October  10,  1881.     Of  this  latter  union  were  born  seven 

(45) 


7o6  VVEIK  S   HISTORY   OF 

children,  one  daughter  and  six  sons,  two  of  whom  died  before  attaining  man- 
hood. 

Before  he  had  left  Cincinnati  Mr.  Weik  had  joined  the  order  of  Odd 
Fellows  and  also  the  Everett  Street  Methodist  church  and  shortly  after  his 
removal  to  Greencastle  he  became  a  Freemason.  After  1861  he  affiliated 
with  the  Republican  party,  but  never  sought  any  sort  of  political  reward  or 
preferment.  The  only  public  office  he  ever  accepted  was  that  of  city  council- 
man, to  which  position  he  was  chosen  by  his  fellow  citizens  and  neighbors 
without  his  solicitation  and  despite  his  refusal  to  become  a  candidate. 

Louis  Weik  was  a  splendid  type  of  the  foreign-born  American  citizen. 
Although  he  had  passed  through  the  fanaticism  and  violence  of  the  Know- 
nothing  period  and  had  endured  the  opprobrium  and  abuse  heaped  upon  those 
who  happened  to  have  migrated  from  beyond  the  national  boundaries,  yet 
he  was,  from  the  beginning,  a  steadfast,  uncompromising  and  unyielding 
champion  of  Auierica  and  .American  institutions.  He  had  unquestioned  faith 
in  the  people  and  the  profoundest  affection  for  the  government  and  allowed 
no  man  to  surpass  him  in  loyalty,  zeal  and  veneration  for  the  country  of  his 
adoption.  At  the  same  time  he  was  not  ashamed  of  the  land  of  his  nativity — 
in  fact  was  proud  of  her  histoiy  and  her  achievements. 

Born  to  labor,  he  took  pride  in  his  calling  and  in  every  way  strove 
to  elevate  and  improve  it;  he  was  honest  and  invariably  square  in  all  his  deal- 
ings, therebv  winning  and  maintaining  the  approval  and  good  will  of  his 
neighbors;  instinctively  modest,  he  never  boasted,  never  prated  of  his  own 
doings;  candid  and  sincere  by  nature,  he  could  not  flatter,  could  not  cajole; 
unremitting  in  his  devotion  to  his  family,  and  sacrificing  much  that  they 
mic'ht  receive  the  best  education  and  training  that  his  means  would  admit, 
he  labored  to  the  ver}'  end  and.  although  he  could  bequeath  to  them  no  great 
estate,  he  left  them  that  which  is  beyond  all  material  accumulations — the 
aroma  and  sanctity  of  a  good  name. 


EDWARD  W.  McGAUGHEY. 

(  By  Sara  McG.  Rand. ) 

In  the  absence  of  county  historical  societies,  many  important  facts  and 
events  in  the  lives  of  the  men  who  helped  to  make  history  in  the  early  days 
of  the  statehood  of  Indiana,  which  were  once  as  familiar  as  household  tales, 


PUTNAM    COUNTY,    INDIANA.  JOJ 

are  entirely  forgotten.  After  the  lapse  of  many  years  it  is  impossible  to  give 
a  clear  and  connected  review  of  a  life  where  no  records  are  available.  The 
reader,  bearing  this  in  mind,  will  be  indulgent  to  the  writer,  who  undertakes 
this  work  of  love,  deploring  the  negligence  of  the  past  in  not  securing  infor- 
mation from  living  witnesses,  and  who  now  attemjits  to  record  the  meager 
facts  at  hand. 

The  parents  of  Edward  W.  McGaughey  were  .\rthur  O.  and  Sarah 
(Bell)  McGaughey.  His  father  was  born  on  March  3,  1788.  and  came  from 
Johnstown,  Pennsylvania,  to  the  West  when  a  \'ers-  young  man,  with  a  com- 
pany of  "Rangers" — I  presume  a  military  company,  armed  for  protection. 
At  Corydon.  Indiana,  in  about  1810,  he  married  Sarah  Bell,  who  was  Ijom 
in  Kentucky  on  June  11,  1790.  Their  family  consisted  of  si.x  children — Wil- 
liam B.,  Edward  W.,  Thomas  D.,  Marv-  Jane.  John  and  Harriet.  Mar}'  Jane 
McGaughey  was  tlie  first  white  child  born  in  Putnam  county.  The  records 
of  Putnam  county  show  that  the  first  term  of  court  heki  in  that  county  was  at 
a  private  house  about  sixteen  miles  south  of  town,  on  the  3d  of  June,  1822. 
and  that  Arthur  McGaughey  was  clerk  of  the  court,  and  that  the  first  case 
taken  to  the  supreme  court  was  by  Arthur  McGaughey.  He  held  this  ofiice 
for  twenty-three  or  four  years  and  lived  on  a  farm  about  three  miles  south  of 
Greencastle  up  to  the  time  of  his  death,  ^lay  2,  1857.  His  wife  was  a  woman 
of  strong  character  and  keen  intellect,  and  was  well  known  for  her  independent 
and  fearless  frankness  and  energy  in  the  discharge  of  her  duties.  She  was  a 
stanch  member  of  the  Baptist  church,  and  was  a  familiar  figure,  mounted  on 
her  gray  mare,  on  her  way  to  attend  meetings  and  associations,  in  sunshine 
or  rain.  During  one  of  her  absences  on  Sunday  an  old  soldier  made  a  visit 
to  her  husband,  who  was  \ery  fond  of  a  practical  joke.  He  drew  the  man 
out  on  his  favorite  subject  of  conversation — his  war  experiences — anil  about 
the  time  he  expected  his  wife's  return  he  said  to  the  soldier:  "X'ow  take  a 
piece  of  charcoal  and  mark  out  on  the  floor  the  plan  of  the  battle  of  Lundy's 
Lane,  so  I  may  know  just  the  position  of  the  British  and  American  forces." 
The  old  man  ol:)e}'ed.  and  was  so  absorl)ed  in  his  work,  explaining  it  as  he 
drew  the  heavy  lines  on  the  clean,  white  boards,  that  he  did  not  notice  the 
exit  of  his  host,  nor  the  entrance  of  the  host's  wife,  till  he  heard  her  indignant 
tones  demanding  the  cause  of  his  defacing  her  floor,  and  ordering  him  to 
desist  at  once. 

The  life  of  the  pioneers  was  very  prosaic  and  practical,  and  devoted 
almost  exclusively  to  the  useful  arts,  but  by  some  means  an  industrv-  was  intro- 
duced in  this  household  that  bordered  on  the  ornamental,  in  the  cultivation  of 


7o8  WEIK  S    HISTORY   OF 

silk-worm  cocoons.  A  large  mulberry  tree  fumished  the  nourishment  re- 
quired, and  the  experiment  was  successful.  The  thread  was  prepared  and 
knit  into  gloves.  A  pair  yet  remains  that  was  given  to  her  son,  Edward,  who 
took  pride  in  showing  the  handiwork  of  his  mother.  He  manifested  his  love 
for  his  parents  and  his  thoughtfulness  for  their  welfare  in  providing  for  them 
in  his  will. 

Edward  W.  McGaughey  was  born  in  Putnam  county,  Indiana,  on  Jan- 
uary i6,  1817.  He  was  principally  self-educated,  as  he  entered  his  father's 
office  as  deputy  clerk  at  a  very  early  age.  He  was  married  to  Margaret 
Matlock  on  January  18,  183S,  at  Greencastle,  she  being  the  daughter  of 
James  Matlock  and  Rosanna  (Wood)  Matlock,  of  Danville.  Indiana.  He 
signed  his  own  marriage  license,  "Arthur  ]VIcGaughey,  Clerk,  per  E.  W.  Mc- 
Gauo-hev,  Deputy."  His  father  was  opposed  to  his  marriage  on  account 
of  his  youth.  At  the  March  term,  1835,  the  records  show  that  E.  W.  Mc- 
Gaughey produced  a  certificate  of  good  character  and,  after  examination, 
was  admitted  to  the  practice  of  law  in  Putnam  county  at  the  age  of  eighteen 
years.  In  the  fall  of  '1840  Thompson  killed  Rhynerson.  He  was  arrested, 
indicted,  tried  and  hung,  all  within  thirty  days.  The  trial  was  in  January, 
1 84 1,  and  the  hanging  in  February,  1841.  E.  W.  McGaughey  defended 
Thompson. 

In  1842  E.  W.  McGaughey  made  his  first  race  for  office — that  of  state 
senator — and  was  elected,  defeating  Albert  G.  Hutton.  When  the  Legislature 
convened  his  first  efifort  was  to  have  the  congressional  district  in  which  he 
was  residing  changed,  so  as  to  give  the  district  to  the  Whigs,  which  was  done. 
He  resioned  to  make  his  first  race  for  Congress.  This,  I  think,  was  in  1843, 
when  his  opponent  was  Joseph  A.  Wright,  who  won  the  election  by  three 
votes.  In  looking  over  a  copy  of  the  Western  Visitor,  July  20,  1843,  Pub- 
lished at  Greencastle,  I  find  it  brim  full  of  this  race,  and  as  it  was  a  Whig 
paper  it  was  very  sanguine  of  the  election  of  its  candidate.  It  says:  "But 
the  citizens  of  old  Putnam  raised  Ned  McGaughey,  and  well  may  they  be 
proud  of  him.  They  are ;  and  they  will  not  be  ashamed  to  own  it  on  the  first 
]!vIondav  in  August  next."  In  this  same  paper  is  a  reference  to  R.  W.  Thomp- 
son from  the  Wabash  Courier,  which  refers  to  a  speech  made  there,  and  to 
his  intention  of  making  Terre  Haute  his  residence. 

Mr.  McGaughey  was  elected  to  the  twenty-ninth  Congress,  which  con- 
vened in  December,  1845,  ^^'^  ^^^°  ^°  ^^^  thirty-first,  which  convened  Decem- 
ber 3,  1849.  I  think  he  was  a  candidate  for  the  thirty-second  Congress  and 
was  defeated  by  John  G.  Davis,  of  Parke  county.  He  was  a  strong  opponent 
of  the  3.1exican  war  and  delivered  a  strong  speech  on  the  subject  in  Congress. 


PUTNAM    COUXTY,    INDIANA.  "OQ 

President  Taylor  nominated  him  governor  of  the  territory  of  Minnesota, 
but  he  failed  of  confirmation  by  the  Senate,  in  consequence  of  his  attitude  on 
the  war  question.  His  rejection  caused  great  excitement  and  indignation 
among  the  Whigs  of  Indiana.  In  speaking  of  the  distinguished  men  of  Parke 
county,  the  Rockz'ille  Tribune,  in  ■May.  1896,  had  this  to  say  of  Mr.  Mc- 
Gaughey : 

"There  was  another,  also  an  adopted  son  of  Parke  county,  and  though 
the  number  of  years  he  spent  within  her  borders  was  comparatively  few,  yet 
we  claim  him  with  as  much  pride  as  if  he  was  to  the  manor  born.  No  one 
who  has  come  down  from  a  former  generation  but  remembers  with  a  glow 
of  enthusiasm  and  admiration  the  gifted,  clear-headed,  courageous,  ambitious 
and  brilliant  Xed  McGaughey.  His  triumphs  at  the  bar  were  the  fireside  talk 
of  those  early  days.  His  defiant  and  chivalric  contests  on  the  stump  were 
the  pride  and  glorv  of  his  friends  and  the  terror  of  his  political  enemies.  In 
person  he  was  about  five  feet  seven  inches  in  height,  slenderly  made,  had  a 
sallow  complexion,  dark  hair,  was  thin  visaged  and  slightly  stoop-shouldered. 
His  voice  was  not  mellow  or  musical,  but  had  about  it  a  nasal  Yankee  twang 
— clear,  piercing  and  penetrating.  He  was  a  prodig}'  of  industry  and  energy. 
Dav  and  night  his  active  and  acute  mind  was  on  the  alert,  devouring  and 
absorbing  the  principles  of  law  and  politics. 

"He  seemed  to  dwell  entirely  in  the  region  of  the  intellectual.  His  mind 
and  body  were  disproportioned :  the  hungry,  grasping,  aggressive  intellect 
did  its  work  clearly,  positively,  completely,  but  at  the  expense  of  a  delicate 
and  feeble  constitution.  His  brain  seemed  to  outn.m  his  body,  and,  as  a  con- 
sequence, he  died  comparatively  in  early  life.  The  leading  characteristics  of 
his  mind  were  great  clearness  of  mental  vision,  and  an  unyielding,  uncompro- 
mising and  absolutely  logical  method  of  mental  operation.  No  flights  of 
imagination  or  flowers  of  rhetoric  adorned  his  arguments  before  the  bar  and 
the  people ;  he  made  no  efforts  at  rounded  periods,  or  the  mere  graces  of  ora- 
tory to  attract,  amuse  or  please ;  but  a  bristling  point  was  in  every  sentence, 
defined  by  exact  language,  and  enforced  by  the  power  of  pure  reasoning. 
Either  knowing  or  caring  nothing  for  the  sensibilities,  his  field  of  battle,  in 
his  intellectual  contests,  was  in  the  realm  of  the  intellect  and  the  will,  save  at 
times  when  he  let  fly  a  glittering  sentence  of  sarcasm  or  invective,  which  cut 
right  and  left,  like  a  Damascus  blade ;  or  scratched  and  scathed  and  blistered 
and  shivered  like  a  molten  bolt  of  lightning." 

"Edward  W.  McGaughey  was  born  in  Putnam  county,  and  practiced  law 
in  and  was  elected  to  Congress  from  that  county.  He  came  to  Parke  county 
about  the  year  1848.  and  entered  into  partnership  with  Governor  Wright  in 


7IO  WEIK  S    HISTORY   OF 

the  practice  of  the  law.  He  was  elected  to  Congress  while  a  resident  of  this 
county,  but  in  a  subsequent  race  for  congressional  honors  was  defeated.  He 
was  mortified  and  chagrined  over  his  defeat,  and  it  largely  influenced  him  in 
his  determination  to  remove  to  another  field.  He  turned  his  face  toward  the 
sunset  land  and  determined  to  cast  his  lot  and  exercise  his  great  talents  in 
the  state  of  California,  to  which  state  he  finally  went.  But  the  overworked 
and  delicate  constitution  at  last  gave  way  before  his  career  in  that  distant 
land  began.  The  lamp  of  his  life,  brilliant  and  constant  to  the  last,  went  out 
in  darkness  forever.  His  remains  sleep  on  the  golden  slopes  of  that  far-off 
state,  but  time  nor  distance  can  elTace  from  the  memory  of  our  people  his  tal- 
ents and  his  brilliant  public  service,  or  abate  the  tithe  of  a  hair  our  claim  that 
his  ashes  and  his  fame  are  the  common  property  of  the  people  of  Parke 
county." 

Mr.  AIcGaughey  was  at  one  time  an  applicant  for  the  appointment  of 
commissioner  of  the  general  land  office,  but  failed.  The  story  is  thus  told  in 
the  "Life  of  Lincoln,"  by  W.  H.  Herndon  and  Jesse  William  Weik : 

"Lincoln  says :  T  believe  that,  so  far  as  the  Whigs  in  Congress  are 
concerned,  I  could  have  the  general  land  office  almost  by  common  consent ; 
but  then  Sweet  and  Dan  Morrison,  and  Browning  and  Cyrus  Edwards  all 
want  it.  and  what  is  worse,  while  I  think  I  could  easily  take  it  for  myself  I 
fear  I  shall  have  trouble  to  get  it  for  any  other  man  in  Illinois.  The  reason 
is  that  McGaughey,  an  Indiana  ex-member  of  Congress,  is  here  after  it,  and 
being  personally  known  he  will  be  hard  to  beat  by  any  one  who  is  not."  '  The 
authors  say :  "But,  as  the  sequel  proved,  there  was  no  need  to  fear  the 
Hoosier  statesman,  for  although  he  had  the  endorsement  of  General  Scott 
and  others  of  equal  influence,  yet  he  was  left  far  behind  in  the  race,  and 
along  with  him  Lincoln.  Morrison,  Browning  and  Edwards.  A  dark  horse 
in  the  person  of  Justin  Butterfield,  sprang  into  view  and  with  surprising 
facility  captured  the  tempting  prize." 

The  death  of  Hon.  Edward  W.  McGaughey  is  thus  recorded  in  the  San 
Francisco  Whig  of  August  7,  1852: 

"It  is  our  painful  duty  to  record  the  demise  of  Hon.  E.  W.  McGaughey, 
who  arrived  in  San  Francisco  on  the  4th  inst.  by  the  A\'infield  Scott.'  He 
died  at  James'  Hotel  yesterday  morning  at  one  o'clock  of  Panama  fever,  with 
which  he  was  attacked  on  the  passage.  Doctor  Greathouse,  of  Kentucky, 
Judge  HamnKJud,  of  Indiana,  and  other  kind  friends,  who  were  with  him  on 
board  the  steamer,  were  unremitting  in  their  attentions  to  him.  and  slight 
hopes  were  entertained  that  he  would  recover  on  reaching  this  place.     Im- 


PUTNAM    COUNTY.    INDIANA.  JI  I 

metliately  on  lainling.  Doctor  Aldrich.  of  this  city,  was  called  on  to  assist  in 
attending  to  him  and  exerted  every  means  that  medical  skill  could  suggest 
for  his  restoration.  But  he  had  become  so  emaciated  and  enfeebled  that  all 
was  without  avail.  He  did  not  die  among  strangers.  Old  acquaintances  and 
friends  were  around  him  and  paid  him  every  possible  attention.  Among 
them  were  Hon.  George  C.  Bates.  ex-Governor  McDougal  and  Hon.  P.  W. 
Tompkins.  G>!.  E.  D.  Baker,  who  had  known  him  familiarly,  was  not  in 
town  at  the  time  of  his  death.  Mr.  McGaughey  was  formerly  a  Whig  mem- 
ber of  Congress  of  Indiana,  and  one  of  the  youngest  members  of  that  body, 
and  of  more  than  average  talents.  He  had  embarked  for  California  with  the 
intention  of  prosecuting  his  profession  of  law  and  politics." 

The  following  letters,  one  from  W.  D.  Griswold,  and  one  from  the  late 
Governor  Joseph  A.  Wright,  tell  of  the  esteem  in  which  he  was  held  by  his 
contemporaries : 
":vlrs.  E.  W.  McGaughey: 

"Dear  Madam : — I  am  deputed  to  transmit  to  you  a  copy  of  resolutions 
adopted  by  members  of  the  bar  of  this  circuit  at  this  place  during  the  recent 
session  of  court  in  memon.-  of  your  dear  deceased  husband.  These  resolu- 
tions you  will  find  enclosed  with  this.  Having  taken  part  in  their  adoption, 
it  is  almost  unnnecssar\-  for  me  to  express  further  any  sentiments  I  enter- 
tain in  relation  to  the  sad  event  which  called  them  forth.  Yet  I  can  not 
refrain  to  say  to  you  that  the  unexpected  news  of  Mr.  McGaughey's  death 
impressed  me  mournfully.  We  were  of  nearly  the  same  age  and  we  com- 
menced our  professional  careers  together  in  the  same  courts.  During  some 
thirteen  or  fourteen  years  we  were  on  terms  of  uninterrupted  friendship. 
I  therefore  could  not  but  feel  that  the  blow  that  struck  him  down  fell  very 
near  to  me. 

"I  deeply  sympathize  with  you  and  your  dear  children  in  this  bereave- 
ment, ^'our  husband  and  their  father  was  a  man  of  talents  and  a  man  of 
honor,  .\nibitious  as  he  was.  I  believe  that  he  never  swerved  in  his  integrity 
or  in  his  fidelity.  His  death  is  greatly  a  public  loss — greatly  a  loss  to  his 
friends  and  associates,  but  principally  yours.  The  memory  of  his  virtues 
will  comfort  you.  You  can  with  truth  and  fidelity  hold  out  to  your  children 
the  example  of  his  life  for  their  guidance  and  emulation.  In  this  exercise 
I  confidently  believe  you  will  realize  much  consolation  in  the  dark  hours 
of  your  widowhood. 

"Believe  me.  with  sincerest  sympathy  and  regards,  your  friend  and 
servant,  "W.  D.  Griswold.'' 


712  VVEIK  S    HISTORY    OF 

"Mrs.  E.  W.  McGaughey : 

"Madam : — I  have  neglected  on  account  of  my  absence  from  home  in 
sending  to  you  before  this  my  tribute  of  respect  for  the  memory  of  your 
beloved  husband.  I  can  most  fully  appreciate  your  loss.  I  know  the  anguish 
of  your  heart,  the  ties  that  are  broken,  and  can  unite  with  you  in  the  warm- 
est sympathy  of  condolence. 

"I  knew  your  deceased  husband  in  all  the  various  relations  of  life, 
perhaps  better  than  any  other  person,  not  related  to  him. 

"And  in  view  of  all  this,  can  say  the  country  has  lost  one  of  her  bright- 
est jewels,  society  an  active,  industrious  and  useful  citizen,  and  to  you  and 
your  fatherless  children  the  loss  is  not  only  that  of  husljand,  father,  friend, 
brother,  guardian  and  protector,  but  he  was,  in  that  more  intimate  and  close 
relation,  your  all,  the  head  of  your  family. 

"You  must  look  to  the  source  from  whence  comes  all  our  blessings, 
the  father  of  the  widow  and  the  fatherless.  He  alone  is  able  to  heal  up  all 
our  wounds,  administer  to  us  consolation  in  the  darkest  hours.  Without 
His  aid  we  are  liable  any  moment  to  go  astray.  May  He  comfort,  sustain 
and  encourage  you  in  this,  your  dark  hour  of  trouble. 

"When  I  visit  your  place  I  will  call  and  deliver  in  person  what  I  can 
not  on  paper,  the  warmest  expression  of  my  sympathy.  Accept  this  humble 
tribute  from  one  who  has  lately  passed  through  the  same  affliction,  and  who 
most  heartily  joins  in  wishing  you  peace,  prosperity  and  happiness  in  this 
life  of  trouble.  "Your  friend, 

"Joseph  A.  Wright." 

Edward  W.  and  Margaret  McGaughey  were  the  parents  of  five  children, 
namely :    Sara  M.,  Mary,  Edward  W.,  Charles  O.  and  Thomas  Corwin. 

Sara  M.  became  the  wife  of  George  Dexter  Rand,  of  Burlington,  Iowa, 
the  wedding  occurring  at  Greencastle,  Indiana,  on  December  25,  1862. 
In  a  few  days  Mr.  Rand  received  his  commission  as  paymaster  in  the 
United  States  Volunteer  Navy  and  reported  on  board  the  gunboat  "Silver 
Lake,"  on  the  Ohio  river  at  Smithland,  Kentucky,  under  Commodore  Leroy 
Fitch.  In  about  a  year  he  received  his  commission  as  paymaster  in  the 
United  States  Regular  Navy.  In  1864  he  was  sent  to  the  upper  Tennessee 
river  in  charge  of  four  gunboats,  which  were  to  keep  the  river  open  from 
Decatur,  Alabama,  to  Chattanooga  and  Knoxville,  Tennessee.  He  served 
till  the  close  of  tlie  Civil  war,  when  he  resigned.  Remaining  in  the  South, 
Mr.  Rand  engaged  in  the  lumber  business  at  Bridgeport.  Alabama,  and 
Gadsden,  the  same  state,  until  1S80,  when  lie  came  to  Keokuk.  Iowa,  where 


PUTNAM    COCXTY,    INDIAXA.  7I3 

he  was  manager  of  the  Carson  &  Rantl  Lumber  Company.  He  was  elected 
mayor  of  the  city  on  tlie  RepubHcan  ticket.  During  his  term  of  service  a 
large  tract  of  land  was  bought  by  the  city,  and  the  city  council  named  it 
Rand  Park  in  his  honor.  Mr.  Rand  was  vice-president  of  the  State  Central 
Savings  Bank,  of  which  bank  William  Logan  is  president.  Mr.  Rand  died 
November  12.  1903,  and  is  buried  in  the  City  cemetery  at  Greencastle, 
Indiana. 

^Nlary  McGaughey  was  married  to  Henry  Christian  Heine  on  October 
2,  1866,  at  Indianapolis.  Indiana.  After  the  close  of  the  Civil  war  they 
moved  to  Bridgeport.  Alabama,  and  Mr.  Heine  \\'as  employed  by  the  Xash- 
ville,  Chattanooga  &  St.  Louis  railroad.  After  Edward  W.  McGaughev, 
who  was  railroad  agent  there,  moved  to  Chattanooga,  Tennessee.  Mr.  Heine 
was  appointed  agent,  which  position  he  still  fills.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Heine  be- 
came the  parents  of  three  daughters  and  one  son,  namely :  Sophie,  Marv, 
Pauline  and  McGaughey.  Hilary  married  Jefferson  Washburn,  of  New  York, 
and  both  died  in  1904.  Mrs.  Heine  died  in  June.  1903.  Pauline,  alone  of 
the  children,  survives.  She  was  married  to  James  Earls,  of  Tennessee,  in 
June,   1900,  and  they  live  at  Tullahoma.  Tennessee. 

Edward  \\'.  McGaughey,  Jr.,  was  a  student  in  old  Asbury  L'niversitv, 
at  Greencastle,  Indiana,  but  during  the  Civil  war  he  left  college  and  joined 
an  Indiana  battery,  seeing  hard  service  in  Kentucky.  He  was  transferred 
to  the  United  States  Xavy  as  midshipman  and  served  till  the  close  of  the 
war.  He  was  telegrapher  in  the  railroad  office  at  Bridgeport,  .\Iabama, 
and  aftenvards  was  appointed  agent.  He  was  promoted  to  freight  agent  at 
Chattanooga,  and  later  he  resigned  to  accept  a  position  with  the  Big  Four 
railroad  as  traffic  manager,  with  headquarters  at  Chattanooga,  Tennessee, 
w  hich  position  he  held  at  the  time  of  his  death,  which  occurred  on  December 
17.  1890,  at  Chattanooga.  On  October  26.  1869,  at  Bridgeport,  Alabama, 
Edward  McGaughey  was  married  to  X.  A.  Troxell,  and  they  had  three 
daughters.  Sallie  Rand  McGaughey  was  married  to  John  Harlan  Morris, 
of  Greencastle.  Indiana,  on  December  28,  1898,  and  one  son,  John  Raymond 
Morris,  is  the  only  child.  Mrs.  Morris  died  May  5.  1904,  and  is  buried  at 
Keokuk.  Iowa.  Margaret  li\"es  with  her  mother  at  Keokuk.  Edith  Gene- 
vieve married  Sam  V.  Cox.  at  Keokuk,  on  July  2j.  1S99.  and  they  have  three 
daughters  living,  Genevieve  R.,  Ruth  E.  and  Grace  E.     They  live  at  Keokuk. 

Charles  Oliver  McGaughey  was  married  to  Abbie  Linton,  at  Indianap- 
olis. Indiana,  on  June  29.  1873.  On  October  19.  1897.  at  Bridgeport, 
Alabama,  he  was  married  to  Anna  Belle  Hall.     One  son.  Charles  O..  is  the 


■u 


WEIK  3    HISTORY    OF 


only  child.  Charles  O.  McGaughey  died  at  Bridgeport,  Alabama,  on  April 
25.'  1906,  and  is  buried  in  Forest  Hill  cemetery  at  Chattanooga.  Tennessee. 
Thomas  Corwin  McGaughey  was  married  to  Lydia  Gilchrist  in  Indi- 
anapolis on  February  22,  1872.  They. lived  in  Chattanooga.  Tennessee,  a 
number  of  years,  but  now  are  living  in  St.  Louis.  Missouri.  They  have  two 
daughters.  Margaret  married  William  McCarthy  in  Chattanooga.  Tennes- 
see, on  September  3.  1895.  and  they  have  one  son.  Raymond.  Pearl  was 
married  to  James  D.  Leahy,  at  Chattanooga.  Tennessee,  on  June  7,  1905. 
Thev  have  two  daughters,  and  live  in  St.  Louis.  Missouri. 


HENRY  C.  COOPER. 

Among  the  enterprising  and  highly  respected  citizens  of  Putnam  county 
who  are  deserving  of  a  place  in  the  county's  history  is  Henry  C.  Cooper,  a 
farmer  living  in  Franklin  township  on  a  valuable  estate  which,  by  judicious 
management,  he  has  brought  to  its  present  high  standard.  He  was  born  in 
Clinton  township,  this  county,  March  13.  i860,  the  son  of  George  H.  and 
Margaret  (Thomas)  Cooper.  John  Cooper,  the  paternal  grandfather,  was 
born  in  Kentucky,  near  IVIount  Sterling,  and  he  came  to  Putnam  county, 
Indiana,  about  1828.  settling  near  Bainbridge.  Monroe  township,  of  which 
he  was  one  of  the  early  settlers.  He  later  came  to  Clinton  township,  where 
he  remained  the  rest  of  his  life.  George  H.  Cooper  was  about  three  years 
old  when  his  parents  brought  him  to  Putnam  county.  He  grew  to  maturity 
here  and  began  farming  early,  making  it  his  life  work  and  he  became  very 
well-to-do  as  the  result  of  judicious  management  and  close  application  to 
his  work.  He  became  the  owner  of  eight  hundred  acres.  He  was  a  well- 
read  man  and  took  considerable  interest  in  Republican  politics,  being  promi- 
nent in  local  affairs  for  many  years.  He  and  his  wife  reared  a  large  family, 
eleven  children  having  been  born  to  them,  nine  of  whom  are  living  at  this 
writing,  Plenry  C.  of  this  revieAv,  being  the  fifth  in  order  of  birth.  He 
was  reared  on  the  home  farm,  which  he  worked  when  he  became  of  proper 
ao-e.  attending  the  district  schools  in  the  meantime  in  Clinton  township,  and 
he  was  a  student  one  year  at  Danville.  Indiana,  attending  the  normal  there. 
He  applied  himself  very  carefully  to  his  work  and  received  a  very  good  edu- 
cation. He  taught  school  two  winters,  but.  although  he  made  a  good  start 
as  an  educator,  the  work  did  not  appeal  to  him  and  he  returned  to  the  more 
independent  and  lucrative  line  of  agriculture. 


PUTNAM    COUNTY,    INDIANA.  71 0 

Mr.  Cooper  was  married  in  1887  to  Elizabeth  L.  Bridges,  who  was 
born  in  1868.  the  daughter  of  Robert  L.  Bridges,  her  family  having  long 
been  well  known  in  Putnam  county.  This  union  has  resulted  in  the  birth 
of  one  daughter,  Mabel  B.,  born  August  21,  1888.  She  graduated  at  the 
high  scliooi  and  she  took  music  at  DePauw  University,  manifesting  consid- 
erable talent  in  this  line.  She  was  married  Januarv-  i,  1910,  to  Ralph  Cross, 
of  Lebanon.  Boone  county.  Indiana,  and  is  now  here,  going  to  farm  the 
homestead. 

Mr.  Cooper  is  the  owner  of  two  hundred  acres  of  well  improved  and 
highly  productive  land  in  Franklin  and  Russell  townships.  He  has  a  modern 
and  attractive  dwelling  of  ten  rooms,  located  in  the  midst  of  beautiful  sur- 
roundings. He  has  a  substantial  barn  and  other  outbuildings.  He  keeps  a 
good  line  of  stock  and  feeds  a  great  many  cattle  and  hogs,  being  regarded  as 
one  of  the  leading  general  farmers  and  stockmen  in  Franklin  township. 

Mr.  Cooper  is  a  member  of  the  ^Methodist  Episcopal  church.  Brick 
Chapel.  Mrs.  Coijper  being  a  member  of  the  Universalist  church.  Mr. 
Cooper  is  an  independent  voter,  preferring  to  support  the  individual  whom  he 
considers  best  qualified  for  the  office  sought  rather  than  the  party.  Per- 
sonally he  is  obliging,  jovial,  neighborly  and  a  man  whom  everybody  likes. 
His  father,  George  H.,  died  on  December  30,  1896. 


FRED  L.  GUILLIA^IS. 

Back  to  the  earliest  settlers  of  Putnam  county  is  traced  the  record  of  the 
Guillianis  family,  the  many  members  of  which  have  done  much  for  the  gen- 
eral progress  of  the  locality,  since  they  have  all  been  hard  workers  and  law- 
abiding  and  always  willing  to  do  their  just  share  in  the  interest  of  the  county. 
Among  the  best  known  of  this  family  in  Russell  township  is  Fred  L.  Guil- 
liams.  who  was  born  in  this  county,  October  4,  1867,  the  son  of  Daniel 
Guilliams,  born  September  27,  1833,  and  the  grandson  of  John  Guilliams, 
born  April  26,  1802,  a  native  of  Virginia,  who  was  one  of  the  first  settlers 
of  this  countv  and  who  married  Lydia  Fosher,  born  October  2,  1806,  a  na- 
tive of  this  county :  they  resided  on  a  farm  at  Blakesburg  and  were  the  par- 
ents of  the  following  children :  John,  Christian,  Daniel.  Lydia.  Sarah,  Mary 
and  Betsy,  all  deceased  but  Lydia,  who  married  a  Mr.  Leonard  and  is  living 
in  Kansas.  Daniel  Guilliams  was  reared  on  the  farm  and  had  the  advantages 
of  the  earlv  schools  of  the  backwoods.     He  was  married  to  Clarissa  Hart. 


7i6  weik's  history  of 

September  14,  1856,  daughter  of  John  M.  Hart,  who  was  born  December 
ID,  1806,  and  who  on  February  21,  1830,  married  Nancy  Cohvell  Lockridge, 
who  was  born  July  12,  1812.  They  were  the  parents  of  ten  children,  John 
L.,  Alargary  E.,  Clarissa,  Margaret,  Henry  C.  Sarah  A.,  Nancy  P.,  Pauline 
and  Eliza.     The  Harts  also  lived  in  Putnam  county  in  its  earliest  days. 

After  his  marriage,  Daniel  Guilliams  began  farming  on  his  own  ac- 
count, which  he  continued  for  a  few  years,  then  engaged  in  business  as  a  re- 
tail merchant  at  Portland  Mills.  After  four  years  he  went  back  to  his  farm. 
Both  he  and  his  wife  belonged  to  the  Christian  church.  Politically  Mr.  Guil- 
liams was  a  Republican.  His  death  occurred  August  10.  1893,  ^^'S  wife  sur- 
viving until  August  17,  1895.  They  are  buried  in  the  cemetery  at  Blakes- 
burg.  Six  children  were  born  to  them,  four  of  whom  are  living,  namely : 
John  ;\I..  born  October  16,  1857,  married  Fanny  Cavins,  of  Illinois;  he  is 
professor  of  mathematics,  languages  and  history  in  the  normal  school  at 
Bowling  Green,  Kentucky ;  Ida  E.  is  a  teacher  in  the  public  schools  of  Put- 
nam county;  Ella  B.,  now  Mrs.  Morton  Fordice,  was  born  August  11,  1873, 
and  is  the  mother  of  four  children,  Margery,  Daniel,  Mary  and  Rudolph. 

Fred  L.  Guilliams,  of  this  review,  spent  his  boyhood  days  on  the  home 
farm.  After  completing  the_ prescribed  course  in  the  common  schools  he  was 
graduated  from  the  Danville  Normal  School,  where  he  prepared  himself  for 
a  teacher,  and  for  three  years  taught  very  successfully  in  the  public  schools 
and  one  year  in  a  normal  school  in  Florida.  On  April  23,  1899,  he  married 
Laura  'SI.  Grimes,  daughter  of  John  and  Amanda  (Clodfelter)  Grimes,  an 
influential  family  of  this  county,  where  they  have  lived  since  the  early  days. 
Mr.  and  ■Mrs.  Guilliams  began  their  married  life  on  a  farm  of  one  hundred 
and  sixty  acres,  for  which  they  paid  fifty  dollars  per  acre,  that  being  less 
than  one-half  of  its  present  value,  for  Mr.  Guilliams.  who  has  continued  to 
reside  here,  has  improved  the  place  until  it  is  equal  to  any  in  the  community, 
he  having  always  been  regarded  as  one  of  the  successful  and  enterprising 
agriculturists  of  the  county.  He  has  given  his  attention  e.xclusively  to  farm- 
ing and  stock  raising  and  is  an  enthusiastic  poultry  raiser,  keeping  a  large 
number  of  choice  fowls,  from  which  he  realizes  a  handsome  income ;  he  also 
makes  a  specialty  of  breeding  Duroc  Jersey  hogs  of  a  superior  quality :  these 
are  eagerly  sought  after  and  admired  by  all  who  see  them.  He  has  a  neat 
and  comfortable  dwelling,  nicely  furnished  and  good  outbuildings. 

To  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Guilliams  one  child  has  been  born.  John  Leroy.  born 
^lay  29,  1908.    Both  are  members  of  the  Christian  church. 

Regarding  the  several  branches  of  the  Guilliams  family  the  following 
facts  are  briefly  noted : 


PUTNAM    COUNTY,    INDIANA.  Jlj 

William  Giiilliams,  born  at  Parkersburg,  Virginia,  married  Sarah  Fer- 
guson and  they  had  nine  children,  viz :  Mary  Ouilliams  Smith,  John  Giiil- 
liams, Frances  Guilliams  Smith,  Edgecombe  Guilliams,  Chanty  Guilliams 
Myers.  William  Guilliams.  Richard  Guilliams,  Xaomi  Guilliams  Landers, 
George  Guilliams.  Of  these  children.  John  Guilliams'  paternal  grandfather 
of  Fred  L.  Guilliams,  married  Lydia  Fosher  and  they  had  eight  children, 
viz :  Daniel  Guilliams.  Susannah  Guilliams  Henkle,  Elizabeth  Guilliams  Mc- 
Gaughey,  Sarah  Guilliams  McGaughey,  ]Mar\-  Guilliams  Long,  John  Guil- 
liams, Christian  Guilliams  and  Lydia  Leonard.  Daniel  Guilliams,  father  of 
Fred  L.  Guilliams.  married  Clarissa  Hart.  September  14.  1856.  and  thev  had 
-^ix  children,  viz;  John  Milton  Guilliams.  Alice  Guilliams,  Charley  Guilliams, 
Lla  Emily  Guilliams,  Frederick  Leon  Guilliams  (subject  of  sketch),  and  Ella 
B.  Guilliams  Fordice.  Fred  L.  Guilliams  married  Laura  M.  Grimes  April 
23,  1899,  and  they  have  one  child,  John  Leroy  Guilliams.  Ella  B.  Guilliams 
married  Alorton  Fordice  and  they  have  six  children,  viz :  AIarger»-  Morton 
Fordice,  Rudolph  Gilliams  Fordice,  Mary  Charlotte  Fordice.  Daniel  Kirk- 
wood  Fordice,  an  infant  son  born  December  25,  1903,  and  Asa  Olney  Fordice. 
Mary  Cohvell  married  John  Lockridge,  and  they  had  seven  children,  viz : 
]\Iilton  Lockridge.  Xancy  Cohvell  Lockridge  (who  married  John  M.  Hart), 
[Matthew  Lockridge,  Elizabeth  Lockridge,  James  Lockridge.  Joseph  Lock- 
ridge and  Lou  Lockridge.  Of  these.  X'ancy  Cohvell  married  John  ^L  Hart 
and  they  had  nine  children,  as  named  elsewhere.  Philip  Hart  married  ^Lir- 
gery  Cohvell  and  they  had  four  children,  viz:  John  ^L  Hart  (grandfather 
of  Fred  L.  Guilliams),  born  December  10,  1806,  Pleasant  Hart  (died  when 
eleven  years  old),  Susanna  Hart  Allen,  and  Jane  Hart. 

John  ^[.  Hart  married  Xancy  Cohvell  Lockridge  and  thev  had  nine 
children,  viz:  John  Hart,  Margery  Elizabeth  Hart,  Clarissa  Hart  (born 
July  4.  1836,  who  became  the  wife  of  Daniel  Guilliams).  ]\Largaret  Priscilla 
Hart.  Henry  Clay  Hart.  Sarah  Anne  Hart,  Xancy  Pennelia  Hart,  Pauline 
Hart  and  Eliza  Hart. 

Clarissa  Hart  married  Daniel  Guilliams  and  they  had  si.x  children  as 
mentioned  above. 

Daniel  Fosher,  born  in  Germany.  May  12,  1763,  came  to  America  with 
the  Hessian  soldiers.  His  son,  John  Fosher,  born  in  Franklin  county.  Vir- 
ginia, in  1786,  married  Elizabeth  Landers  and  they  had  nine  children,  viz: 
Christian  Fosher,  Lydia  Fosher  Guilliams,  Daniel  (died  in  infancy).  Henrv- 
Fosher,  John  Fosher,  Anna  Fosher  Guilliams,  Kate  Fosher  Xichols.  Betsy 
Fosher  Fall,  Mary  Fosher  Todd  Smith.  Of  these  children,  Lydia  Fosher 
(born  October  2,  1806)  married  John  Guilliams  and  they  had  eight  children 


7i8  weik's  history  of 

as  o-iven  elsewhere.  Daniel  Guilliams,  the  eldest  of  these,  married  Clarissa 
Hart  and  they  became  the  parents  of  six  children  as  noted  elsewhere  in  this 
o-enealoo-y.  The  fifth  of  these  children  was  Frederick  Leon  Guilliams  (sub- 
ject), who  married  Laura  M.  Grimes,  daughter  of  John  and  Amanda  (Clod- 
felter)  Grimes,  and  they  have  one  son.  John  Leroy  Guilliams. 


THOMAS  J.  McGAN. 

Back  to  the  early  pioneer  days  in  Putnam  county  is  traced  the  ancestry 
of  Thomas  J.  McGan,  one  of  Russell  township's  best  known  citizens,  owning 
a  good  farm  here  and  a  nicely  arranged  and  well  equipped  jewelry  store  in 
Russellville.  beino-  one  of  the  influential  and  substantial  men  of  northwestern 
Putnam  county.  His  birth  occurred  here  November  24.  1844.  He  is  the 
son  of  James  ^NlcGan,  a  native  of  Pennsylvania  who  went  to  Kentucky,  from 
which  state,  in  1829,  he  came  to  Indiana,  locating  in  Russell  township,  Put- 
nam countv,  when  a  young  man.  He  first  engaged  as  a  laborer  in  a  woolen 
mill  which  was  operated  here  in  the  early  days,  in  time  getting  a  good  start. 
He  was  married  to  Margaret. Everman,  the  daughter  of  Michael  Everman, 
one  of  the  oldest  settlers  of  this  county.  He  was  the  father  of  five  children, 
Andy,  Maro-aret,  Betsy,  Wesley  and  William,  all  of  whom  are  deceased. 
Shortlv  after  his  marriage  Mr.  McGan  bought  one  hundred  and  sixty  acres 
of  land  in  section  5,  adjoining  the  town  of  Russellville,  and  engaged  in 
farming  and  stock  raising  and  fed  a  great  deal  of  stock.  He  was  a  money 
maker  and  from  time  to  time  added  to  his  farm,  owning  a  section  of  land, 
except  one  small  tract,  all  in  a  body.  In  1853  he  erected  on  his  original  farm 
a  verv  pretentious  brick  house  for  those  days,  a  two-story,  commodious 
structure,  having  burned  the  brick  on  his  own  farm  that  entered  into  its 
construction.  His  wife  preceded  him  to  the  grave,  dying  August  17,  1872, 
his  death  occurring  July  20.  1873;  they  are  buried  in  the  Russellville  ceme- 
terv.  Ten  children  were  born  to  them,  named  as  follows:  William,  born 
September  11,  1833,  died  August  23,  1862:  Andrew  J.,  born  February  2, 
1835,  died  Septemljer  20,  1841  ;  Eli  V.,  born  July  14,  1836,  died  November 
4  1841 ;  George  W.,  born  April  8.  1838,  died  November  6,  1841 ;  Mary,  born 
July  17!  1839,  died  August  i,  1840:  James  W.,  born  April  11,  1841 ;  died 
November  14,  1841 ;  Benjamin  F.,  born  October  15,  1842,  died  December 
29,  1874;  Thomas  J.  (of  this  review),  born  November  24,  1844;  Sarah, 
bom  :March  9,   1847.  died  December  9,   1847;  Rachael.  born  February  20. 


PL'TXAM    COLNTV.    INDIANA.  JIQ 

1849:  Rachael  and  Tliomas  J.,  of  this  review,  being  the  only  ones  Hving 
at  this  writing. 

Thomas  J.  AIcGan  was  reared  to  manhood  on  his  father's  fami  and 
receiveil  a  common  school  education.  Upon  the  death  of  his  parents  he 
heired  the  home  place  and  he  has  continued  to  reside  here  to  the  present 
time.  He  engages  very  successfully  in  farming  and  stock  raising,  keeping 
the  old  place  well  improved  and  carefully  tilled,  so  that  the  soil  has  not  de- 
preciated in  strength  and  value. 

Mr.  McGan  has  never  assumed  the  responsibilities  of  the  married  state, 
and  his  sister,  Rachael.  now  a  widow,  makes  her  home  with  him  most  of 
the  time.  She  was  twice  married,  first  to  James  Senett,  now  deceased ;  her 
last  marriage  was  to  Howard  .-Vnderson.  She  has  one  child,  William  Senett, 
who  is  married  and  is  living  on  a  farm  near  Crawfordsville,  Indiana.  Six 
members  of  his  father's  family  died  with  scarlet  fever  when  young. 

As  stated  at  the  onset,  Mr.  McGan  conducts  a  jewelry  store  at  Rus- 
sellville,  spending  much  of  his  time  looking  after  the  same;  however,  he 
lives  on  his  farm.  He  enjoys  a  good  trade  with  the  surrounding  community. 
He  has  the  undivided  respect  of  all  his  neighbors  and  has  always  been  square 
in  his  business  relations. 


ALBERT  C.  LOCKRIDGE. 

Among  Franklin  township's  successful  farmers  and  influential  men  of 
affairs  is  Albert  C,  Lockridge,  who  is  the  owner  of  a  fine  farm  which  he  ren- 
ders highlv  productive  by  the  latest  scientific  methods,  reaping  abundant  har- 
vests from  vear  to  year  as  the  result  of  the  energy,  time  and  thought  e.xpended 
upon  it,  and  he  is  regarded  as  one  of  the  leading  young  farmers  of  Putnam 
county.  He  comes  from  a  good  old  pioneer  family.  His  birth  occurred  near 
Greencastle,  Indiana,  February  20,  1873,  He  was  reared  on  the  home  farm 
which  he  worked  during  crop  seasons  when  he  became  old  enough,  attending 
the  district  schools  in  the  winter-time,  remaining  on  the  place  where  he  was 
born  until  he  was  thirteen  years  of  age  when  he  moved  to  Raccoon,  in  the 
northwest  part  of  the  county,  and  remained  there  five  years.  In  1891  he 
came  to  Roachdale,  Franklin  township.  After  his  preliminary  education  in 
the  common  schools  he  attended  DePauw  University  for  one  year,  after  which 
he  took  a  year's  course  in  a  business  school.  He  worked  on  the  farm  until 
1900,  then  purchased  a  farm  of  his  own,  and  in  1904  he  built  the  old  ele- 
vator at  Roachdale  and  he  has  been  engaged  in  the  grain  business  ever  since 


720 


WEIK  S    HISTORY    OF 


in  connection  with  his  farming.  He  buys  and  ships  all  kinds  of  grain  and 
hay,  having  built  up  an  extensive  and  lucrative  business.  He  also  has  an 
interest  in  the  Bainbridge  lumber  yard  at  Bainbridge,  Indiana,  where  the  firm 
handles  not  only  lumber,  but  also  cement,  coal,  grain  and  all  kinds  of  seeds, 
flour,  feed,  etc.,  doing  an  extensive  business.  Besides  these  extensive  inter- 
ests, he  is  the  owner  of  a  fine  farm  of  one  hundred  and  forty-two  acres  in 
section  2,  Franklin  township,  which  he  looks  after  personally,  giving  it  a 
great  deal  of  attention,  as  already  intimated,  especially  to  the  raising  of  grain, 
at  which  he  is  very  successful.  The  place  is  well  improved  and  he  has  a  mod- 
ern, comfortable  and  attractive  home.  He  has  been  very  successful  in  all  his 
business  operations  owing  to  his  soundness  of  judgment,  his  ability  to  forsee 
the  outcome  of  present  transactions  and  his  honorable  dealings  with  his  fel- 
low men,  which  has  gained  their  confidence. 

Mr.  Lockridge  was  married  to  Alice  Hillis,  of  Greencastle,  where  she 
grew  to  maturitv  and  where  she  received  her  education,  being  a  graduate  of 
the  high  school  there.  She  is  the  daughter  of  a  highly  respected  citizen  of 
that  place,  where  her  family  were  long  well  known.  This  union  has  resulted 
in  the  birth  of  three  children,  Louise,  born  in  1897,  Elizabeth,  born  in  1900, 
and  Nellie,  born  in  1905. 

Mr.  and  Mrs.  Lockridge  are  members  of  the  Methodist  Episcopal  church, 
and  fraternally,  Mr.  Lockridge  is  a  member  of  Roachdale  Lodge,  No.  602, 
Free  and  Accepted  Masons,  which  he  has  served  as  secretary;  he  is  also  a 
member  of  the  Knights  of  Pythias,  Lodge  No.  297.  He  is  a  Prohibitionist 
and  is  a  member  of  the  board  of  town  trustees  of  Roachdale.  Personally  he 
is  a  pleasant  man  to  know,  a  good  mixer,  straiglitforward  and  unassuming. 


SAMUEL  PRESTON  BROWN. 

One  of  the  men  who  is  enjoying  the  fruits  of  his  labors  in  his  declining 
vears  and  who  has  found  it  to  his  advantage  to  remain  in  his  native  locality 
is  Samuel  Preston  Brown,  owner  of  an  excellent  farm  near  Coatesville.  hav- 
ing by  long  years  of  patient  endeavor  accumulated  a  valuable  estate,  although 
starting  out  in  life  with  small  capital.  He  was  born  in  Putnam  county,  Jan- 
uarv  15.  1842,  the  son  of  Williamson  and  Jane  (Rich)  Brown,  a  well  known 
old  familv  of  this  community.  Grandfather  Williamson  Brown  was  a  native 
of  North  Carolina,  who  came  to  Wayne  county.  Indiana,  in  1832,  locating 
in    Flovd    township,    Putnam   county,    two   years    later;   however,    he    never 


PUTNAM    COUNTY,    INDIANA.  J2l 

owned  land  here,  although  a  farmer  by  occupation.  His  family  consisted  of 
nine  children,  namely :  William,  Hesekiah.  Isaac,  Stephen,  Williamson, 
Xancy,  Rebecca.  Alary  and  Betsy.  The  father  of  these  children  died  in 
1840  and  is  buried  in  the  cemetery  at  Coatesville. 

Williamson  Brown,  Jr.,  was  born  ]\Iay  7,  1794.  He  remained  at  home 
until  reaching  maturity  and  attended  the  primitive  schools  of  his  day.  On 
!May  16,  1804.  he  married  Jane  Rich  and  they  located  on  a  farm  of  one 
hundred  and  forty  acres  in, section  36,  Marion  township,  and  here  he  followed 
farming  all  his  life.  He  was  a  Republican  and  he  and  his  wife  were  members 
of  the  Methodist  church.  They  made  their  home  on  the  present  Brown  farm, 
he  I  lying  here  January  2.  1876,  being  survi\ed  by  his  widow  until  September 
12,  1899;  they  are  buried  in  the  Coatesville  cemetery.  Twelve  children  were 
born  to  them,  namely:  ^^Irs.  Sarah  E.  Xoble.  a  widow;  Airs.  Sarah  A. 
Harsch  and  Airs.  Emily  J.  Kelsey  are  both  living  in  Iowa:  Samuel  Preston, 
of  this  review;  Jabez;  those  now  deceased  are.  Airs.  Rachael  L.  Pierson.  Alan- 
uel,  Samuel  R.,  Hannah  E.  (who  remained  single).  Airs.  Alary  A.  Kelsey, 
John  W.  and  Xancy  Al. 

Samuel  P.  Brown  remained  with  his  parents  assisting  with  the  work 
about  the  farm  until  he  reached  maturity.  His  education  was  gained  in  the 
local  schools.  On  Alarch  20.  1S73,  he  married  Sarah  J.  Paddock,  of  Dublin, 
Wayne  county,  Indiana,  where  her  father  owned  a  good  farm. 

-After  his  marriage  Air.  Brown  moved  onto  a  farm  of  sixty  acres  ad- 
joining Coatesville  on  the  north  and  he  has  continued  to  reside  here.  He 
has  prospered  by  reason  of  good  management  and  close  attention  to  his  in- 
dividual affairs  and  also  owns  one  hundred  and  eighty-eight  acres  adjoining, 
also  one  hundred  acres  in  Alarion  township  and  one  hundred  and  forty  acres 
in  Floyd  township.  All  his  land  is  among  the  most  valuable  in  this  part  of 
the  county,  has  been  well  improved  and  he  has  been  very  successful  as  a 
general  farmer  and  stock  raiser, — in  fact  is  regarded  as  one  of  the  model 
farmers  of  Putnam  county  and  one  of  the  best  judges  of  livestock  in  this 
community.  His  judgment  seldom  errs  in  his  business  transactions  and  he 
hiilds  high  rank  as  one  of  the  county's  substantial  and  representative  citizens. 
He  has  a  modem,  commodious  and  attractive  home  near  Coatesville.  his 
home  farm  adjoining  the  town. 

Two  children  have  been  born  to  Air.  and  Airs.  Brown.   Frank  L.  and 

Cora  A.     The   former  was  born  January  31.    1S7S:  he  attended  the  local 

schools,   then  entered   DePauw  University,    from   which   institution   he   was 

graduated  with  honors.     Deciding  to  turn  his  attention  to  the  ministrv,  he 

(46) 


722 


vve:k  s  history  of 


took  a  course  in  the  Theological  School  of  Boston,  Massachusetts.  December 
15,  1908.  he  married  Grace  Elizabeth  McV'ey.  a  talented  representative  of  a 
well  known  familv.  Mr.  Brown  was  engaged  in  teaching  at  Pachuca.  Mex- 
ico: previous  to  his  marriage  he  taught  school  in  San  Antonio,  Texas.  He 
is  at  present  pastor  of  the  Methodist  Episcopal  church  at  Fairview,  Indiana. 
He  is  a  young  man  with  a  brilliant  future  and  is  very  popular  wherever  he  is 
known.  Air.  and  Mrs.  Frank  L.  Brown  have  one  son.  Waldo  Preston  Brown, 
born  March  11.  19 10.  The  daughter.  Cora  A.,  a  young  lady  of  refinement,  is 
a  graduate  of  the  Coatesville  schools  and  is  still  a  member  of  the  home  circle. 
Members  of  this  family  are  all  Methodists  in  their  religious  beliefs.  Mr. 
Brown  is  a  Republican,  but  he  has  never  aspired  to  puljlic  office,  being  content 
to  devote  his  time  e.Kclusively  to  his  individual  affairs.  He  has  always  been 
regarded  as  a  man  in  whom  the  utmost  confidence  could  be  reposed  and, 
being  friendiv  and  neighborly,  he  is  well  liked  by  all  classes. 


MADISON  YOUNG. 


The  o-entleman  to  a  review  of  whose  life  the  reader's  attention  is  here 
respectfully  directed,  is  recognized  as  one  of  the  energetic  and  successful  citi- 
zens of  the  north  part  of  Putnam  county,  who  by  his  enterprise  and  pro- 
gressive methods  has  contributed  in  a  material  way  to  the  general  advance- 
ment of  the  county,  especially  Franklin  township,  where  he  has  long  main- 
tained his  home  and  become  one  of  its  leading  men  of  affairs.  Like  many 
of  the  enterprising  citizens  of  this  section  of  the  Hoosier  state,  Madison  Young 
is  a  Kentuckian.  having  been  born  in  the  old  Blue  Grass  state,  January  8, 
1856.  He  is  the  son  of  Harrison- and  Kiziarh  (Baugh)  Young,  both  born  in 
Kentucky  where  they  were  reared,  educated  and  married  and  in  1873  they 
came  to  Putnam  county,  Indiana,  and  fanned  in  Franklin  township  where  they 
lived  until  about  1883  when  Mr.  Young  went  west,  but  he  has  returned  and 
is  now  living  in  Roachdale.  He  and  his  wife  are  the  parents  of  these  chil- 
dren :  G.  R.,  Madison.  Margaret.  Mary  B.  and  Samuel  K. 

]\Iatlison  Young  grew  to  maturity  in  Kentucky,  where  he  worked  on  his 
father's  farm  durin^  the  summer  months  and  attended  the  common  schools 
in  the  winter.  He  came  to  Indiana  with  his  parents  and  remained  with  them 
until  he  was  twenty-three  years  of  age.  He  had  worked  considerably  on  the 
farm  by  the  month  in  order  to  get  a  start. 

On  April  6.  1880,  Mr.  Young  was  married  to  Emma  F.  Bymaster,  who 
was  born  in  Montgomery  county,  Indiana,  November  18,  1861.     Her  father. 


PLTXA.M    COUNTY,    INDIAXA.  ^2^ 

David  L.  Bvmaster.  a  man  of  high  principles  and  well  known  in  his  commu- 
nity, was  a  native  of  Pennsylvania,  who  finally  moved  to  Montgomerv  county, 
Indiana,  where  he  resided  during  the  latter  part  of  his  life.  One  daughter 
was  born  to  Mr.  and  Mrs,  Young  who  is  now  deceased.  Her  name  was  Letha 
^I..  born  June  lo.  iSSi.  and  died  January  14,  1893;  she  was  a  graduate  of 
the  high  school  at  Ladoga,  Indiana,  and  was  a  bright  and  interesting  child. 

Mr.  Young  is  the  owner  of  an  excellent  farm  of  one  hundred  and  six 
acres  in  Montgomery  county,  this  state,  which  is  under  a  high  state  of  im- 
provement and  cultivation.  He  moved  to  Roachdale.  Putnam  countv,  on 
Xoxember  J3.  1906,  and  is  residing  at  the  corner  of  Washington  and  Walnut 
streets,  in  one  of  the  finest  and  most  attractive  dwellings  in  the  town  or  this 
part  of  the  county,  being  equipped  with  all  modern  appliances,  with  basement, 
furnace,  bath,  hot  and  cold  water,  etc.  It  was  built  at  an  expense  of  three 
thousand  dollars.  He  .still  looks  after  his  farm  and  is  especially  interested  in 
good  livestock,  of  which  he  is  a  splendid  judge,  and.  because  of  the  high 
grade  of  the  various  kinds  of  stock  he  handles,  they  always  find  a  ready 
market. 

Mr.  and  Mrs.  Young  are  members  of  the  Christian  church  at  Roachdale, 
and  Mr.  Young  is  a  charter  member  of  the  Ben  Hur  lodge  here,  carrying  an 
insurance  in  the  same.  F^)liticall}'  he  is  a  Republican  and,  while  he  has  never 
fijund  time  to  take  a  great  deal  of  interest  in  political  affairs,  he  has  ahvavs 
done  what  he  could  toward  the  betterment  in  any  way  of  conditions  in  both 
Putnam  and  Montgomery  counties,  and  because  of  his  public-spirit,  his  cordial 
manners  and  his  lionestv  he  is  held  in  high  fa\-or  wherever  he  has  lived. 


CHARLES  BOLES  BRIDGES. 

Few  men  of  a  past  generation  in  Putnam  county  so  impressed  their 
strong  personalities  upon  the  minds  of  those  with  whom  they  came  in  contact, 
did  more  for  the  general  upbuilding  of  the  locality  and  left  behind  them  a 
worthier  recorrl  than  Charles  Boies  Bridges,  who  has  long  since  joined  the 
great  ''caravan  that  moves  to  the  pale  realms  of  shade."  yet  the  luster  of  his 
singularly  pure  and  worthy  life  is  still  shed  along  the  pathways  of  those 
nearest  and  dearest  to  him.  and  for  many  reasons  his  biographical  memoir 
is  worthy  of  a  conspicuous  position  in  the  history  of  the  country  where  he 
■"lived  and  movefl  and  had  his  being." 

Mr.  Bridges  was  born  October  30,  1800.  and  he  closed  his  eyes  on  earth- 
ly scenes  March  2,  1879,  thus  nearly  reaching  the  advanced  milestone  of  four- 


J24  WEIK  S    HISTORY    OF 

score  years.  He  was  one  of  the  pioneers  of  Putnam  county,  having  come 
here  seventy  years  ago  from  Kentucky,  where  he  was  born.  His  paternal 
ancestors  were  Enghsh  and,  perhaps,  Welsh.  His  mother  was  an  orphan 
whose  ancestry  cannot  be  definitely  traced,  being  quite  young  when  she  lost 
her  parents.  William  Bridges  was  the  third  son  of  a  family  of  five  children, 
James,  Charles,  William,  George  and  a  daughter.  William  Bridges  settled 
first  near  Salisbury,  North  Carolina,  during  the  Revolutionary  war  period. 
He  was  a  blacksmith  by  trade  and  was  pressed  into  the  service  to  make  shack- 
els  for  the  Tories.  He  was  married  to  his  first  wife  when  he  came  to  this 
country  from  England,  but  she  did  not  long  survive  after  coming  to  America. 
After  this  he  settled  in  Kentucky,  about  the  year  1790,  in  a  vast  wilderness, 
among  the  native  redskins,  bears,  wolves  and  other  kinds  of  wild  animals,  in 
what  is  now  Aladison  county.  Here  he  married  Elizabeth  Wright,  mother 
of  the  immediate  subject  of  this  sketch,  and  soon  afterward  moved  to  what  is 
now  Montgomery  county,  Kentucky,  about  eight  miles  from  Morgan  Station, 
the  scene  of  an  Indian  massacre.  To  this  union  five  sons  and  three  daugh- 
ters were  born,  namely:  William,  James,  George,  Charles,  Milton,  Tamer, 
Abigail  and  Elizabeth.  These  children  had  three  half-brothers  and  one  half- 
sister.  Their  parents  were  both  old-time  Methodists  and  they  delighted  in 
attended  the  camp  meetings  held  in  the  woods  of  those  early  days  where  peo- 
ple "shouted"  and  "went  into  trances." 

Charles  B.  Bridges  knew  little  else  than  hard  manual  labor  from  the  time 
he  was  six  years  of  age  to  the  age  of  twenty-six.  When  about  nine  years  old 
he  was  placed  in  school,  traversing  a  foot-path  through  the  woods  to  a  primi- 
tive log  house  where  only  such  text-books  as  the  old  Columbia  speller,  Guth- 
rie's arithmetic  and  the  Bible  were  used.  His  schooling  did  not  amount  to 
six  months  in  all.  He  was  nineteen  years  old  when  his  father  died.  He  prac- 
ticallv  took  charge  of  the  farm,  managed  it  and  handled  stock  successfully, 
selling  some  of  his  own  property  to  satisfy  his  father's  creditors.  In  dividing 
the  farm  of  one  hundred  acres,  forty  of  it  fell  to  the  subject.  He  began  sup- 
porting the  family  by  raising  hogs  for  market,  and  making  a  good  crop  the 
first  vear.  The  following  fall  he  accepted  an  ofTer  of  ten  dollars  per  month, 
to  go  to  Richmond,  Virginia,  and  drive  hogs.  He  made  the  trip  thither  on 
foot,  a  verv  trying  journey.  He  made  another  crop  the  following  year  and 
in  the  fall  hired  to  drive  hogs  to  Sumpterville,  South  Carolina.  He  contin- 
ued farming  and  trading  in  stock  and  in  time  he  accumulated  some  property ; 
however,  he  had  many  discouragements  for  fifteen  years  after  he  began  life 
for  himself.  Borrowing  nine  hundred  dollars,  he  bought  a  number  of  horses 
and  drove  them  to  Alabama  where  he  sold  them.     Later  he  took  a  drove  of 


PUTXAM    COCXTY.    IXDIAXA.  -35 

horses  and  mules  to  Georgia,  meeting  with  adverse  luck,  such  as  getting  hold 
of  a  large  amount  of  counterfeit  money.  After  making  a  number  of  trips 
to  the  South  and  trading  extensively  in  stock  at  home,  he  had.  bv  1829,  ac- 
cumulated enough  to  establish  a  home  of  his  own.  and  while  cradling  wheat 
he  first  saw  Rachael  Lockridge,  a  farmer's  daughter  who  was  carrying  water 
to  tlie  reapers,  and  after  a  short  courtship  they  were  married  on  October  28. 
1830.  She  was  the  daughter  of  Robert  Lockridge.  who  then  lived  about 
six  miles  north  of  Mount  Sterling.  Kentucky.  Mr.  Bridges  had  purchased 
a  seventy-five-acre  farm  near  there,  and  the  young  couple  went  to  live  there 
in  an  "old  log  cabin."  Their  first  child.  Robert,  was  born  October  17,  1831 ; 
William  was  born  in  September.  1833.  Mr.  Bridges  sold  his  farm  for  thirty 
dollars  per  acre,  a  large  price  for  that  time,  and  upon  surveying  the  place  it 
was  found  that  the  boundan.-  contained  about  nine  acres  more  than  the  orig- 
inal estimate.  The  following  spring  he  and  his  brother.  Willis,  made  a  trip 
to  Indiana,  which  was  then  practically  a  wilderness,  but  little  of  the  land  being 
under  cultivation  and  the  inhabitants  poor.  They  went  to  Montgomery 
county  and  as  far  as  Lafayette  in  Tippecanoe  county,  only  a  few  houses  then 
marking  the  site  of  the  last  named  city.  After  refusing  to  buy  land  very 
cheaply  where  the  city  of  Crawfordsville  now  stands,  they  purchased  a  tract 
near  Parkersburg.  They  could  have  bought  land  at  a  very  low  figure  now 
covered  by  a  part  of  Indianapi")lis.  They  returned  home  and  moved  to  the 
new  country-  the  following  fall  and  here  started  life  again  in  true  pioneer  fash- 
ion, leaving  Kentucky  September  iS.  1S34.  and.  notwithstanding  the  subse- 
quent hardships  and  privations,  they  never  regretted  making  the  change. 
The  trip  required  twelve  days  to  Montgomery  county,  Indiana,  and  they  be- 
gan clearing  their  wilderness  land,  keeping  house  in  a  one-room  shack.  He 
cleared  aliout  fifteen  acres  and  planted  corn,  but  the  season  was  a  wet  one 
and  nothing  was  raised.  In  the  fall  he  went  to  Illinois,  whither  he  had  gone 
about  a  year  previously,  but  owing  to  the  prevalence  of  chills  and  fever  did  not 
care  to  locate  there.  He  later  went  to  Putnam  county  and  bought  land  in 
the  Foster  settlement,  selling  out  in  Montgomerv-  county.  Here  he  found 
conditions  much  more  favorable  and  soon  had  a  good  start,  raising  a  splendid 
crop  of  corn.  He  liked  the  locality  so  well  he  purchased  the  old  Secrist  farm 
of  one  hundred  and  sixty  acres,  for  which  he  paid  six  dollars  per  acre,  and 
moved  to  the  place.  He  improved  the  land,  on  which  a  house  had  already 
been  built  and  some  fences  put  up.  and  a  few  acres  set  in  blue  grass. 

About  the  year  1837  Mr.  Bridges  and  two  of  his  neighbors  began  the 
agitation  of  abolishing  whisky  at  log-rollings  and  husking-bees,  etc..  Mr. 
Bridges  having  always  been  a  temperate  man.     Within  a  short  time  thev  ap- 


J2b  WEIK  S    HISTORY    OF 

pointed  a  temperance  meeting  at  Blakesburg.  in\iting  several  noted  speakers 
from  different  places ;  this  may  be  said  to  be  the  first  temperance  movement 
of  this  section  of  the  state.  He  had  a  fine  bhie  grass  farm  in  a  few  years  and 
bought  stock  and  kept  them  on  the  place  and  by  1840  had  a  good  start  again. 
However,  those  were  trying  times  financially,  following  the  national  bank 
law  of  1833.  ^^^-  Bridges  had  purchased  another  piece  of  land,  and  the 
panic  coming  on  he  offered  it  for  one  thousand  dollars  less  than  he  had  paid 
for  it.  but  could  not  sell  it.  In  1843  '""^  purchased  the  old  Myer  tract  of  about 
one  hundred  and  twenty  acres,  on  which  he  moved  his  family  and  lived  there 
three  or  four  years,  then  built  a  new  house  and  barn  in  1845.  His  older  boys 
had  become  large  enough  to  attend  to  the  place  and  Mr.  Bridges  now  de- 
voted most  of  his  time  to  stock  trading.  In  1847  'i^  purchased  the  first  cook- 
stove  ever  brought  to  this  community.  He  dealt  extensively  in  sheep,  hav- 
ing as  many  as  one  thousand  head  on  the  place  at  one  time.  By  185 1  he 
had  sold  all  his  land  but  about  three  hundred  acres,  and  he  decided  to  engage 
in  the  mercantile  business;  so,  forming  a  partnership  "with  Reub  Moss,  they 
opened  a  store  at  Fincastle,  Putnam  county,  Mr.  Bridges  leaving  his  farm  to 
the  care  of  his  boys.  A  year  later  he  bought  his  partner's  interest  and  after 
continuing  it  another  year  he  sold  out.  He  had  done  well  in  this  line  of 
endeavor,  having  over  four  hundred  names  and  twenty  thousand  dollars  on 
his  account  book  when  he  closed  out.  But  his  patrons  were  very  prompt  in 
paving.  A  vear  later  he  built  a  store  room  at  the  cross  roads  one-half  mile 
from  his  residence,  afterwards  called  Cairo,  and  commenced  the  business 
again  and  sold  goods  for  about  two  years,  his  son  Milton,  who  was  born  in 
1835,  having  acted  as  clerk.  After  trading  in  land  until  1861  he  bought  the 
store  back,  taking  his  son,  DeWitt,  who  was  born  in  1847,  to  clerk.  The 
breaking  out  of  the  Civil  war  brought  an  increase  in  the  price  of  manufac- 
tured goods  and  almost  all  commodities  and  he  made  money  rapidly,  continu- 
ing in  business  two  and  one-half  years.  He  continued  to  look  after  his  land 
and  in  the  spring  of  1868  purchased  a  small  farm  near  Bainbridge.  having  dis- 
posed of  his  other  possessions,  built  a  good  house  and  quietly  spent  the  re- 
maining years  of  his  life  there. 

Nine  children  were  born  to  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Bridges.  Those  not  mentioned 
above  are,  James,  born  in  1837:  Elizabeth,  born  in  1840:  Dulcenia,  born  in 
1845:  Amelia,  born  in  1852,  and  Rachael.  born  in  1855. 

James  Bridges,  a  worthy  son  of  a  worthy  sire,  lives  on  the  okl  Stevenson 
homestead,  where  he  is  very  successfully  engaged  in  general  farming  and 
stock  raising.  He  was  educated  in  the  common  schools.  On  November  10, 
1859.  lie  married  Marv  Darnall.  who  died  August  14.  1867.  this  union  having 


PUTNAM    COUNTY.    INDIANA. 


resulted  in  the  birth  oi  the  following  children,  all  living:  Douglas.  Jesse  and 
Thomas.  On  September  i.  1868.  James  Bridges  married  Mary  Xelson 
Stevenson,  daughter  of  Dr.  Alexander  Campbell  and  Mary-  Jane  (Gillespie) 
Stevenson,  and  tlie  following  children  have  been  born  to  them:  Sarah,  Flora. 
Harriet;  .\lexandria  was  born  in  January.  1871,  and  died  July  19.  1887. 

Charles  B.  Bridges  was  scrupulously  honest  in  all  his  dealings  with  his 
fellow  men ;  he  strictly  avoided  all  coarse  and  vulgar  language,  and  always 
had  a  soft  answer  with  which  to  turn  away  wrath.  His  interest  in  temper- 
ance work  continued  unabate<l.  He  was  one  of  the  builders  of  the  Universal- 
ist  church  in  Putnam  county  and  was  always  a  liberal  supporter  of  the  church, 
and  his  children  were  reared  in  such  a  wholesome  home  atmosphere  that  they 
have  all  become  members  of  the  church  and  worthy  of  the  name  they  bear. 

Mr.  Bridges"  political  affiliation  was  with  the  Democratic  party,  but  he 
was  neither  bitter  nor  violent  as  a  partisan.     He  was  loyal  to  the  Union  cause. 
Honored  in  life  and  regretted  in  death,  his  name  will  long  remain  a  fragrant 
memory  to  those  who  knew  him.     He  was   fortunate  in  the  selection  of  a 
life  companion  and  was  much  devoted  to  his  wife,  it  being  a  great  comfort  to 
him  that  she  fully  sympathized  with  him  in  his  religious  faith  and  philan- 
thropic views.     She  was  reared  a  Presbyterian,  but  liecame  an  avowed  be- 
liever in  Universalism.     Rachael  Ozier  (Lockridge)  Bridges  was  born  about 
five    miles    northeast    of    Mount    Sterling.    Montgomery    county.    Kentucky. 
Oct.iber  13.  tSi2.     Her  ancestors  were  of  Scotch-Irish  and  English  e.xtrac- 
tion.  having  emigrated  to  this  country  at  a  very  early  period.     Her  parents 
had  a  hard  struggle  in  the  early  Kentucky  days.      Rachael  was  the  second  of 
a  familv  of  nine  children,  two  sons  and  seven  daughters.     She  was  reared 
to  work  about  the  homestead,  f<jr  her  father  (jwned  a  small  farm  and  had  to 
have  assistance  in  making  a  living  for  his  large   family.     One  of  her  first 
duties  was  to  keep  watch  over  the  newly  sprouted  corn,  for  in  the  wilderness 
days  of  the  Blue  Grass  state  farming  was  rendered  doubly  hard  from  the  fact 
that   innumerable   birds,   squirrels,   etc..   destroyed    the   crops.     When   about 
seven  years  of  age  she  began  attending  school  in  one  of  those  old  historic 
puncheon-rtoorecrclapboard-roofed  school  houses  of  the  pioneer  days  of  the 
middle  West.     She  learned  very  rapidly,  but  her  school  days  were  brought 
abruptlv  to  a  close,  having  attended  school  less  than  one  year.     Her  father 
died  when  she  was  young  and  the  family  was  left  in  none  too  favorable  cir- 
cumstances, but  by  manufacturing  almost  all  their  wearing  apparel  and  by 
hard  work  they  managed  to  live  comfortably.     When  very  young  Rachael 
was  put  to  weaving  and  doing  other  like  work.      She  had  little  opportunity 
t. ,  attend  social  functions  and  up  to  the  age  of  seventeen,  when  she  met  Mr. 


72S  weik's  history  of 

Bridges,  she  had  been  absent  from  home  but  little.  She  was  a  woman  of 
great  fortitude,  courage,  strong-minded,  gentle  and  always  deeply  concerned 
regarding  the  welfare  of  her  children.  Her  death  was  triumphant,  that  of  a 
tn.ie  Christian,  ''sustained  and  soothed  by  an  unfaltering  trust"  when  the 
final  summons  came  on  January  3,  1881. 


DAVID  EMAXUEL  PAVEY  REED.  M.  D. 

There  is  a  weight  of  character,  a  native  sagacity  and  fidelity  of  purpose 
in  Dr.  David  E.  P.  Reed,  of  Russellville.  which  commands  the  respect  of 
all  and  he  has  left  his  impress  for  good  upon  the  medical,  social  and  business 
circles  of  Putnam  county,  which  he  has  ever  had  at  heart  and  whose  interests 
he  has  ever  sought  to  promote  and  where  he  has  built  up  a  lucrative  and 
very  satisfactory  practice.  He  was  born  at  Fillmore,  this  county,  March  14, 
1867,  the  son  of  George  W.  and  Mar\^  Elizabeth  (Shoemaker)  Reed,  the 
latter  the  daughter  of  Solomon  Shoemaker,  of  Virginia,  the  genealog\-  of 
this  fine  old  family  tracing  back  to  the  "Mayflower,"'  to  German  Scotch-Irish 
antecedents.  George  W.  Reed  was  born  in  Shelby  county,  Kentucky.  He 
became  a  member  of  the  Eighth  Regiment.  Kentucky  Volunteers,  during  the 
Mexican  war  and  saw  active  service  in  Mexico.  He  lost  the  use  of  his  eyes 
in  blasting  a  well  in  Kentucky  about  1850.  Although  handicapped,  he  was  a 
man  of  sterling  qualities  and  nothing  could  daunt  him,  consequently  he 
learned  the  broommaker's  trade,  at  which  he  worked  after  coming  to  Indiana. 
He  reached  an  advanced  age,  dying  in  1884,  having  been  preceded  to  the 
grave  bv  his  wife  in  1872,  and  he  is  buried  at  the  National  Soldiers"  Home 
at  Davton.  Ohio.  He  followed  his  trade  at  Fillmore,  this  county,  until  his 
wife"s  death,  spending  his  last  years  in  the  home  referred  to  above  in  Ohio. 
Three  children  were  born  to  them,  namely:  Margaret  Ann,  wife  of  A.  R. 
Stevens,  living  in  Oklahoma :  Robert  Solomon  lives  at  Mattoon.  Illinois ; 
Dr.  David  E.  P..  of  this  review. 

David  E.  P.  Reed  was  five  years  of  age  at  his  mother's  death,  and  he 
spent  two  years  at  the  county  farm,  and  lived  for  some  time  with  James  H. 
Hall,  of  Brick  Chapel,  growing  up  with  Charles  Hall,  whose  companion 
he  was  until  he  reached  the  age  of  twenty,  where  he  got  his  board,  clothing 
and  attended  the  common  schools,  Iiaving  worked  for  Mr.  Hall  from  the  age 
of  eleven  \'ears,  receiving  about  one  hundred  dollars  compensation  for  his 
labors.     Desiring  to  become  a  teacher,  he  went  to  the  normal  school  at  Dan- 


PL"TXAM    COUNTY.    INDIANA.  "29 

vflle  for  tliree  and  one-halt  terms,  then  taught  in  Clinton  tovvn.ship.  where 
he  rendered  very  satisfactory  service  and  became  well  known  as  a  local 
educator,  following  teaching  for  a  period  of  nine  years.  During  the  last 
four  years  of  his  career  as  teacher  he  read  medicine,  then  entered  the  medical 
department  of  the  Kentucky  University  at  Louisville,  receiving  his  degree 
with  the  class  of  1S97.  He  returned  to  his  nati\e  county  and  began  practice 
at  Portland  Mills,  where  he  soon  built  up  a  verv'  satisfactory  patronage.  De- 
siring a  larger  field  for  the  exercise  of  his  talents,  he  came  to  Russellville  in 
1906.  since  which  time  he  has  been  engaged  in  active  general  practice  with 
his  usual  success,  his  practice  extending  into  Montgomerj-  and  Parke  coun- 
ties, being  kept  verv-  busy  \\nth  his  numerous  patients  at  all  times  of  the  year, 
and  his  success  has  been  such  that  his  prestige  is  constantly  growing.  He  is 
a  member  of  the  State  and  the  American  Medical  Associations.  He  keeps 
well  abreast  of  the  time  and  is  a  well-read  man  in  everything  that  pertains  to 
his  profession,  confining  his  attention  exclusively  to  his  practice. 

Doctor  Reed  was  married  August  20.  1890.  to  Lucy  J.  Newgent.  a  lady 
of  rare  culture,  the  daughter  of  \\'illiam  W.  and  Patsy  Xewgent.  a  sketch 
of  whom  appears  elsewhere  in  this  work.  She  was  eighteen  years  old  at  the 
time  of  her  marriage.  This  union  has  been  blessed  by  the  birth  of  two  chil- 
dren, Robert  H.,  born  in  1892,  is  attending  the  local  high  school,  and  Bessie 
Louise,  born  in  1900.  is  also  attending  school. 

The  Doctor  is  a  Democrat,  a  Mason,  Woodman  and  a  member  of  the 
Knights  of  Pvthias. 


WILLARD  GOUGH. 


In  looking  over  tlie  list  of  Putnam  county's  most  representative  citizens 
the  name  of  W'illard  Gough  should  not  be  left  out  owing  to  the  fact  that  he 
has  alwavs  been  interested  in  the  general  progress  of  the  county  and  has  done 
what  he  could  toward  the  de\-elopment  of  the  same  while  carn.-ing  on  the 
affairs  of  his  farm.  He  is  a  native  of  Franklin  township,  this  county,  where 
he  was  born  October  6.  1857.  the  son  of  John  and  Eliza  fCarpenter)  Gough. 
Philip  Gough.  his  paternal  grandfather,  was  a  native  of  Virginia  and  a  fine 
old  pioneer.  The  fatlier.  John  Gough.  was  a  farmer  and  saw-mill  man.  and 
he  was  killed  wlien  his  son  U'illarrl  was  less  than  two  years  old.  The  mother 
was  married  a  second  time  and  A\'illard  was  reared  by  his  step-father  on  the 
home  fann.  which  he  began  working  when  but  a  mere  lad.     He  attended  the 


7ZO 


WEIK  S    HISTORY    OF 


''Hstrict  schools  during  tlie  winter  months  and  received  a  very  serviceable  edu- 
cation. He  took  charge  of  the  farm  upon  the  death  of  his  step-father  and 
successfully  managed  the  same  until  he  was  twenty-one  years  of  age. 

Willard  Gough  was  married  in  September,  1878.  to  Mary  Rogers,  wdio 
was  born  in  1855,  the  daughter  of  a  highly  respected  family.  Five  children 
were  born  to  this  union,  namely:  Xellie.  wife  of  Cortland  C.  Gilliam,  an  at- 
torney at  Greencastle.  Indiana,  is  a  graduate  of  the  common  schools ;  Nettie, 
the  wife  of  A.  P.  Underwood,  lives  at  Fincastle.  this  county;  Grover  is  single 
and  is  living  at  Roachdale.  this  county :  John  B.,  who  graduated  from  the  com- 
mon schools,  was  a  teacher,  and  he  married  Lulu  Pyle;  Vernie  V.  is  the  wife 
of  Otha  Fowler. 

The  mother  of  the.se  children  passed  to  her  rest  on  October  22.  1900,  and 
Mr.  Gough  was  again  married  in  August,  1907,  to  Mrs.  Laura  Rettinger.  a 
native  of  Monroe  township.  Putnam  county.  Indiana,  having  been  born  on 
September  8,  1866,  the  daughter  of  John  W.  and  Mary  (Everson)  Hanks. 
She  was  educated  in  the  common  schools  of  Montgomery  county.  Indiana. 
Her  father  was  a  Kentuckian  and  her  mother  was  a  native  of  Montgomery 
county,  this  state,  where  they  still  live.  Mrs.  Gough  was  first  married  to 
David  P.  Rettinger. 

Mrs.  Gough  is  a  member  of  the  Christian  church,  and  both  she  and  Mr. 
Gough  are  members  of  the  Eastern  Star,  the  latter  also  being  a  member  of 
the  Free  and  Accepted  Masons,  Roachdale  Lodge.  No.  602.  Politically  he 
is  a  Democrat  and  he  served  very  acceptably  as  trustee  of  Franklin  township 
in  1904  and  in  January.  1905,  he  took  office  and  served  until  January.  1909. 
During  his  term  of  office  he  did  many  things  that  will  always  be  gratefully 
remembered  by  his  fellow  citizens,  having  somewhat  consolidated  the  town- 
ship schools  and  he  turned  over  the  township  to  his  successor  free  from  debt. 

Philip  C.  Carpenter,  the  maternal  grandfather  of  Mr.  Gough.  came  to 
this  state  from  Virginia  and  settled  in  Franklin  township.  Putnam  county,  and 
the  town  of  Carpentersville  now-  stands  on  the  land  he  settled.  He  established 
a  tannery  here  which  was  largely  patronized,  and  he  remained  here  until  his 
death.  He  and  his  wife  were  the  parents  of  the  following  children:  Eliza. 
Alexander.  Ephriam.  Rufus.  Elizabeth.  Sarah  and  Lucy.  Mr.  Carpenter  was 
a  member  of  the  Methodist  Episcopal  church  and  he  was  known  as  an  honest 
and  upright  man. 

Stephen  Hanks,  the  grandfather  of  Mrs.  Gough.  was  an  old  settler  in 
Putnam  county.     He  married  Eliza  Ketchen.  by  whom  he  had  six  children. 

Mr.  Gough  has  a  neat  and  well  kept  farm  of  eighty  acres  in  section  16. 
Franklin  township,  which  he  manages  in  a  manner  that  yields  a  comfortable 


PUTNAM    COUNTY,    INDIANA.  73 1 

income  from  year  to  year.  He  was  formerly  engaged  in  the  drug  business 
and  managed  a  general  store  in  Carpentersville.  and  later  at  Raccoon,  this 
county,  continuing  in  that  line  for  about  si.x  years,  having  moved  to  his  present 
farm  in  1889. 


J.-\MES  C.  FORDICE. 

Among  tlie  native-born  residents  of  Putnam  county  who  ha\e  reached  a 
well  merited  success  we  must  certainly  include  the  name  of  James  C.  Fordice, 
well  known  resi<Ient  of  Russell  township.  Honesty  and  fair  dealing  have 
been  his  watchwords,  and  these  twin  virtues  have  been  personified  in  his  active 
life.  He  is  the  son  of  Joseph  B.  Fordice,  who  was  born  January  23,  1818, 
in  Morgan  county,  Ohio,  and  the  grandson  of  William  Fordice,  born  May  11, 
1786.  in  Nova  Scotia.  He  married  Ruama  Buck.  ^larch  i,  1806,  in  Lower 
Canada,  from  which  country  the  family  moved  to  Morgan  county.  Ohio, 
where  they  lived  for  several  years.  Then  Mr.  Fordice  moved  to  Putnam 
county,  Indiana,  where  his  children  had  preceded  him,  his  desire  being  to 
spend  his  declining  years  with  them.  His  death  occurred  October  2.  1862. 
Mrs.  Fordice,  who  was  born  December  9,  1786,  died  November  27,  1875. 
They  were  the  parents  of  thirteen  children.  Some  of  the  sons  engaged  in  the 
manufacture  of  fanning  mills  in  Ohio  and  one  of  them  was  a  manufacturer  in 
Kentucky  for  five  years,  or  until  1845,  when  they  all  came  to  Putnam  county, 
Indiana,  locating  at  Russellville,  where  they  started  a  factory,  and  it  was  from 
this  source  that  these  sons.  Nelson,  George.  Asa,  Joseph  and  Jesse  H..  were 
enabled  to  buy  their  farm  land  and  made  their  start  in  life.  Their  father  pur- 
chased land  in  section  7.  adding  to  it  from  time  to  time  until  he  finally  owned 
one  thousand  acres  all  in  one  body.  February  24.  1842.  he  married  Rebecca 
Elliott,  of  Illinois.  He  devoted  his  life  to  fanning  and  stock  raising  at  which 
he  was  very  successful.  In  1858  he  was  elected  to  the  Legislature,  serving 
very  ably  in  that  body.  His  death  occurred  February  17.  1883.  He  was  a 
useful  and  influential  man  in  his  community.  His  children,  of  whom  two  are 
living,  are  as  follows :  James  C.  and  Elizabeth :  those  deceased  being  Annie. 
John.  Jesse  H.  and  William  .\.  The  last  named  was  born  December  9,  1842, 
married  Celia  Durham  and  they  had  two  children.  Myrtle  and  Lula.  Eliza- 
beth married  William  .\shby ;  she  was  born  August  30,  1852.  and  she  became 
the  mother  of  the  following  children  living:  Jesse.  Joseph,  Howard  and  Lela, 
those  deceased  being  Siggie  and  Mary.  Howard  is  a  graduate  of  Wabash 
College  and  now  one  of  its  instructors  in   the  department  of  mathematics. 


\ 


\ 


732  WEIK  S    HISTORY    OF 

Chester  is  a  freshman  of  the  same  college.  Leia  is  a  teacher  in  the  public 
schools.  Jesse  H.,  now  deceased,  was  born  July  14,  1853,  and  died  in  1909. 
He  married  Lucy  Allen,  May  25,  1881,  and  they  became  the  parents  of  the 
following;  children :  Margaret,  Donald,  Joseph.  Paul  and  Elizabeth.  Jesse 
H.  Fordice  was  a  successful  physician  and  was  located  in  Wichita,  Kansas, 
where  his  death  occurred.  His  family  now  resides  in  the  state  of  Washing- 
ton ;  his  son,  Donald,  graduated  from  the  state  college  in  Washington. 

James  C.  Fordice  was  reared  to  manhood  on  the  home  farm,  received  a 
common  school  education,  and  attended  Wabash  College,  after  which  he  be- 
came engaged  in  business  and  for  a  year  was  treasurer  of  an  iron  industry  in 
Martin  county,  Indiana.  He  was  at  one  time  surveyor  for  the  road  now 
known  as  the  Cincinnati,  Hamilton  &  Dayton  railroad,  rendering  very  effi- 
cient ser^-ice  and  having  the  good  will  of  his  employers. 

June  10,  1885,  Mr.  Fordice  married  Bertha  Allen,  daughter  of  Joseph 
Allen,  of  Greencastle,  and  after  a  mutually  happy  married  life  of  thirteen 
years,  she  passed  to  her  rest  on  August  30,  1898.  Two  children  were  born 
to  them,  Frederick,  born  March  31,  1886,  and  Harold,  born  January  10,  1888; 
both  are  graduates  of  Wabash  College  and  are  young  men  of  much  promise. 

Mr.  Fordice  lives  on  the  old  homestead  which  his  father  purchased  from 
Cyrus  VanCleve,  who  entered  the  land  from  the  government.  He  erected  a 
one-story  brick  house,  burning  the  brick  himself,  the  house  still  standing  on 
the  farm.  The  father  built  a  very  modern  house  on  this  farm,  in  which  his 
son  now  lives.  Mr.  Fordice  makes  farming  and  stock  raising  his  occupation, 
and  he  is  very  successful  in  each:  he  is  a  money  maker  and  one  of  the  best 
known  men  in  his  township,  being  well  read  and  thoroughly  posted  on  all 
current  events.  Representing  one  of  the  oldest  and  largest  families  of  the 
county,  he  has  ever  striven  to  conduct  himself  in  a  manner  that  would  per- 
petuate the  early  record  of  the  family  for  right  living  and  right  thinking. 
Politically  he  is  a  Republican  and  a  member  of  the  Presbyterian  church. 


AARON  A.  GRAHAM. 

Living  in  honorable  retirement  in  Russellville  is  Aaron  A.  Graham,  one 
of  Putnam  county's  highly  respected  and  substantial  citizens  whose  former  life 
of  activitv  resulted  to  much  good  to  his  fellow  men  as  well  as  to  himself  and 
immediate  family.  He  was  born  in  Jackson  county,  Indiana.  May  22.  1844. 
son  of  James  C.  and  Hilary  A.   fReynolds)  Graham,  the  former  a  native  of 


PUT.XAM    COUNTY,    INDIANA.  733 

Xorth  Carolina  and  the  latter  of  Tennessee.  In  a  ver>-  early  day  they  came 
to  Indiana,  later  moving  to  Iowa.  About  1854  they  returned  to  the  Hoosier 
state,  locating  at  Portland  Mills,  Putnam  county,  where  Mr.  Graham  oper- 
ated a  daily  mail  route  from  Waveland  to  Greencastle  through  Portland  ilills. 
They  later  lived  in  Brown  township,  Montgomery  county,  where  Mrs.  Graham 
died  at  the  age  of  seventy-seven  years;  he  spent  his  last  years  in  Iowa  with  his 
children,  dving  there  when  about  eighty  years  of  age.  They  were  the  parents 
of  but  two  sons,  George  F.  and  Aaron;  however,  James  C.  Graham  had  been 
previouslv  married  and  had  children  by  his  first  wife. 

When  only  seventeen  years  of  age  Aaron  Graham  gave  vent  to  the  patriot- 
ism he  felt  and  enlisted  in  Company  K,  Si.xty-seventh  Regiment  Indiana  Vol- 
unteer Infantry,  from  Jackson  county,  in  August,  1862,  and  he  served  very 
faithfullv  through  all  the  vicissitudes  of  his  regiment,  receiving  an  honorable 
discharge  Mav  16,  1865.  He  fought  at  Munfordville,  Kentucky,  Port  Gib- 
son, Black  Ri'ver,  Champion  Hills,  and  at  Vicksburg,  being  wounded  in  the 
general  assault  at  the  latter  place  May  22,  1863,  a  bullet  passing  through  his 
left  hand.  He  was  sent  to  Graysville  and  as  soon  as  he  was  able  he  was  ap- 
pointed ward  master  in  the  hospital  there,  which  position  he  occupied  for  nine 
months,  when  he  was  ordered  to  Cincinnati  as  clerk  under  General  Willick, 
commander  of  the  depot  there,  and  there  he  remained  until  discharged. 

After  returning  home  Mr.  Graham  began  trading  in  and  shipping  stock 
at  Russellville,  his  brother  George  becoming  his  partner.  In  1867  they  be- 
gan buving  land  in  Brown  township,  Montgomery  county,  one  and  one-halt 
miles  from  Russellville  Station,  starting  out  with  eighty  acres.  They  made 
monev  rapidlv  farming  and  shipping  from  Russellville  and  \^-aveland,  keep- 
in-  well  posted  in  the  dailv  markets,  being  constantly  buying  or  in  the  market, 
shippin-  two  hundred  cars  of  livestnck  m  .me  year.  Mr.  Graham  was  also 
accustomed  to  buving  horses  in  large  numbers,  which  he  kept  on  his  larm 
until  readv  for  market.  He  prospered  by  his  judicious  handhng  of  livestock 
and  general  farming  and  he  became  the  owner  of  five  hundred  and  sixty  acres 
of  good  land ;  he  owned  four  hundred  acres  in  Montgomery  county  and  one 
hundred  and  si.xtv  acres  in  Parke  county,  paying  as  high  as  fifty-five  dollars 
per  acre  for  improved  land;  it  consisted  of  the  best  black  land,  covered  with 
walnut  and  sugar  trees,  but  he  always  made  farming  secondary  to  his  livestock 
interests.  However,  he  was  known  as  a  large  wheat  raiser  and  has  sold  as 
high  as  twenty-nine  hundred  dollars  worth  at  one  shipping.  He  disposed  of 
his  stock  interests  ten  years  ago  and  six  years  ago  he  came  to  Russellville  to 
make  his  home.  He  has  bought  and  sold  considerable  town  property.  He  has 
a  beautiful  modern  home,  elegantlv  furnished  and  here  the  many  friends  of 


734 


WEIK  S    HISTORY    OF 


the  family  delight  to  gather.  He  also  has  modern  and  substantial  buildings 
on  his  farms.  His  brother,  George  F..  continued  in  the  stock  business  all 
the  while  and  still  owns  his  fine  farm  in  Montgomery  county. 

Politically  Mr.  Graham  is  a  Republican,  but  he  has  never  had  an  inclina- 
tion to  hold  public  office,  being  content  to  look  after  his  individual  affairs  and 
leave  public  matters  to  others :  however,  he  has  always  been  deeply  interested 
in  the  general  welfare  of  his  county.  He  is  a  liberal  supporter  of  the  local 
Methodist  church. 

Mr.  Graham  married  Miranda  Jones,  of  Montgomery  county,  .  when 
twenty-two  years  old.  She  died  ten  years  later.  Two  children  were  born 
of  this  union,  Ida,  who  married  Abe  Grimes,  of  Russellville,  and  George  F., 
who  was  but  six  days  old  when  his  mother  died.  Mr.  Graham's  second  mar- 
riage was  with  Ardellie  Hart,  of  Putnam  county,  who,  after  twenty-eight 
vears  of  mutuallv  happy  married  life,  died  in  December,  1901.  The  follow- 
ing children  graced  this  second  union :  Zona  married  Fred  H.  Goodwin,  who 
is  in  business  at  Russellville ;  J.  Blaine  is  associated  with  his  father  in  the 
farming  business:  Everett  L.,  now  eleven  years  old,  is  attending  school. 

Personallv  Mr.  Graham  is  a  man  whom  it  is  a  pleasure  to  know,  being 
generous  hearted,  kind,  hospitable,  honest  in  all  his  dealings  with  his  fellow 
mer.  and  eminently  worthy  of  the  trust  and  respect  they  repose  in  him  and 
have  for  him,  and  he  is  today  regarded  as  one  of  the  county's  most  repre- 
sentative and  valued  citizens. 


ABEL  BEXTON  DONEHEW, 

One  of  Putnam  county's  highly  honored  native  sons  who  have  greatly 
profited  by  their  persistent  industry  along  legitimate  lines  in  their  own  native 
localitv  and  thereby  find  themselves  in  comfortable  circumstances  in  their  de- 
clining- years  is  .\bel  Benton  Donehew,  farmer  and  stock  raiser  of  Russell 
township.  He  was  born  July  2,  1845,  ^^'^^  son  of  Martin  Donehew,  bom 
February  24,  iSio,  in  West  Virginia.  On  his  birthday,  February  24,  1834, 
he  married  Cynthia  Dyre,  who  was  born  in  Union  county,  Tennessee,  May  12, 
1812.  Abel  B.  Donehew's  grandfather  was  a  soldier  in  the  war  of  1812  and 
died  in  the  service.  The  Donehew  family  came  to  this  county  about  the  year 
1835,  Martin  Donehew  being  the  first  of  the  same,  and  he  lived  with  Jesse 
Blake,  then  a  bachelor  and  the  owner  of  a  farm  here.  Here  Mr.  and  Mrs. 
Donehew  made  their  home  for  several  years.     Two  years  before  he  brought 


PLTNAM    COCXTY,    INDIANA.  735 

his  family  liere  he  matle  the  trip  on  foot  from  Virginia  and  entered  eighty 
acres  of  land  in  Frankhn  township  and  worked  for  fifty  cents  a  day  on  the 
National  road  in  order  to  get  money  to  pay  for  his  land.  When  winter 
stopped  the  work  on  the  same  he  walked  back  to  his  Virginia  home  and  re- 
turned in  the  same  manner  the  following  spring,  bringing  his  family.  He 
made  a  success  of  farming  and  later  bought  land  adjoining  that  which  he 
first  entered,  and  in  1856  built  a  good  frame  house  in  which  he  lived  until 
his  death.  August  24,  1877.  He  was  a  jovial,  kind-hearted  man  and  had 
many  friends. 

Abel  B.  Donehew  spent  his  boyhood  days  on  the  home  farm  and  received 
a  common  school  education.  He  was  married  on  January  31,  1867,  to  Catherine 
Allen  Eads,  daughter  of  James  W.  and  Elizabeth  Eads.  of  Montgomery 
countv.  Indiana.  t.>  whom  these  children  were  born.  -Mary  ^l.,  Xancy  J., 
Elizabeth  L..  Sidney  Ann,  Catherine  A.,  James,  William,  Lucy  H.,  Harriett 
A.,  Joseph  M..  John  H.,  Sarah  A.  and  Stephen  D.  The  parents  of  these  chil- 
dren are  buried  in  Indian  Creek  cemetery.  They  were  members  of  the  Method- 
ist church. 

Mr.  and  Mrs.  Donehew  began  housekeeping  on  a  farm  in  Montgomery 
county  which  they  bought  in  1868.  After  a  few  years  they  sold  their  farm 
and  moved  to  Kansas,  where  they  remained  eight  years,  then  moved  to  ^^lis- 
souri,  returning  to  Putnam  county  three  years  later  and  have  since  then  re- 
sided here  continuously.  Mr.  Donehew  and  his  son,  Joseph  T.,  who  remains 
wdth  his  father,  are  among  the  most  enterprising  farmers  in  their  township, 
leasing  one  of  the  model  fanns  of  the  county,  consisting  of  four  hundred 
acres,  under  a  high  state  of  improvement  and  well  cultivated,  producing  abund- 
ant harvests  of  all  kinds  from  year  to  year  under  their  able  management. 
This  place  belongs  to  James  V.  Durham.  The  elder  Donehew  is  a  very  pleas- 
ant and  sociable  man  and  much  devoted  to  his  family.  He  belongs  to  the 
Independent  Order  of  Odd  Fellows  and  he  and  his  wife  are  members  of  the 
Christian  church.  Eight  children  have  been  born  to  them,  named  as  follows : 
Sarah  E.,  born  January  i,  1869,  married  Charles  A.  Morton  and  they  have 
eight  children.  Jay  B.,  DeHa  A..  Kitty  L.,  Rollie  E.,  xXettie  M.,  James  T., 
Monna  M.  and  Oliver  P.  Argalis.  born  April  21,  1870,  died  April  17,  18S2; 
Joseph  T.,  born  February  18.  1872,  received  a  common  school  education  and 
is  interested  with  his  father  on  the  farm.  He  is  an  active  member  of  the 
Modern  Woodmen  and  the  Independent  Order  of  Odd  Fellows.  Cordelia 
A.,  born  February  4,  1S76,  is  clerking  for  the  Brumfield  dry  goods  store  at 
Russellville  ;  she  received  a  common  school  education,  and  has  remained  single. 
Cynthia  A.,'  born  July  23,   1878,  died  September  14,   1879;  EHen  M..  torn 


736  weik's  history  of 

August  23,  1880,  married  Mr.  Brumfield,  a  merchant  at  Russellville;  Jessie 
A.,  born  October  22,  1887,  received  her  education  in  the  public  schools,  is 
single,  much  devoted  to  her  parents  and  is  an  estimable  young  lady.  Stella 
I.,  born  April  24,  1889,  married  Dwight  Evans,  and  they  are  the  parents  of 
one  child,  Helen  J. 


JOHN  W.  GARDNER,  Jr. 

A  venerable  and  highly  honored  citizen  of  Putnam  county,  of  which  he 
is  a  native,  is  John  W.  Gardner,  Jr.,  who  is  a  living  link  between  the  early 
days  and  the  progressive  present,  having  lived  to  see  wondrous  changes 
locally  since  his  boyhood  days  and  played  a  conspicuous  part  in  the  same, 
thereby  meriting  the  high  esteem  in  which  he  is  held  by  all  who  know  him. 
Especially  is  he  honored  in  Russellville  and  vicinity,  where  he  resides  and 
where  he  has  long  been  regarded  as  a  leading  citizen.  He  was  born  in 
Russell  township,  two  and  one-half  miles  south  of  Russellville,  October  10, 
1833,  the  son  of  Andrew  and  Elizabeth  (Bierly)  Gardner,  both  natives  of 
North  Carolina,  where  they  grew  to  maturity  and  married  and  where  two 
of  their  children  were  born,  three  having  been  born  after  they  came  to  Indi- 
ana. Two  of  the  children  were  older  than  John  \V.,  of  this  review,  so  it  is 
supposed  that  the  family  came  to  the  Hoosier  state  in  1827,  entered  land 
here  and  began  a  clearing  in  the  woods  where  the  father  remained  all  his 
life,  dying  about  1850,  when  fifty-two  years  of  age,  the  mother  dying  al)out 
1848  or  1849.  Her  son,  John  W.,  has  but  a  faint  recollection  of  her.  Mr. 
Gardner's  second  wife  was  Nancy  Everman,  of  Indiana.  He  and  his  first 
wife  were  the  parents  of  eight  children.  Five  children  were  born  to  Mr. 
Gardner  and  Nancy  Everman.  All  reached  maturity  but  one,  and  of  the 
familv  of  eight  one  other  besides  John  W.  of  this  review  is  living,  Barbara 
Ann.  the  wife  of  Dr.  John  Knight,  who  died  in  Greencastle;  she  is  living  in 
New  York  and  had  three  sons.  Alex.  Frederick  and  William.  Alex  went  to 
Iowa  and  died  in  Kansas,  where  his  last  days  were  spent.  Frederick  spent 
his  life  in  Russell  township  on  a  farm,  dying  here  some  time  ago.  Several 
members  of  this  family  reside  in  Crawfordsville.  Florence  is  the  wife  of 
William  Lenard,  of  Russell  township.  William  lived  in  Russell  township 
and  died  in  Russellville  at  the  age  of  seventy-two  years,  owning  a  good 
farm:  his  sons  were,  Edward.  Clarence,  Fred.  Otto  and  Warren,  living  in 
Russellville:  one  daughter,  Jennie,  is  the  wife  of  Wall  Proctor,  of  Russell- 
ville. and  Pearl  is  the  wife  of  Paul  Goff,  of  Russell  township.     Bart  Gardner, 


PUTNAM    COUNTY,    INDIANA.  -J ^^J 

son  of  Andrew  and  Xancy  Gardner,  died  in  California:  George,  their  other 
son,  lives  on  a  farm  near  Russellvilie;  a  daughter,  ^[ary.  is  tlie  wife  of  Mr. 
Sanders,  of  Cloverdale. 

John  W.  Garchier.  of  this  re\iew.  remained  (5n  the  home  place  two 
years  after  his  father  died.  He  recei\ed  a  meager  education  in  the  primitive 
schools  of  his  day  and  early  in  life  turned  his  attention  to  farming.  Before 
he  uas  twenty  years  of  age  he  married  Lucinda  Forgey,  daughter  of  James 
and  Jane  ( VanScoik)  Forgey.  who  li\etl  in  Russell  township,  in  which  Mrs. 
Gardner  was  born,  being  eighteen  years  old  at  her  marriage;  each  received 
some  aid  from  their  famihes,  enough  to  pay  one-half  on  eighty  acres  of  land, 
on  which  they  built  a  log  cabin.  Here  Mr.  Gardner  followed  farming  very 
successfully  until  he  moved  to  Russellvilie,  in  October,  1904.  having  sold  part 
of  his  property  in  the  country.  He  had  paid  forty  dollars  per  acre  for  land 
which  he  sold  at  one  hundred  dollars  per  acre.  He  had  added  to  his  original 
purchase  and  had  well  improved  it.  He  bought  a  tract  of  two  hundred  and 
twelve  acres  on  Ramp  creek,  for  which  he  paid  the  sum  of  eight  thousand 
dollars.  He  bought  a  modern  and  very  desirable  residence  in  Russellvilie 
for  three  thousand  dollars.  He  rents  his  farm  for  cash.  He  was  one  of  the 
first  men  in  this  county  to  begin  breeding  Shorthorn  cattle,  and  frequently 
exhibited  his  fine  cattle  at  local  fairs.  He  kept  some  fine  milk  cows,  and 
also  raised  many  fine  horses  which  we're  greatly  admired,  having  sold  single 
drivers  as  high  as  six  hundred  dollars;  he  was  fond  of  good  horses  and 
driving  and  no  better  judge  of  horses  could  be  found  in  Putnam  county. 
He  drove  one  animal  to  Indianapolis,  a  distance  of  fifty  miles,  in  six  hours, 
and  he  could  have  made  fifteen  miles  per  hour. 

Mr.  Gardner  is  no  politician,  never  seeking  office;  however,  he  loyally 
supports  the  Republican  ticket.  He  was  one  of  the  first  men  in  the  county 
to  sell  land  for  one  hundred  dollars  per  acre,  the  same  land  now  being 
worth  from  one  hundred  and  fifty  to  one  hundred  and  seventy-five  dollars 
per  acre. 

^Ir.  and  Mrs.  Gardner  became  the  parents  of  the  following  children: 
George  is  a  farmer  near  Russellvilie;  William  is  a  druggist  in  Russellvilie; 
James  Milton  is  a  mechanic  in  the  employ  of  the  electric  light  plant  at 
Russellvilie;  Charles  Edgar,  who  operated  an  elevator  at  Ladoga,  died  when 
about  twenty-five  years  of  age;  Edmond  Andrew  is  a  farmer  in  Clinton 
county.  Indiana ;  Anna.  ^laggie  and  Burl  are  all  living  at  home,  the  last 
named  being  a  Putnam  county  teacher. 
(47) 


738 


WEIK  S    HISTORY    OF 


Mr.  and  Mrs.  Gardner  have  been  members  of  the  Methodist  church 
since  before  their  marriage.  They  are  a  fine  old  couple  and  have  hosts  of 
warm  personal  friends  throughout  the  county,  being  highly  honored  by  all. 


OTTO  L.  REDDISH. 


Amono-  the  most  progressive   farmers  and  stock  men  of  the  younger 
o-eneration  in  Putnam  county  who  are  leading  such  lives  as  to  warrant  a 
future  replete  with  large  success  and  honors  worthily  bestowed  is  Otto  L. 
Reddish,  of  Russell  township,  near  Waveland.     He  was  born  February  17, 
1883,  in  Parke  county,  Indiana,  the  son  of  Clay  W.  and  Eva  (Sutton)  Red- 
dish, the  former  the  son  of  John  C.  and  Mary  Jane  (Watson)  Reddish,  who 
came  to  Parke  county  among  the  early  settlers  and  entered  land  which  they 
developed:  later  in  life  Mr.  Reddish  engaged  in  the  mercantile  business.     His 
son,  Clav  W.,  received  a  common  school  education  and  worked  on  the  farm 
when  a  boy.     March  31.  1880,  he  married  and  began  farming  on  the  home 
place,  which  he  later  bought.     However,  he  in  time  abandoned  farming  and. 
following  in  the  footsteps  of  his  father,  entered  the  mercantile  profession,  at 
Marshall.     He  devofed  considerable  attention  to  livestock,  becoming  an  ex- 
tensive buyer  and  shipper,  and  he  was  very  successful  at  whatever  he  under- 
took.    He  belonged  to  the  Missionary  Baptist  church  and  was  a  Republican 
in  politics.     He  was  regarded  by  all  as  a  good  and  useful  man.     He  and  his 
wife  were  the  parents  of  the  following  children :  John,  Myrtle,  Warren.  Cyril, 
Rubv  and  Otto  L.  of  this  review,  Omer,  the  oldest  of  the  children,  died  in 
childhood.     The  subject's  paternal  grandparents  were  Justice  and  Lucinda 
Sutton,  both  natives  of  Indiana  and  both  now  deceased.     Otto  L.  Reddish 
o-rew  to  manhood  on  the  home  farm.     After  finishing  the  common  schools  he 
attended  the  Bloomingdale  Academy  and  later  to9k  a  business  course  at  In- 
dianapolis, thus  becoming  well  equipped   for  life's  varied  duties.     On  June 
29,  1904,  he  married  Blanche  Oglesby,  daughter  of  Charles  and  Elizabeth  E. 
0<Tlesby,  and  they  went  to  housekeeping  on  the  farm  where  they  have  contin- 
ued to  make  their  home,  located  in  the  northeast  comer  of  Russell  township. 
He  owns  a  very  valuable  farm  of  four  hundred  and  thirteen  acres,  all  in  one 
body,  for  which  he  paid  the  sum  of  one  hundred  dollars  per  acre.     It  is  re- 
o-arded  as  one  of  the  choice  farms  of  the  county  and  is  greatly  admired  by  all. 
beino-  not  only  fortunately  located,  but  it  is  well  improved  and  under  a  high 
state  of  cultivation.     He  keeps  large  numbers  of  excellent  livestock  on  the 


PUTXAM    COUNTY,    IXDIAXA.  "39 

place,  and  has  a  moilern.  commodious  and  attractive  duelling  and  substantial 
outbuildings.     He  is  regarded  as  an  up-to-date  farmer  and  stock  raiser. 

Reese  Davis,  the  great-grandfather  of  Mrs.  Reddish,  was  a  noted  min- 
ister of  the  Baptist  church,  who  settled  in  ^lontgomerv-  count\-  in  an  early 
day  where  he  did  a  great  deal  of  good.  Her  grandfather,  William  J.  Davis, 
was  a  very  successful  business  man.  having  begun  at  Waveland,  Montgomerv' 
county,  later  engaged  in  business  in  Indianapolis  and  New  York  city  and  other 
points,  having  made  a  small  fortune  twice  and  losing  it  each  time;  he  finally 
went  to  Florida  where  he  went  into  the  real  estate  and  banking  business,  and 
at  his  death  he  was  worth  one  hundred  and  fifty  thousand  dollars.  Mrs.  Red- 
dish's  father  was  a  native  of  Ohio  and  the  mother  of  Indiana.  The  father 
has  followed  farming,  and  resides  on  a  farm  one  mile  east  of  Waveland.  The 
mother  died  Januan,-  31,  1909.  at  the  age  of  forty-six.  They  were  the  par- 
ents of  two  children,  William  H.  and  yhs.  Reddish.  William  H.  lives  at 
Waveland,  and  is  a  man  of  considerable  means,  devoting  his  time  to  looking 
after  his  varied  farming  interests.  He  married  Myrtle  Reddish,  a  sister  of 
Otto  L.  Reddish  of  this  review.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Reddish  own  property  in 
Waveland.  which  cost  ten  thousand  dollars  to  build.  Mr.  Reddish  is  regarded 
as  one  of  the  leading  young  business  men  of  this  section  of  the  county.  They 
are  the  parents  of  two  children.  Ronald  L..  born  Detrember  25.  1905,  and 
Herman  C.  born  December  22.  1907. 

'Sh.  Reddish  is  a  member  of  Masons.  Knights  of  Pythias.  Independent 
Order  of  Odd  Fellows  and  the  Modern  Woodmen.  Politically,  he  is  a  Repub- 
lican. 


WILLIAM!  WALLACE  XEWGENT. 

One  of  the  highly  respected  citizens  of  Russellville.  Putnam  county,  is 
William  Wallace  Newgent.  who  is  living  retired.  He  was  bom  November  4, 
1845,  in  the  old  Newgent  home,  built  here  in  1830,  now  occupied  by  his 
brother  Edward,  in  Clinton  township.  A  sketch  of  the  latter  appears  else- 
where in  this  volume.  Nearly  all  of  William  W.  Newgent's  life  was  passed 
on  the  old  place,  part  of  which  he  owns,  twenty-five  acres.  About  1901  he 
left  the  old  place  after  his  wife's  death.  He  has  been  a  carpenter  and  con- 
tractor all  his  life  and  has  been  fairly  successful  in  this  line  of  endeavor. 
September  i.  1867,  he  married  Patsy  Slavens,  daughter  of  Hiram  and  Nancy 
(Allen)  Slavens,  who  was  born  in  Clinton  township  in  1847.  Her  death  oc- 
curred on  June  14,  1900.  Four  children  were  born  to  this  union,  named  as 
follows:  Livonia  Belle  married  L.  L.  Mitchell  of  Oklahoma:  Ida  Eldora  mar- 


740 


WEIK  S    HISTORY    OF 


ried  'Slort  F.  Spencer,  of  Parke  county :  Lucy  Jane  married  Dr.  David  E.  P. 
Reed,  of  Russellville,  a  full  sketch  of  whom  appears  in  this  work;  Sarah 
Elizabeth  married  George  Burke,  of  Clinton  township. 

William  \V.  Xewgent  worked  on  the  home  place  in  his  boyhood  days, 
and  attended  the  district  schools  during  the  brief  winter  months.  He  learned 
the  carpenter's  trade  and  became  a  verv-  efficient  workman,  having  assisted 
in  the  erection  of  many  of  the  substantial  buildings  in  this  vicinity.  He  has 
retired  from  life's  active  duties  and  is  making  his  home  with  his  daughter, 
Mrs.  Doctor  Reed,  in  Russellville.  He  very  acceptably  served  his  township 
for  a  period  of  four  years  as  assessor.  He  has  been  a  member  of  the  Masonic 
fraternity  for  a  period  of  forty-five  years,  and  he  has  lived  up  to  the  high 
ideals  taught  by  this  praiseworthy  order. 


ia:\ies  b.  xelsox. 


The  progenitors  of  the  subject  of  this  sketch,  being  of  English-Scotch- 
Irish  blood,  were  among  the  settlers  of  Loudoun  county,  Virginia,  in  the 
early  vears  of  the  eighteenth  century.  From  this  point  of  settlement  in  the 
Xew  World  the  different  members  of  the  family  reached  out  into  various 
quarters  of  the  west,  then  as  wild  as  it  was  alluring.  One  branch  of  the  fam- 
ily removed  to  Mount  Sterling,  }kIontgomery  county,  Kentucky,  and  there, 
on  the  jth  day  of  Febraary.  1796.  James  L  X'elson,  the  Putnam  county  pio- 
neer, was  born.  In  1819  he  married  Mary,  daughter  of  Col.  Joshua  Yates, 
of  Mt.  Sterling.  Kentucky.  In  1821  he  made  an  observational  survey  on 
horseback  of  central  Indiana,  entered  a  tract  of  land  about  ten  miles  north  of 
Greencastle.  and  there,  in  the  primeval  forest,  erected  a  log  house.  In  1829 
he  put  his  worldly  goods  and  his  little  family  into  a  couple  of  covered  wag- 
ons, and  started  for  the  new  home  in  the  green  woods.  His  eldest  son,  Frank- 
lin P.  Xelson,  the  father  of  the  subject,  was  then  a  lad  of  eight  years  and  it 
fell  to  his  lot.  in  this  homing  pilgrimage,  to  follow  behind  and  drive  the 
cows.  James  I.  Xelson  was  a  typical  pioneer,  a  man  of  education,  strong 
character  and  stovit  heart.  Being  a  pronounced  abolitionist,  he  gratuitously, 
and  purelv  from  considerations  of  conscience,  liberated  his  slaves  before  leav- 
ing Kentuckv.     He  was  a  profoundly  religious  man  and.  though  somewhat 


fjjf^    A  l-^r-^J'   ..    /Z^.*-- 


PUTNAM    COUNTY.    INDIANA.  74 1 

of  Puritan  mold  and  temper,  he  was  never  an  intolerant  churchman.  All  his 
transactions  were  characterized  by  simplicity  and  hard  sense.  He  was  one 
of  a  few  men,  of  like  type  and  character,  who  were  pioneer  settlers  in  Putnam 
county.  Happy  indeed  is  the  lot  of  any  county  whose  resources  are  developed 
and  whose  early  life  is  stimulated  and  attunetl  by  such  a  noble  citizenry!  The 
new  home  in  the  w(iods  was  developed,  and  the  farm  cultivated,  after  the  man- 
ner then  prex'ailing.  There  fourteen  children  were  reared  to  maturity ;  there 
the  mother  died  in  1850:  there,  by  the  application  of  indefatigable  industn.' 
and  rare  judgment,  the  family  belongings  increased  from  fifteen  hundred  dol- 
lars, the  amount  carried  up  from  Kentucky  in  1829,  to  ninety-eight  thousand 
dollars  at  the  death  of  the  pioneer  in  1859. 

Franklin  P.  Xelson,  at  the  age  of  twenty,  married  Catherine  Ann,  daugh- 
ter of  Capt.  Isaac  Bell,  who  had  recently  moved  his  family  into  the  county 
from  Kentucky.  The  young  couple  struggled  up  through  all  the  hardships 
incident  to  poverty  in  a  new  country,  making  their  own  furniture,  clothing 
and  shoes.  This  initial  industr}-  and  self  denial,  however,  in  time  brought 
its  reward,  for  the  twain  prospered,  and  Mr.  Xelson  became  identified  with 
the  leading  agricultural,  industrial,  financial,  educational  and  moral  move- 
ments of  the  county.  His  holdings  of  land  amounted  to  three  thousand 
acres:  he  was  an  incorporator  and  director  in  both  the  First  Xational  Bank 
of  Greencastle  and  the  Greencastle  Iron  and  X'ail  Works :  he  was  the  largest 
contributor  to  the  erection  and  maintenance  of  College  A\enue  Methodist 
Episcopal  church  in  Greencastle;  he  was.  at  Mr.  DePauw's  special  request, 
tmstee  of  the  guarantee  endowment  fund  of  the  uni\ersity,  and  was  the 
largest  local  contributor  to  the  fund  necessary  to  secure  the  endowment  from 
Mr.  Depauw.  In  1868  his  wife  died  ^vithout  issue.  In  1870  he  married 
Eliza  Jean  Brannan,  of  the  city  of  Baltimore,  Maryland.  To  this  union  were 
born  two  children,  the  subject  of  this  sketch,  on  February  8.  1871,  and  Eliza 
Jean,  now  the  wife  of  Judge  William  \\'.  Penfield.  of  Xew  York  City,  on 
Xovember  4.  1872.  Mr.  X'el.son  lived  to  see  his  two  children  grown  to  ma- 
turity and  nn  Xovember  5,  1896,  his  long  and  useful  life  came  to  its  close. 
His  widow,  nt:)w  in  her  seventieth  year,  has  for  two  years  past  been  traveling 
in  foreign  countries.  She  is  in  good  health,  is  intensely  interested  in  all 
world  movements,  especially  those  of  a  social  and  piilitical  nature,  and,  at 
this  writing,  is  in  .\le.\andria.  Egypt. 

James  B.  X''elson  received  his  education  in  the  public  schools  and  De- 
Pauw  University  at  Greencastle,  and  in  the  University  of  Michigan,  at  .\nn 
■  .\rbor.  graduating  from  the  latter  institution  with  the  degree  of  Bachelor  of 
Laws  in  1893.     ^^  ^^^^  'I  niember  oi  the  legal  fraternity  of  Phi  Delta  Phi. 


742  WEIK  S    HISTORY    OF 

Since  graduation  Mr.  Nelson  has  been  engaged  successfully  in  various 
lines  of  business,  being  connected  officially  with  several  important  financial 
and  industrial  concerns  in  Indiana  and  Iowa.  His  principal  business,  how- 
ever, is  the  management  of  his  land  and  livestock  interests,  his  farm  holdings 
in  Putnam,  Parke  and  Owen  counties  now  aggregating  over  twenty-three 
hundred  acres,  besides  which,  he  has  large  speculative  holdings  in  Texas  and 
Minnesota. 

In  religion  and  politics  Mr.  Nelson  is  exceedingly  liberal.  He  takes  an 
active  interest  in  all  political  matters  but  never  as  a  contestant  for  place.  His 
activities  are  enlisted  more  for  the  appealing  men  and  measures  than  for 
strictly  partisan  weal. 

In  1894  Mr.  Nelson  married  Grace,  daughter  of  Grafton  and  Julia  Noble 
Johnson,  of  Greenwood,  Indiana.  Mrs.  Nelson  is  from  a  long  and  worthy 
line  of  ancestry,  traced  through  the  printed  genealogy  back  as  far  as  the  early 
years  of  the  sixteenth  century,  the  recent  generations  of  which  have  been 
prominently  identified  with  the  history  of  Indiana.  She  is  a  niece  of  the  late 
United  States  Senator  James  Noble;  of  the  late  Governor  Noah  Noble,  and 
also  of  the  late  Gen.  Samuel  Canby,  the  noted  Indian  fighter  who  figured  so 
conspicuously  in  the  early  history  of  the  state.  ^Ir.  and  Mrs.  Nelson  have 
one  child,  Julia  Jean,  who  was  born  April  8,  1S95. 

Mr.  Nelson's  sister  is  now  deeply  engrossed  in  social  and  civic  work  in 
New  York,  and  is  well  known  throughout  New  York  city  and  state,  not  only 
as  a  speaker  on  civic  problems  and  the  equal  franchise,  but  also  as  an  organ- 
izer among  women  for  industrial  and  social  uplift. 


OSCAR  LEE  REEVES. 

No  business  man  in  Greencastle  is  regarded  with  higher  favor  than 
Oscar  Lee  Reeves,  superintendent  of  the  water  works,  who,  while  looking  to 
his  own  interests,  does  not  neglect  to  discharge  his  duties  in  fostering  the 
upbuilding  of  the  community  in  general,  and  while  yet  a  young  man  he  has 
proven  that  success  comes  to  the  persistent  and  the  deserving. 

Mr.  Reeves  was  born  June  8,  1878,  on  a  farm  seven  miles  northeast  of 
Greencastle.  His  parents  were  William  A.  and  ^^lartha  E.  (^IcClary) 
Reeves.  The  father  was  born  in  Monroe  township.  Putnam  county,  in  1834 
and  he  lived  in  this  county  all  his  life.  He  devoted  his  attention  to  farming  and 
was  a  quiet,  honest,  home-loving  man  whom  evervbody  respected.  He  served 
in  the  Union  army  during  the  Civil  war  for  about  eight  months,  in  Company 


PLTXAM    COUNTY.    IXDIAXA. 


743 


K.  Sixty-third  Reginient  Indiana  \'(iiunteer  Infantry.  His  death  occurred 
on  X'(_neniber  J6.  1893. 

The  parental  grandfather  of  Oscar  L.  Reeves  was  Stacy  Reeves,  a  na- 
tive of  Kentucky,  where  he  spent  his  youth  and  from  which  state  he  came  to 
Putnam  county.  Indiana,  at  an  early  date,  and  spent  the  remainder  of  his 
life  here:  he  was  one  of  the  county's  hardy  pioneers,  and  thus  the  Reeves 
family  has  been  a  well  known  one  in  this  county  for  several  generations. 

The  subject's  mother  was  born  in  Kentucky,  from  which  state  she  came 
to  Putnam  county.  Indiana,  with  her  parents.  James  and  Sally  Ann  McClary, 
w  hen  a  young  girl,  her  family  locating  on  what  is  known  as  the  old  McClary 
homestead  in  Monroe  township,  about  seven  and  one-lialf  miles  northeast  of 
Greencastle.  Her  mother  is  living  with  her  daughter  at  Bainbridge.  this 
county. 

To  Mr.  and  ]klrs.  William  A.  Reeves  six  chiklren  were  born,  named  as 
follows ;  Orlando  is  an  express  messenger  on  the  Monon  railroad  and  lives 
at  Xew  Albany.  Indiana;  Cordelia  is  the  wife  of  C.  K.  Priest  and  is  living 
six  miles  north  of  Greencastle:  Sallie  Ann  died  June  3.  1891  ;  Homer  E.  is 
assistant  superintendent  of  the  Central  Union  Telephone  Company  at  Indi- 
anapolis: Margaret  T.  is  the  wife  of  E.  M.  Hinkle.  of  Bainbridge,  Indiana; 
Oscar  Lee.  of  this  review. 

Mr.  Reeves  spent  his  youth  on  the  home  farm,  where  he  was  early  as- 
signed work  in  the  fields,  attending  the  neighboring  schools  in  the  winter 
time,  remaining  by  the  paternal  fireside  until  1900.  He  turned  his  attention 
to  the  mercantile  life  wiien  a  boy  and  from  1900  to  1904  was  in  the  employ 
of  the  Cooper  Brothers,  in  their  hardware  store.  He  then  engaged  in  the 
plumbing  business  for  himself,  maintaining  a  very  successful  establishment  in 
Greencastle  until  April.  1909.  when  he  became  superintendent  of  the  Green- 
castle \Vater  Works  Company,  which  position  he  now  holds  and  to  which 
he  is  faithfully  and  satisfactorily  devoting  his  exclusive  attention,  giving 
the  utmost  satisfaction  in  every  respect  to  all  concerned. 

Mr.  Ree\'es  was  married  on  November  14,  1900,  to  Clara  Lee  Hillis, 
daughter  of  James  ]M.  and  Martha  L.  Hillis.  a  well  known  family  of  ^Monroe 
township,  this  county,  where  Mrs.  Reeves"  birth  occurred  on  July  27,  1880. 
This  union  has  resulted  in  the  birth  of  two  children.  Byron  H.,  born  ^lav  15, 
1903.  and  Gilbert  ]\I.,  born  October  5.  1906. 

Mr.  and  Mrs.  Reeves  are  members  of  the  College  Avenue  ^lethodist 
Episcopal  church,  and  Mr.  Reeves  is  a  member  of  the  Benevolent  and  Pro- 
tctive  Order  of  Elks  and  he  votes  the  Republican  ticket. 


744  WEIK  S    HISTORY    OF 

FRANK  McGAUGHEY. 

One  of  the  enterprising  agriculturists  and  substantial  citizens  of  Russell 
township  who  has  long  taken  an  abiding  interest  in  the  welfare  of  Putnam 
county  in  which  the  McGaugheys  have  long  been  represented  and  borne  an 
honored  name,  is  Frank  McGaughey,  who  was  born  December  27,  1866,  in 
this  countv,  the  son  of  John  and  Elizabeth  (Gibson)  McGaughey.  the  father 
born  April  12.  1839.  and  the  mother  on  March  28,  1842.  Frank's  grand- 
father \yas  James  McGaughey.  one  of  nine  children,  who,  with  their  parents, 
William  and  Prepare  (Clark)  McGaughey.  came  from  the  same  county  in 
Kentucky  in  1813.  locating  in  Putnam  county.  Their  children  were,  William., 
John.  Samuel.  James.  Andrew.  Michael.  Frances,  Patsey  and  Polly.  James 
McGaughey,  the  grandfather,  married  Sarah  Clodfelter  and  four  children 
were  born  to  this  union;  John.  Eliza  Ann.  William  Franklin  and  James  An- 
drew. He  purchased  one  hundred  and  sixty  acres  of  land  in .  section  22, 
Russell  tOAvnship,  on  which  stood  a  log  house.  He  was  a  good  farmer,  and 
his  death  occurred  in  1846,  and  in  1852  his  widow  married  Jesse  Spencer, 
and  she  died  in  1859.  John  McGaughey.  father  of  Frank,  ofthis  review, 
received  a  common  school  education  and  grew  up  on  the  home  farm.  He 
married  Elizabeth  Gibson,  daughter  of  Andrew  and  Jane  (Rambo)  Gibson. 
He  located  on  his  father's  farm  where  he  remained  and  built  the  nice  home 
where  his  widow  still  lives.  His  death  occurred  February  3.  1897,  at  the 
age  of  fiftv-seven  years,  nine  months,  and  twenty-one  days. 

Frank  McGaughey  remained  on  the  home  farm  and  received  a  common 
school  education.  December  31.  1891.  he  married  Lora  Carrington.  daugh- 
ter of  John  P.  Carrington.  of  this  county,  Mrs.  McGaughey's  parents  repre- 
senting two  old  pioneer  families  of  Putnam  county.  Mr.  Carrington  was 
a  farmer  and  he  and  his  wife  members  of  the  Christian  church.  Three  chil- 
dren were  born  to  them,  Manfred  A..  Archie  E.  and  Lora  H. 

Mr.  and  ]\Irs.  McGaughey  began  their  married  life  on  a  farm  of  sixty 
acres  in  section'  26,  which  they  purchased  and  on  which  they  lived  until 
1905,  when  they  sold  and  bought  one  hundred  and  thirty  acres  in  section  9, 
for  which  they  paid  one  hundred  dollars  per  acre.  It  was  owned  by  John 
Gardner  and  has  always  been  regarded  as  one  of  the  best  farms  of  its  size 
in  the  countv,  and  since  Mr.  ^McGaughey  became  its  owner  its  value  has 
increased  from  twenty-five  to  fifty  per  cent.  Altogether  Mr.  McGaughey 
owns  four  hundred  and  eighty  acres  and  he  is  very  successful  as  a  farmer 
and  stock  raiser  and  considered  one  of  the  model  and  most  progressive  far- 
mers of  the  countv.     He  always  keeps  some  good  stock,  for  which  he  receives 


PfTXAM    COUXTY.    INDIANA.  745 

the  best  prices  owing  to  their  excellent  quality.  Xo  better  judge  of  livestock 
is  to  be  found  in  this  community  than  he  and  it  is  a  pleasure  to  look  over  his 
broad  and  well-kept  acres,  which  yields  him  abundant  returns  for  his  labor 
from  vear  t.^  vear.  Both  he  and  his  wife  are  members  of  the  Christian 
church.  Politically  Mr.  McGaughey  is  a  Democrat  and  while  he  is  deeph- 
interested  in  the  best  things  for  his  county,  always  assisting  in  placing  the  best 
qualified  men  in  local  offices,  he  is  no  office  seeker,  preferring  to  devote  his 
time  exclusively  to  his  large  individual  afifairs. 

To  Mr.  and  Mrs.  McGaughey  three  interesting  children  have  been 
born:  Rafe  Ellis.  June  19.  1893:  Reta  Myrtle,  September  3,  1896;  Letha 
INIay.  ;\Iarch  j8,  1904. 

Personallv  McGaughey  is  a  man  in  whom  everybody  places  the  utmost 
confidence,  for  his  relations  with  his  fellow  men  have  always  been  most  cor- 
dial and  fair  and  his  home  is  a  place  of  genial  hospitality  to  the  many  friends 
of  the  familv. 


RUFUS  E.  OZMEXT. 

Among  the  enterprising  men  who  have  taken  an  active  part  in  pro- 
moting the  material  growth  of  Putnam  county,  Rufus  E.  Ozment.  of  Wash- 
ington township,  occupies  a  conspicuous  place.  Ever  since  reaching  the  age 
of  manhood  he  has  contributed  to  the  prosperity  of  the  country,  earning  by 
legitimate  effort  honorable  position  and  wide  influence  and  using  l)oth  for 
the  advancement  of  the  community  along  legitimate  lines.  Rufus  E.  Ozment. 
farmer,  stock  raiser  and  contractor,  was  born  in  Guilford  county.  North 
Carolina,  November  17.  1863.  being  a  son  of  Nathan  and  Elizabeth  Ozment, 
the  father  a  native  of  the  old  North  state,  the  mother  of  Virginia.  Howard 
Ozment,  the  subject's  grandfather,  was  a  Virginian,  but  in  young  manhood 
went  to  Guilford  county.  North  Carolina,  where  he  married  Betsey  Lister, 
whose  antecedents  were  among  the  old  families  of  that  part  of  the  state. 
Nathan,  whose  birth  occurred  in  1817,  was  a  farmer  and  wagonmaker  and 
a  man  of  standing  in  the  community  where  he  resided.  He  sen-ed  in  the 
Confederate  army,  until  released  by  paying  the  bounty  required,  but  later  was 
drafted  and  continued  with  the  army  until  the  close  of  the  war,  his  duty  a 
part  (^f  the  time  being  the  butchering  of  cattle  and  hogs  for  the  troops.  He 
married,  in  his  native  county.  Elizabeth  Martin,  who  was  born  September 
22,  1829,  among  the  Blue  Ridge  mountains  of  \'irginia.  He  had  a  family 
of  ten  chil.lren   and  departed  this  life  near  the  place  of  his  birth   in    1883, 


746 


WEIK  S    HISTORY    OF 


ao-ed  sixty-seven  years.     His  widow  is  still  living  in  the  same  locality,  having 
reached  the  advanced  age  of  eighty  years. 

Rnfus  E.  Ozment  remained  with  his  parents  until  attaining  his  majority, 
spending  the  intervening  years  on  the  home  farm,  which  he  helped  cultivate, 
but  devoting  the  greater  part  of  the  time  to  the  trade  of  wagonmaking,  which 
his  father  followed  and  at  which  he  early  became  a  proficient  workman.  In 
1882  he  came  to  Putnam  county  to  visit  certain  relatives  that  had  settled  here 
some  years  before  and.  being  pleased  with  the  country  and  its  opportunities, 
decided  not  to  return  to  his  North  Carolina  home.  Being  a  skillful  mechanic, 
he  soon  had  all  the  carpentry  work  he  could  do  and  during  the  six  or  seven 
years  ensuing  his  reputation  as  a  builder  became  widely  known  throughout 
the  county,  his  partner  the  meanwhile  being  J.  C.  Plummer,  who  is  now  his 
nearest  neighbor. 

On  October  11,  1885,  Mr.  Ozment  was  joined  in  the  holy  bonds  of  wed- 
lock with  Julia  Rissler,  whose  parents,  Jasper  and  Harriet  Rissler,  were  mem- 
bers of  old  and  highly  esteemed  families  of  Putnam  county.  Jasper  Rissler 
was  born  in  Harrison  county,  Indiana.  June  15,  183 1,  and  after  becoming 
a  resident  of  Putnam  county  located  on  a  farm  in  Washington  township  near 
the  Clay  county  line,  where  his  death  occurred  in  the  month  of  August,  1898; 
his  wife,  whose  birth  occurred  on  January  22,  1832,  is  still  living,  making 
her  home  at  this  time  with  her  daughter,  ^vlrs.  Ozment. 

For  three  years  after  his  marriage  :Mr.  Ozment  operated  his  father-in- 
law's  farm  and  at  the  expiration  of  that  period  moved  to  Clay  county  where 
he  spent  about  the  same  length  of  time  as  a  mechanic  and  tiller  of  the  soil. 
In  November,  1892,  he  moved  to  his  present  place  of  residence,  formerly  a 
part  of  the  Simpson  Harris  farm,  which  he  now  owns,  in  addition  to  which 
he  also  owns  the  old  Rissler  homestead,  about  one  and  a  half  miles  distant. 
In  connection  with  agriculture  he  is  engaged  in  carpentry,  which  he  carries 
on  quite  extensively,  being  one  of  the  largest  contractors  in  the  township, 
in  addition  to  which  he  also  does  a  large  and  successful  business  in  construct- 
ing cement  bridges,  culverts,  basements,  etc.  As  a  carpenter  he  has  erected 
many  farm  and  town  residences  in  various  parts  of  Putnam  county  and  else- 
where, also  a  number  of  large  barns  and  not  a  few  public  buildings,  his  repu- 
tation as  a  successful  contractor  being  second  to  that  of  no  other  in  this  part 
of  Indiana.  For  a  number  of  years  he  has  been  associated  at  intervals  with 
Mr.  Plummer,  and  many  of  the  largest  and  finest  buildings  in  Putnam  county 
stand  as  monuments  to  the  efiiciency  and  skill  of  these  two  spirited  and  widely 
known  mechanics. 

In  contracting  for  the  erection  of  any  kind  of  an  edifice  Mr.  Ozment 
stipulates  that  it  shall  be  turned  over  to  the  owner  complete  in  all  its  parts. 


PUTNAM    COUNTY,    INDIANA.  747 

and  his  business  has  grown  to  sucli  magnitude  that  lie  now  employs  from  four 
to  eight  men  in  order  to  meet  the  demands  on  his  time  and  skill.  He  is 
indeed  a  busy  man  and,  judged  by  his  labors,  none  have  done  more  to  advance 
the  material  interests  of  his  section  of  country  and  as  a  citizen  no  one  stands 
higher  in  the  esteem  and  confidence  of  the  people.  He  gives  his  support  to 
the  Democratic  party,  takes  an  active  part  in  furthering  all  enterprises  for  the 
general  welfare  and  his  influence,  which  has  always  been  potent  and  wide- 
spread, is  exerted  in  behalf  of  what  promises  to  be  for  the  greatest  good  of 
the  greatest  number.  He  holds  membership  with  the  Masonic  fraternity  at 
Knightsville  and  belongs  to  the  Royal  Arch  chapter  at  Greencastle.  in  addi- 
tion to  which  he  is  also  an  active  worker  in  the  Odd  Fellows  lodge  at  Har- 
mony and  a  trusted  official  in  the  several  organizations  with  which  identified. 

Some  years  ago  Mr.  Ozment  built  the  beautiful  and  commodious  resi- 
dence which  his  family  occupies  and  has  taken  great  pains  to  make  it  as 
nearly  as  possible  an  ideal  home.  The  building  is  a  model  of  architectural 
beauty  and  with  its  modern  conveniences  and  attractive  surroundings  impress 
the  beholder  as  the  dwelhng  of  an  intelligent,  public-spirited  American  who 
'  elieves  in  the  dignity  of  his  calling  and  takes  pride  in  the  community  in 
which  he  lives. 

Mrs.  Ozment.  whose  birth  occurred  in  Washington  township  on  the 
i6th  day  of  January,  1867.  has  borne  her  hsuband  ten  children,  viz:  Jessie 
Lee,  who  married  C.  Huffman  and  lives  in  Putnam  county.  Alfred  Roy, 
a  carpenter  by  trade  and  his  father"s  partner,  married  Goldie  2vIcCormack 
and  resides  near  the  home  farm.  Lillie  Mac.  Harriet  Elizabeth,  Ruthie 
^lildred.  Bertha  Evalyn.  Man."  Susan.  Josephine.  Lola  Violet  and  Eugene 
Rissler  being  still  members  of  the  home  circle,  excepting  Josephine,  who  died 
at  the  age  of  three  months. 


JAMES  B.  ERUMFIELD. 

The  late  James  B.  Brumfield.  of  Russellville.  was  known  as  a  man  of 
high  ideals  and  unselfish  aims,  who,  while  laboring  for  his  own  advance- 
ment, did  not  for  a  moment  lose  sight  of  his  duties  to  his  neighbors  and  so- 
ciety at  large;  such  principles  could  not  help  resulting  in  the  gaining  of  ma- 
terial success  and  the  winning  of  a  vast  host  of  warm  personal  friends.  He 
was  born  in  Kentucky  June  9.  181 5,  and  there  spent  his  childhood.  His 
wife.  Sophia  Ann  Rogers,  was  horn  in  Indiana,  where  she  grew  to  maturity 


748  weik's  history  of 

and  was  educated;  her  birth  was  on  February-  12.  1822;  they  were  married 
December  15,  1847.  Mr.  Brumfield  came  to  Indiana  when  a  young  man  and 
started  a  store  at  Russellville  and  married  here.  After  selhng  goods  until 
1858  he  engaged  in  farming  three  miles  east  of  Russellville.  About  1862 
or  1863  he  bought  one  hundred  and  sixty  acres  of  land  just  south  of  the 
old  town  and  when  the  railroad  built  a  station  here  in  the  eighties.  Mr. 
Brumfield  gave  part  of  the  land.  He  then  laid  out  two  rows  of  lots  on  Main 
street  to  the  depot,  one-fourth  of  a  mile.  He  sold  his  lots  and  carried  on 
general  farming.  As  the  business  center  of  the  town  changed  he  moved 
one-half  mile  south  of  the  old  center  and  continued  to  live  on  his  farm  until 
his  death  on  Tune  i.  1891.  at  the  age  of  seventy-six  years:  his  widow  sur- 
vived until  September  9.  1898,  dying  at  about  the  same  age. 

While  living  on  his  farm  Mr.  Brumfield  served  as  township  trustee ;  po- 
liticallv  he  was  a  stanch  Republican,  and  was  one  of  the  pillars  of  the  Meth- 
odist Episcopal  church.  He  was  a  good  and  useful  man.  whom  everybody 
admired  and  trusted. 

Mr.  and  Mrs.  James  B.  Brumfield  were  the  parents  of  four  children, 
tliree  sons  and  one  daughter,  namely:  Mary  I.,  who  remained  single,  was 
born  September  30.  1848,  died  ?klarch  10,  1897;  Robert  H.  was  born  Septem- 
ber 30,  1850;  William  C,  who  was  bom  May  16.  1854,  became  a  practicing 
physician  of  Tulare  county,  California,  having  graduated  from  DePauw 
University  and  also  from  the  St.  Louis  Medical  School,  first  practiced  in 
Clinton,  Missouri,  from  which  city  he  went  to  California  and  died  April  2, 
1902.  at  the  age  of  forty-eight  years.  Frank  M..  a  general  merchant  at 
Russellville.  is  represented  on  another  page  of  this  work. 


JOHX  W.  BLAYDES. 


Like  many  of  the  enterprising  and  successful  citizens  of  Putnam  county, 
John  W.  Blavdes  hails  from  the  Blue  Grass  state,  but  he  is  loyal  to  his 
adopted  community  and  has  always  done  what  he  could  in  promoting  its  in- 
terests along  material  and  social  lines.     His  birth  occurred  in  Hardin  county. 

Kentucky.  August   12.   1846.  and  he  is  the  son  of  John  S.  and  Nancy  D. 

(Cash)  Blaydes,  an  excellent  old  family,  John  S.  having  been  born  June 
12.   1822.     He  was  the  son  of  Frank  Blaydes  and  was  born  in  Virginia. 

George  Blaydes  was  the  father  of  Frank  Blaydes.     John  S.  Blaydes  spent 

his  vouth   in   Kentuckv   and   there   he   worked   until    1861.   when,   upon   the 


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PUTXAM    COUNTY,    IXDIAXA.  749 

death  of  his  wife,  he  enhsted  in  Company  G,  Xinth  Regiment,  Kentucky 
Volunteer  Cavalry,  and  was  in  the  service  one  year,  then  re-enlisted  in  a 
company  of  mounted  infantn,-,  proving  to  be  a  good  soldier,  but  he  never 
applied  for  a  pension.  In  later  life  he  came  to  Indiana  and  lived  with  his 
sons,  dying  in  February,  1905.  He  was  a  sterling  character  and  a  man  whom 
all  admired  who  knew  him. 

John  W.  Blaydes  was  reared  on  a  farm  in  Kentucky,  remaining  at  home 
until  he  was  seventeen  years  of  age,  when  he  enlisted  in  the  Ninth  Cavalry 
(Company  G),  in  i86j.  and  he  was  in  the  service  one  year,  during  which 
time  he  saw  some  real  war,  having  been  in  the  battle  at  Perryville  and 
several  other  min(jr  engagements.  He  was  one  of  the  pursuers  of  the  in- 
trepid Morgan  in  his  northern  raid.  After  being  mustered  out  he  returned 
to  Ken  lucky  and  went  to  school  during  the  winter  months.  In  the  spring 
of  1864  he  came  to  Putnam  county,  Indiana,  his  total  capital  upon  landing 
here  being  seventy-tive  dollars.  He  worked  by  the  day  for  Jesse  P.  Hymer 
and  lived  on  his  place  while  working  for  him. 

Mr.  Blaydes  married  Mildred  Radford  and  this  union  resulted  in  the 
birth  of  one  child.  Charles  M..  who  has  remained  single.  Mrs.  Blaydes 
was  called  to  her  rest  in  1868,  and  Mr.  Blaydes  married  Elizabeth  Jeffries, 
who  was  born,  reared  and  educated  in  Putnam  county,  where  her  family  had 
long  been  verv  favorably  known.  This  union  resulted  in  the  birth  of  nine 
children,  seven  sons  and  two  daughters,  namely:  Robert  L.,  Xancy  M., 
Oliver  B.,  Jolm  H.,  Dora  E..  Edgar  C,  Grover  C,  Allen  G.  and  Warren  T. 

Mr.  Blavdes  prospered  from  the  first  and  today  he  is  the  owner  of  a 
fine  farm  consisting  of  one  hundred  and  seventy-three  acres,  eighty  in  the 
home  place  and  ninety-three  in  Jackson  township,  which  is  well  impro\ed  and 
on  the  first  named  tract  there  stands  a  substantial  and  comfortable  dwelling 
and  good  outbuildings.  He  is  a  breeder  of  registered  draft  horses  which  are 
admired  bv  all  who  see  them  and  no  small  part  of  his  competency  has  been 
made  by  successful  handling  of  shorthorn  cattle.  Mr.  Blaydes  was  among 
the  first  to  introduce  draft  horses  in  Putnam  county. 

Mr.  and  Mrs.  Blaydes  are  members  of  the  Church  of  Christ,  he  being 
an  elder  in  the  local  congregation  and  a  liberal  supporter  of  the  same.  Po- 
litically he  is  a  Democrat,  but  he  does  not  find  time  to  take  much  interest  in 
politics,  being  deeply  engrossed  in  his  individual  business  affairs ;  however, 
he  is  deeply  interested  in  whatever  tends  to  the  betterment  of  Putnam 
countv.  He  was  trustee  of  Franklin  township  for  two  years  and  he  has  held 
several  other  local  offices  to  the  satisfaction  of  all  concerned. 


WEIK  S    HISTORY    OF 


FRANK  M.  BRUM  FIELD. 


In  compiling  this  volume  of  representative  citizens  of  Putnam  county 
occasion  has  been  afforded  to  give  the  records  of  men  in  many  walks  of  life; 
here  will  be  found  mention  of  worthy  citizens  of  all  vocations,  and  at  this 
juncture  we  are  permitted  to  offer  a  resume  of  the  career  of  one  of  the  sub- 
stantial and  highly  esteemed,  in  fact,  one  of  the  industrial  leaders  of  north- 
western Putnam  county,  where  he  has  long  maintained  his  home  and  where 
he  has  attained  a  high  degree  of  success  in  his  chosen  field  of  labor  and  enter- 
prise, being  a  well  known  merchant  at  Russellville. 

Frank  'SI.  Brumfield  was  born  on  the  old  family  homestead  in  Russell 
township,  July  27,  1866,  and  he  remained  with  his  father  until  he  was  six- 
teen vears  of  age.  or  until  the  latter's  death,  when  he  began  clerking,  having 
decided  to  devote  his  life  to  merchandising.  His  first  employer  \vas  T.  L. 
Grider,  in  1SS4,  at  Fincastle.  and  he  has  been  in  this  line  of  work  constantly 
ever  since.  He  was  in  partnership  with  Henry  Grimes  for  a  period  of  two 
years.  He  came  to  Russellville  in  1888  and  purchased  the  store  of  an  old 
firm.  Moreland  &  Ross,  the  firm  becoming  Grimes,  Ross  &  Company,  which 
conducted  a  general  merchanti.le  business.  Mart  Inge  succeeded  Grimes  and 
the  firm  was  changed  to  Inge,  Ross  &  Company,  which  remained  for  ten 
years,  when  the  stock  was  divided.  Inge  took  the  groceries  and  shoes  and 
started  alone,  and  the  firm  of  Ross  &  Brumfield  was  started,  these  gentlemen 
dividing  their  goods  on  January  15,  1908,  after  a  number  of  years  of  very 
successful  partnership. 

Mr.  Brumfield  then  opened  a  general  store  alone  with  a  fine  and  care- 
fullv  selected  stock  of  goods  and  soon  enjoyed  an  excellent  trade,  for  he  had 
been  known  to  the  vicinity  for  many  j'ears  as  a  merchant  of  thrift  and  relia- 
bility, and  he  has  remained  in  his  splendid  quarters  in  the  I.  O.  O.  F.  build- 
ino-,  which  is  one  of  the  substantial  cement  block  structures  of  the  town  and 
admirablv  located  and  which  place  is  the  headquarters  for  farmers  and  their 
families  when  in  town.  The  Ross  store  was  continued  until  the  death  of  Mr. 
Ross  and  is  now  owned  bv  a  Mr.  Smith.  Mr.  Brumfield  has  greatly  increased 
his  stock  of  o-oods  to  double  what  it  was  formerly.  He  has  a  well-kept  and 
well-arranged  store,  twenty-six  by  eighty-five  feet,  and  his  neat  stock  of 
o-oods  is  tastilv  displayed.  He  carries  stock  aggregating  in  value  about  seven 
thousand  dollars,  and  he  is  doing  a  very  satisfactory  cash  business,  for  he 
keeps  nothing  that  it  not  up-to-date  and  of  excellent  quality  and  his  prices 
are  aUvavs  right.     He  buys  eggs  extensively  and  has  a  large  country  trade. 


PUTNAM    COUNTY,    INDIANA. 


Mr.  Brumheld  lives  on  the  old  homestead  which  he  owns,  and  which  con- 
sists of  one  hundred  and  five  acres.  He  has  platted  and  added  thirty  acres 
to  the  town,  known  as  Brumfield's  Addition  to  Russellville ;  this  is  becoming 
a  very  popular  section  of  the  thriving  town  and  he  is  selling  lots  constantly. 
He  is  very  successful  in  overseeing  his  farm  where  general  crops  are  raised 
and  which  has  been  very  skillfully  managed. 

October  9,  1907,  Mr.  Brumfield  married  Ella  Donehew,  daughter  of  a 
well  known  family  of  Russellville.     This  union  is  without  issue. 

Fraternally  ^Ir.  Brumfield  is  a  Mason  and  he  seems  to  live  up  to  its 
sublime  ritual  in  all  the  relations  he  has  with  his  fellow  men.  He  is  a  man 
who  attends  strictly  to  his  individual  affairs  and  has  never  aspired  to  public 
offices. 


LEWIS  A.  ZARING. 

The  above-named  gentleman  was  the  oldest  of  the  four  children  of 
Daniel  and  Lucinda  (Lewis)  Zaring,  and  was  born  in  Putnam  county.  In- 
diana, September  19,  1861.  Reared  under  the  wholesome  influence  of  life 
in  the  country,  he  early  became  familiar  with  the  active  duties  of  the  farm 
and  in  the  district  schools  which  he  attended  of  winter  season  during  his 
minority  he  received  a  fair  education,  his  mental  discipline,  however,  being 
much  more  practical  than  scholastic.  As  soon  as  his  services  could  be  uti- 
lized to  advantage  he  bore  his  part  in  the  cultivation  of  the  farm,  and  until 
his  twenty-first  year  he  remained  at  home  laboring  for  his  father's  interests. 
On  March  13,  1883,  he  was  united  in  marriage  with  Lucretia  Huffman, 
daughter  of  Edmund  Huffman  (see  sketch  of  Douglas  Huffman),  and  dur- 
in-r'the  two  years  ensuing  managed  the  home  farm  and  succeeded  well  in 
hiJ  labors.  After  his  father's  death  he  began  purchasing  the  shares  of  differ- 
ent heirs  and  in  due  time  became  sole  owner  of  the  estate,  which  he  has 
since  cultivated  with  gratifying  success,  in  addition  to  which  he  also  owns 
a  beautiful  and  attractive  home  in  the  village  of  Manhattan,  where  he  lives. 
Mr.  Zaring  has  prospered  in  all  of  his  undertakings,  and  at  this  time  ranks 
amon"  the  leading  farmers  and  stock  raisers  of  Putnam  county,  also  stand- 
ing high  as  a  citizen  and  man  of  affairs. 

y[r.  Zarino-  has  never  sought  official  distinction,  but  always  manifests 
an  active  interest  in  public  matters,  being  a  Democrat  in  politics  and  an  in- 
fluential member  of  the  party  in  his  township.  Fraternally  he  is  a  member 
n\    the   Masonic   brotherhood,   belonging   to   the   blue   lodge,    chapter,    com- 


7^2  WEIK  S    HISTORY    OF 

mandery  and  Eastern  Star  at  Greencastle,  being  senior  warden  in  the  com- 
mandery  at  the  present  time. 

Mr.  and  Mrs.  Zaring  have  three  children,  namely:  Stella  Ann,  wife 
ot  Professor  Philip  Hutchison,  principal  of  the  Roachdale  schools;  Lola  May, 
teacher  of  the  primary  department  of  the  Pleasant  Garden  high  school,  and 
Edith,  who  is  pursuing  her  studies  in  the  high  school  at  Roachdale,  the  two 
younger  being  still  members  of  the  home  circle. 


HON.  DAVID  B.  HOSTETTER. 

The  student  interested  in  the  history  of  Putnam  county  does  not  have 
to  carry  his  investigations  far  into  its  annals  before  learning  that  David  B. 
Hostetter  has  long  been  one  of  its  most  active  and  leading  citizens  in  its 
ao-ricultural  and  stock-raising  interests  and  that  his  labors  have  been  a  potent 
force  in  making  this  a  rich  agricultural  region,  for  through,  several  decades 
he  has  carried  on  general  fanning,  gradually  improving  his  valuable  place, 
and  while  he  has  prospered  in  this  he  has  also  found  time  and  ample  oppor- 
tunity to  assist  in  material  and  civic  development  of  the  county,  and  his  co- 
operation has  been  of  value  for  the  general  good,  especially  in  political  and 
church  affairs. -being  the  present  efficient  and  popular  representative  of  his 
locality  in  the  state  Legislature. 

Mr.  Hostetter  is  the  scion  of  an  excellent  and  highly  honored  old  family 
of  Montgomery  county,  Lidiana,  where  he  was  born  on  December  7,  1862. 
He  is  the  son  of  Beniah  and  Lou  A.  (^Lihoney)  Hostetter,  the  father  a  na- 
tive of  Ohio  and  the  mother  of  Kentucky,  each  representing  pioneer  families 
of  sterling  worth.  The  father  came  to  Lidiana  in  1831,  the  mother  at  a 
later  date,  the  father  having  accompanied  his  parents  to  Montgomery  county, 
the  mother  coming  to  the  same  county  with  her  brother  and  sister.  There 
the  parents  of  David  B.  Ho'stetter  grew  to  maturity  and  married  in  i860,  re- 
maining in  that  county  until  Beniah  Hostetter's  death  in  1870.  when  his 
wife  went  to  live  with  her  children,  her  death  occurring  in  South  Bend, 
Indiana,  in  March.  1909,  at  an  advanced  age.  They  were  the  parents  of 
the  following  children:  Mary,  wife  of  S.  D.  Irvine,  of  Lebanon,  Indiana; 
David  B.,  of  this  review;  William  lives  in  Denver,  Colorado:  Rev.  Henry 
B.  is  pastor  of  the  Westminster  Presbyterian  church  at  South  Bend.  Indiana; 
}.Lirtha  J.  has  remained  single :  B.  S.  lives  in  Denver.  Colorado. 

David  B.  Hostetter  was  reared  on  the  home  farm  where  he  began  working 
when  of  proper  age.  attending  the  district  schools  during  the  winter  months. 


DAVID  B.  HOSTETTER 


PUTNAM    COUNTY,    INDIANA.  J^^ 

later  becoming  a  student  of  the  Ladoga  Xormal  School.  He  applied  himself 
verv^  assiduously  to  his  te.xt  books  and  received  a  ver>'  serviceable  education, 
which  has  since  been  greatly  augmented  by  miscellaneous  home  reading  and 
study  and  by  general  contact  with  the  world.  He  then  took  charge  of  the 
home  farm  which  he  successfully  conducted  for  a  period  of  five  years. 

The  domestic  chapter  of  Mr.  Hostetter"s  life  history  began  on  October 
17,  1888.  when  he  married  Hettie  A.  Harshbarger,  a  native  of  Montgomery 
county.  Indiana,  where  her  birth  occurred  on  May  29,  1865.  She  is  the 
daughter  of  Samuel  Harshbarger,  long  a  prominent  citizen  of  that  county 
where  'Sirs.  Hostetter  grew  to  maturity  and  was  educated  in  the  district 
schools,  later  attending  the  Western  Seminary  at  O.xford.  Ohio. 

Mr.  and  Mrs.  Hostetter  moved  to  Franklin  township  early  in  their 
career  and  they  have  resided  here  ever  since.  They  are  the  parents  of  six- 
children  living,  named  as  follows:  Howard  H.,  born  September  17.  1889, 
is  a  graduate  of  the  Roachdale  high  school  and  is  now  a  student  in  Wabash 
College:  Stuart  S.,  born  December  31.  1890,  is  a  sophomore  at  Wabash  Col- 
lege: Sherman  Ralph  was  bom  November  13,  1895:  David  H.  was  born 
October  16,  1898:  Mary's  birth  occurred  .April  18,  1900;  Curtis  was  born 
June  27,  1904. 

Mr.  Hostetter  is  the  owner  of  one  of  the  model  farms  of  Franklin  town- 
ship, consisting  of  tw(.)  hundred  and  forty  acres,  which  is  well  improved  and 
well  kept  and  which  vields  abundant  crops  under  his  efficient  management. 
Some  good  livestock  is  also  raised  from  year  to  year.  He  has  a  beautiful 
and  cozy  home,  substantial  outbuildings  and  everything  alxiut  the  place  shows 
thrift  and  prosperity  and  indicates  that  a  gentleman  of  excellent  taste  and 
good  judgment  has  its  management  in  hand. 

INlr.  and  Mrs.  Hostetter  are  members  of  the  Presbyterian  church  at 
Roachdale,  Mr.  Hostetter  being  one  of  the  ruling  elders  and  a  liberal  sup- 
porter of  the  .same.  Pohtically  he  is  a  loyal  Democrat  and  he  has  long  been 
active  in  party  affairs  and  as  a  result  of  his  services  and  his  ability  he  has 
been  called  upon  to  serve  in  positions  of  public  trust.  For  a  perio<l  of  over 
fi\e  vears  he  was  trustee  of  Franklin  township  and  he  was  elected  representa- 
tive in  the  state  Legislature  in  1906.  He  made  such  a  splendid  record  and 
was  so  conscientious  and  faithful  in  the  discharge  of  his  duties  while  an  in- 
cumbent of  that  important  office  that  he  was  re-elected  to  the  same  in  1908, 
being  one  of  the  "temperance  Democrats"  of  the  notable  session  of  1909.  He 
has  made  his  influence  for  good  felt  in  that  body  and  he  has  looked  as  care- 
fullv  after  the  interests  of  the  people  whom  he  represents  as  if  he  was  manag- 
(•4S) 


754  WEIK  S    HISTORY    OF 

ing-  his  individual  affairs,  CDnsequently  he  has  won  and  retained  the  confi- 
dence and  esteem  of  all  classes.  He  has  also  taken  a  great  interest  in  Presby- 
terian church  work,  and  in  1907  he  was  one  of  the  commissioners  of  the 
Indianapolis  presbytery  selected  to  represent  the  church  in  the  general  as- 
sembly. There  are  two  elders  and  two  members  elected  from  each  presbytery. 
Thus  the  honor  conferred  upon  Mr.  Hostetter  was  one  greatly  to  be  prized. 

Mr.  Hostetter  served  as  grand  secretary  of  the  National  Horse  Thief 
Association  for  a  period  of  eight  years  and  he  very  ably  discharged  the  duties 
of  the  same,  arousing  much  interest  in  the  same,  especially  in  the  Central 
states. 

Mr.  Hostetter  occupies  a  conspicuou3  place  among  the  leading  men  of 
Putnam  county  and  enjoys  the  respect  of  all  who  know  him.  His  record 
demonstrates  that  where  there  is  an  ambition  to  succeed  and  to  be  of  serv- 
ice to  one's  fellow  men.  all  obstacles  may  be  overcome  and  much  good 
eventually  accomplished  by  courage  and  self-reliance,  and  his  career,  which 
has  been  somewhat  strenuous,  has  been  fraught  with  much  good  to  his  neigh- 
bors and  constituents  and  his  life  work  and  his  examples  are  cordially  com- 
mended to  the  vouth  of  the  land  whose  destinies  are  yet  matters  for  the 
future  to  determine. 


GEORGE  W.  AMES. 


The  family  of  this  name  is  of  an  ancient  English  stock  whose  represen- 
tatives became  identified  with  the  development  of  New  England  at  a  very 
earlv  day.  William  Ames,  founder  of  the  American  branch,  was  born  at 
Briton.  Somersetshire,  England,  October  6,  1605,  and  in  early  manhood  came 
to  the  colony  of  New  Plymouth,  now  Duxbury,  Massachusetts.  Rev.  Syl- 
A-anus  Ames,  one  of  his  descendants,  was  graduated  from  Harvard  College 
in  1767  and  occupied  the  pulpit  of  Trinity  church  in  Taunton.  Massachusetts. 
He  was  a  chaplain  in  the  army  of  the  Revolution  and  died  at  Valley  Forge 
in  the  winter  of  1777-78.  His  son,  Sylvanus,  was  born  ]\Iarch  26,  1771.  and 
died  September  2T,,  1S23.  His  son,  George  W.  Ames,  was  born  at  Athens, 
Ohio.  January  14,  1S14.  He  came  with  his  father  to  Ohio,  with  the  early 
pioneers,  who  crossed  the  Alleghanies  to  settle  in  the  fertile  bottoms  of  the 
[Muskingum,  the  Scioto  and  the  Miamis.  He  w^as  the  youngest  of  twelve 
children  and  when  a  boy  attended  the  common  schools  of  Athens,  besides  the 
non-sectarian  college  situated  in  that  place.  When  about  twenty-five 
vears    nld    he    situated    in    Salem,    Indiana,    where    he    followed    the    pro- 


PUTXAM    COUNTY,    I.XDIAXA.  755 

fession  of  a  gospel  minister  and  was  one  of  tlie  pioneer  preachers  whose 
assiduous  work  and  privations  were  so  instrumental  in  helping  the  cause 
of  progress.  In  the  fall  of  1S55  he  removed  to  Greencastle  and  engaged  in 
the  hardware  business  and  became  a  man  of  varied  activities  and  influence. 
He  was  financial  agent  for  DePauw  University  and  superintendent  of  the 
asylum  for  the  blind  at  Indianapolis.  He  was  a  great  reader  and  student  and 
a  man  of  wide  information  and  unusual  abilities.  He  was  a  brother  of 
Eishop  Ames,  one  of  the  pioneers  and  founders  of  Indiana  Methodism.  Dur- 
ing the  Civil  war  he  was  chaplain  of  Colonel  Black's  regiment.  He  died 
June  3.  iSSr_,  at  his  old  homestead  which  still  stands  on  Washington  street 
as  one  of  the  landmarks  of  the  city.  While  living  in  Salem  he  met  Alary 
Booth,  who  was  born  in  that  place  September  11,  1819.  To  this  lady  he 
was  married  September  20.  1843,  '^"'J  ^''"'^  proved  a  faithful  wife,  an  intelli- 
gent companion  and  an  affectionate  mother.  Her  parents  were  Beebee  and 
Hannah  (Pitts)  Booth,  the  mother  of  North  Carolina  birth  and  the  father 
from  Connecticut.  The  Litter's  forefathers  came  originally  from  England 
and  settled  in  New  England  in  1843.  Beebee  Booth  located  in  Salem,  In- 
diana, in  the  early  day  of  the  state  and  engaged  in  the  publishing  busi- 
ness under  the  firm  name  of  Patrick  &  Booth.  They  published  the  first  book 
ever  issued  in  Indiana,  the  title  of  which  was  "The  Life  of  Napoleon  Bona- 
parte". 'Sir.  and  Mrs.  George  W.  Ames  had  eight  children :  Hannah,  Emma, 
Elizabeth,  Hilary,  Alice,  Genevieve,  George  Booth  and  Newton  Sylvanus. 
Five  of  the  daugliters  are  living,  Misses  Elizabeth  and  Genevieve  occupying 
the  old  homestead  in  Greencastle.  The  mother  died  February  24,  1909.  She 
was  an  aunt  of  Booth  Tarkington.  the  noted  author. 


ELDER  OLIVER  P.  B.VDGER. 

One  of  the  useful  and  influential  pioneer  ministers  of  Putnam  county,  a 
man  of  unquestioned  ability  and  Christian  courage,  who  has  now  passed 
to  his  reward  in  the  kingdom  of  the  Divine  Creator  v.hom  he  tried  faith- 
fully to  ser\e  for  many  decades,  was  Oliver  P.  Badger,  who  was  born  near 
Mt.  Sterling,  Montgomery  county,  Kentucky,  Januan,-  9,  1819,  the  son  of 
David  and  Elizabeth  (Aliller)  Badger,  the  former  a  native  of  Pennsylvania 
and  the  latter  nf  Culpeper  Court  House,  Virginia.  His  parents  removed 
to  Putnam  county,  Indiana,  as  early  as  1833,  and  here  in  the  dense  woods 
began  life  as  fanners.  Their  son.  Oliver  P.,  although  devoting  his  early 
life  to  farming,  also  began  preaching  quite  young,  and  at  the  age  of  nineteen 


756  weik's  history  of 

had  won  consideraljle  local  prestige  as  an  expounder  of  the  Gospel,  which  he 
continued  to  preach  the  remaining  years  of  his  life. 

Elder  Badger  was  married  on  November  jg.  183S.  to  Martha  Ann 
Yeates.  which  union  resulted  in  the  birth  of  five  children,  named  as  follows : 
Ann  Eliza  married  A.  L.  Goodbar.  of  Montgomery  county,  Indiana;  Carrie 
married  Hon.  D.  E.  Williamson,  late  of  Greencastle ;  Queen  married  Otho 
-Mien,  also  <>i  Greencastle,  and  died  August  i.  1SS4;  Mr.  Allen  died  December 
31.  1885;  David  E..  a  well  know  11  druggist  of  Greencastle.  and  H.  Clay  Bad- 
ger, who  died  .\ugust  13.  lyoi.  ]\lartha  Ann  (Yeates)  Badger  died  March 
I.  1900. 

Elder  Batlger  was  interested  in  p(jlitical  matters  for  many  years.  He 
was  a  member  of  the  constitutional  convention  in  1S50.  and  the  following 
vear  he  was  defeated  for  the  state  senate.  After  that  he  devoted  practically 
his  entire  time  to  the  ministry,  belonging  to  the  church  popularly  known  as 
the  Christian  church,  in  which  he  won  more  than  a  local  reputation,  stand- 
ing high  in  the  circles  of  the  same  throughout  the  state,  most  of  his  public 
labors  having  been  confined  to  Indiana,  yet  he  was  often  called  to  other  lo- 
calities for  short  periods.  In  April.  1874.  he  preached  at  Winterset,  Iowa, 
for  a  little  more  than  a  vear.  though  still  retaining  his  residence  in  Putnam 
countv.  He  also  preached  in  his  regular  work  in  Illinois,  Tennessee,  Ken- 
tucky, and  filled  pulpits  in  Philadelphia.  Chicago  and  other  places,  always 
delighting  his  audiences  with  an  earnestness  and  an  eloquence  that  bespoke 
a  man  of  genuine  ability  and  sincerity.  Towards  the  close  of  his  life  he 
moved  to  Greencastle,  and,  in  a  beautiful  cottage  home,  in  the  suburbs  of 
this  citv.  surrounded  by  his  books,  he  quietly  passed  the  serene  evening  of  his 
vears.  dving  on  Tnne  7,  1891.  Mr.  Badger  was  one  of  the  first  three  stu- 
dents of  Asburv  (now  DePauw)  University. 


FRANK  HENRY  LAM^IERS.  M.  D. 

The  writer  here  offers  in  brief  outline  a  biographical  memoir  dealing  with 
a  character  of  rare  strength  and  beauty,  one  who  possessed  a  mind  of  unusual 
breadth  and  qualities  that  would  have  placed  him  high  in  any  position  to 
which  he  might  have  aspired,  a  man  in  whom  the  utmost  confidence  was  re- 
posed bv  all  who  were  fortunate  enough  to  share  his  genial  friendship,  a 
man  who  left  behind  him  the  perpetual  remembrance  of  good  deeds  that  shine 
with  an  effulgence  like  the  phosphorescent  waves  that  sparkle  in  the  wake 


PUTXAM    COUNTY.    IXDIAXA.  757 

of  a  ship  at  sea,  for  to  many  tlie  sea  of  life  is  made  brighter  because  he  passed 
over  it. 

Frank  Henrv  Lammers.  for  many  years  one  of  the  prominent  physicians 
of  Putnam  county,  was  torn  in  Beardstown.  Illinois.  September  21,  1864.  and 
was  the  youngest  of  six  children.  Alex,  a  brother,  and  a  sister.  Marie  List- 
mann.  sut-\-iving  him.  After  graduating  at  the  high  school  of  his  native 
town,  he  spent  one  year  at  the  Wesleyan  University.  Bloomington,  Illinois. 
Being  actuated  by  an  ambition  to  gain  a  high  literar\-  and  classical  education, 
he  then  entered  Asbury  (now  DePauw)  University,  at  Greencastle,  Indiana, 
where,  as  in  the  former  institutions,  he  made  an  excellent  record  for  scholar- 
ship and  fn^m  which  he  graduated  in  18S7.  receiving  the  degree  of  Bache- 
lor of  Liberal  Arts.  In  the  fall  of  the  same  year  he  began  the  study  of 
medicine  in  Xew  York  City,  the  first  year  being  a  student  in  the  University 
^Medical  School  and  the  next  two  years  in  the  College  of  Physicians  and 
Surgeons.  He  was  graduated  from  the  latter  with  honors  in  June,  1890. 
receiving  from  his  alma  mater  the  degree  of  Master  of  Arts  the  same  year. 
His  college  record  entitled  him  to  a  position  as  assistant  in  the  hospital,  and 
he  accordingly  spent  the  next  year  in  that  capacity,  at  the  same  time  pur- 
suing graduate  studies.  Thus  unusually  well  equipped  for  his  life  work, 
in  Mav.  1891.  he  removed  to  Greencastle.  Indiana,  and  entered  upon  the 
practice  of  his  chosen  profession,  for  which  he  possessed  pre-eminent  ability, 
as  was  shown  from  the  first,  and  in  which  he  proved  himself  remarkably 
faithful,  painstaking  and  loyal  up  to  the  very  hour  of  his  summons  to  another 
world. 

Endowed  with  more  than  ordinar\-  talent  and  of  an  energetic  nature,  it 
is  not  surprising  that  he  was  eminently  successful  in  the  practice  of  medicine. 
and  that  those  with  whom  he  came  in  closest  contact  soon  learned  to  depend 
upon  him.  Although  deprived  of  the  tender  guidance  of  a  mother  when  only 
twelve  vears  of  age,  he  was  not  given  to  frivolity  in  any  of  its  phases  in  his 
bovhood,  but  seemed  to  have  an  innate  thirst  for  knowledge  and  to  lead  his 
life  along  high  ethical  and  moral  plains,  his  taste  of  the  esthetics  and  higher 
intellectual  culture  early  manifesting  themselves,  causing  him  invariably  to 
take  the  initiative,  and  ever  to  be  on  the  alert  for  still  higher  and  broader 
fields  of  investigation,  and  this  with  the  view  of  continually  enlarging  his 
scope  for  usefulness.  He  \\as  always,  in  the  strictest  sense  of  the  term,  a 
student:  a  man  who  grew;  progressive,  twentieth  century,  alert  and  con- 
scientious physician,  and  at  the  time  of  his  departure  he  was  planning  to  se- 
cure the  latest  improvement  and  the  very  best  equipment  for  his  new  office. 
His  patients  never  failed  to  he  his  friends  and  his  name  had  gone  to  all  parts 


~^b,  WEIK  S    HISTORY    OF 

of  this  and  adjoining  counties  where  it  was  respected  and  revered  by  all 
classes. 

The  subject's  parents,  Alex  and  Anna  }tlarie  E.  Lehnore  Lammers, 
were  German  Lutherans  and  in  that  faith  the  Doctor  was  reared.  One  of 
the  sacred  remembrances  of  his  wife  today  is  the  confirmation  services  in 
the  Episcopal  church  by  Bishop  Henry  Potter,  on  Good  Friday,  1891,  when 
he  and  his  wife  were  both  confirmed,  and  their  first  communion  together 
on  the  following  Easter  Sabbath  in  St.  Andrew's  Episcopal  church  of  New 
York.  He  always  entered  heartily  into  the  spirit  of  church  services  and  was 
a  liberal  supporter  of  the  local  congregation.  His  piety  was  deep,  sincere, 
cheerful  and  earnest  and.  like  his  charity,  without  ostentation,  for  he  always 
delighted  in  charitable  acts  and  deeds  of  kindness,  but  avoided  publicity  and 
display. 

Fraternally  Dr.  Lammers  was  a  Mason,  having  attained  the  Knight 
Templar  degree,  also  belonged  to  the  Independent  Order  of  Odd  Fellows. 
He  also  belonged  to  the  Gentlemen's  Literary  Club,  having  literary  tastes  of 
a  high  order,  and  his  library  contained  many  choice  volumes  of  the  world's 
best  literature.  Thus  he  kept  well  informed  on  all  topics  and  was  an  ac- 
complished conversationalist  and  entertainer ;  however,  his  professional  de- 
mands grew  so  rapidly  that  he  had  little  time  for  social  pleasures  toward  the 
close  of  his  useful  career.  In  college  he  was  identified  with  the  Delta  Kappa 
Epsilon  fraternity.  In  this  connection  it  would  almost  seem  as  though  he 
had  some  premonition  of  his  approaching  entr}'  into  the  silent  land.  During 
his  residence  in  Greencastle  of  eighteen  years  he  won  an  enduring  place  in 
the  hearts  of  all  who  knew  him,  having  come  here  in  1882  and  remained 
here  with  the  e.xception  of  the  time  he  spent  in  the  medical  school  in  New 
York. 

Dr.  Lammers'  ideal  domestic  life  began  on  June  25,  1890,  when  he 
espiiused  Clara  Collett  Florer,  a  lady  of  talent,  culture  and  refinement,  daugh- 
ter of  \\'illiam  J.  and  Mary  Ann  Louise  (Washburn)  Florer,  a  complete 
sketch  of  whom  appears  on  another  page  of  this  work. 

Mrs.  Lammers  received  her  elementary  education  in  the  public  schools 
of  Wabasha,  Minnesota,  later  becoming  a  student  in  the  State  University 
at  Minneapolis,  and  still  later  in  the  noted  woman's  college  at  Wellesley, 
Massachusetts.  To  Doctor  and  Mrs.  Lammers  was  born  a  daughter,  Leila 
Claire,  on  June  17,  1894.  who  is  now  a  student  in  the  Greencastle  high  school. 
In  1903.  with  the  assistance  of  her  sister.  Laura  Lelia  Fl(5rer,  !Mrs.  Lammers 
organized  Washburn  Chapter.  Daughters  of  the  American  Revolution,  and 
she  liecame  the  first  regent,  which  office  she  held  for  three  years,  l^eing  the 


PUTNAM    COUNTY,    INDIANA.  7^9 

present  registrar  of  the  chapter.     She  is  also  a  member  of  the  board  of  edu- 
cation. 

Few  residents  of  Oeencastle  liave  occupied  as  large  a  place  in  the  public 
eye  and  no  one  more  worthily  dischargeil  his  manifold  duties  or  showed  him- 
self more  worthy  of  the  high  esteem  in  which  he  was  held  than  Doctor  Lam- 
mers.  His  life  was  filled  with  activity  and  usefulness,  while  his  untirino- 
energ)-  and  eminent  ability  gained  for  him  a  conspicuous  and  honorable  place 
among  the  distinguished  medical  men  of  his  day  and  generation.  In  everv 
sphere  of  endeavor  in  which  he  took  part,  socially,  religiouslv.  fraternally  or 
pnifessionally.  his  unpretentious  bearing  and  strict  integrity  elevated  him  in 
the  confidence  of  his  fellow  citizens,  and  his  influence  was  always  powerful 
and  salutary — a  trulv  good  and  useful  man — one  of  nature's  noblemen. 


EDWARD  ALLEN. 


Few  families  in  Putnam  county  can  trace  back  farther  into  pioneer  days 
than  that  of  the  .Aliens.  WTiile  not  the  first,  the  founder  was  among  the  first 
arrivals,  coming  here  when  the  primeval  forest  covered  all  the  land  and 
Indiana  was  practically  an  unbroken  wilderness  from  the  Ohio  to  the  north- 
ern part  of  the  state.  Russell  G.  Allen,  who  was  a  native  of  Vermont,  came 
to  Greencastle  in  1823.  or  only  seven  years  after  Indiana  had  been  admitted 
as  a  state.  At  that  time  Greencastle  was  a  straggling  village,  giving  little 
promise  of  ever  becoming  the  thriving  city  that  now  constitutes  the  pride 
and  glory  of  Putnam  county.  But  few  white  people  were  to  be  found  in  the 
borders  of  the  county  and  these  were  living  in  log  cabins  widely  separated 
from  each  ijtlier.  Ru-ssell  G.  Allen  was  one  of  the  sturdiest  of  the  sturdy 
men  who  began  at  the  beginning  to  convert  this  howling  wilderness  into 
an  agricultural  ])aradise.  whose  lands  were  destined  to  become  as  productive 
as  the  fields  of  Goshen  and  raise  crops  of  corn  that  would  astonish  the  world. 
These  lands,  then  easily  obtainable  for  a  dollar  or  two  an  acre,  are  now  sell- 
ing all  the  uay  from  one  hundred  to  two  hundred  dollars  per  acre,  with  a 
tendency  to  still  go  up.  The  sloughs  and  marshes  have  been  replaced  by  fine 
pike  roads,  the  formerly  impassable  streams  are  now  spannetl  by  fine  bridges 
of  steel  and  concrete  and  every  comf(^rt  of  civilization  is  found  on  everv 
hand.  The  old  pioneers  never  dreamed  of  this  outcome  and  nearly  all  of 
them  had  passed  awav  before  Putnam  ounty  showed  signs  of  the  marvelous 
transformation. 


760  weik's  history  of 

Edward  Allen,  son  of  Russell  G.,  was  only  seven  years  old  when  his 
father  made  the  long  and  dangerous  journey  to  the  west.  He  was  bom  at 
Cazenovia.  New  York,  August  7,  1830,  and  such  primary  training  as  he  re- 
ceived was  obtained  in  the  poor  subscription  schools  then  the  only  avenues 
to  education  in  the  Hoosier  state.  Later,  however,  he  was  able  to  attend  old 
Asl)ury  University,  where  he  laid  the  foundations  on  which  he  afterwards 
built  as  a  reader  and  student  of  affairs.  In  early  manhood  he  went  into  the 
marble  business  with  his  brothers  and  followed  this  occupation  until  his  re- 
tirement, five  years  before  his  death,  which  occurred  December  9,  1899.  For 
forty  years  he  represented  the  Phoenix  Fire  Insurance  Company  and  was 
regarded  as  an  unusually  good  business  man.  safe,  conservative  and  square 
in  his  dealings.  He  was  a  member  of  the  College  Avenue  Methodist  Epis- 
copal cliurch.  took  great  interest  in  its  affairs  and  served  as  trustee  for  many 
years.  He  belonged  to  the  Odd  Fellows  and  served  two  terms  in  council  as 
a  Republican.  On  December  23,  1854,  Mr.  Allen  was  married  at  Cazenovia, 
Xew  York,  to  Mary  E..  daughter  of  George  E.  and  Melinda  (Wilcox)  Rob- 
erts, descendants  of  an  old  Welsh  family,  whose  representatives  settled  in 
Massachusetts  at  an  early  day.  Her  father's  grandmother  came  to  Albany, 
Xew  York,  when  the  present  capital  of  the  Empire  state  was  but  a  collection 
of  huts.  She  was  later  scalped  by  the  Indians,  while  her  husband  was  taken 
aboard  a  British  vessel  and  starved  to  death.  ^Ir.  and  Mrs.  Edward  Allen 
had  five  children :  Ida  Olivia,  born  September  27,  i860,  married  William 
Overstreet  and  died  September  26,  1885,  leaving  two  children;  Ida  Allen 
Overstreet  is  living  with  her  grandmother:  Edward  R.  Overstreet  died  in 
Terre  Haute.  February  23,  1898:  Emma  H..  born  September  16.  1862,  mar- 
ried Edwin  E.  Black,  and  died  in  Greencastle.  January  15,  1886,  leaving 
one  child,  Susanna,  who  lives  in  Greencastle :  Charles  Edward,  born  October 
10,  1857,  is  a  resident  of  Paris,  Illinois. 


HEXRY  CLAY  LEWIS. 

.Among  the  earnest  men  whose  depth  of  character  and  strict  adherence  to 
principle  called  forth  the  admiration  of  his  contemporaries,  Henry  Clay  Lewis, 
late  a  \\  ell  known  attorney  of  Greencastle.  Indiana,  was  numbered.  He  stood 
among  the  representative  men  of  Putnam  county  who  overcame  difficulties 
and  obstacles  that  barred  the  path  to  success  and  steadily  advanced  until  be- 
fore his  death  he  left  behind  the  manv  and  stood  among  the  few  who  accom- 


HENRY  CLAY  LEWIS 


PUTXAM    COL'N'TY,    INDIANA.  761 

plisii  things  worth  while.  Yet  he  was  ever  ready  to  reach  down  helping  hands 
to  assist  others  in  the  long  and  tiresome  struggle  of  life.  He  met  and  tri- 
umphed over  obstacles  that  would  have  discouraged  many  men  of  less  deter- 
mination and  won  for  himself,  not  only  a  comfortable  competency,  but  also 
a  prominent  place  among  the  enterprising  men  of  this  section  of  the  state. 

Mr.  Lewis  was  born  July  7,  1857.  in  Putnam  county.  Indiana,  the  son  of 
Mr.  and  Mrs.  William  Goodwin  Lewis,  the  father  a  native  of  Kentucky, 
where  his  family  were  prominent  during  several  generations.  Henry  C. 
Lewis  attended  the  common  schools  of  Greencastle  when  a  boy,  and.  being 
ambitious  to  become  a  highly  educated  man,  he  entered  DePauw  University, 
where  he  made  an  excellent  record  and  from  which  institution  he  was  gradu- 
ated. Turning  his  attention  to  the  law.  he  began  reading  under  Judge  Donno- 
hue  and  was  admitted  to  the  bar  in  due  course  of  time.  He  then  formed  a 
partnership  with  B.  F.  Corwin,  which  continued  with  interrupted  success  until 
the  death  of  Mr.  Lewis,  on  February  24,  1901.  As  an  attorney  he  ranked 
high  among  the  successful  members  of  the  local  bar,  being  painstaking,  pro- 
foundly versed  in  all  phases  of  jurisprudence,  indefatigable  in  his  efforts  to 
get  at  the  bottom  of  whatever  case  was  before  him.  and  he  was  known  to  be 
ever  vigilant  in  defending  his  clients,  always  looking  to  their  best  interests, 
often  without  proper  regard  for  his  own.  As  a  speaker  he  was  con\-incing 
and  at  times  truly  eloquent,  courteous  to  the  court  and  lenient  with  his  col- 
leagues. His  untimely  taking  off  cast  a  shadow  over  the  local  bar  that  will 
be  hard  for  even  time  to  disperse.  He  was  always  busy,  his  practice  increas- 
ing with  the  years  and  even,'  term  of  court  found  him  on  one  side  or  the  other 
of  most  all  important  cases. 

^[r.  Lewis  was  married  on  August  17.  1S81.  to  Josephine  Barnell  Con- 
stable, a  lady  of  affable  and  pleasing  personality  who  is  a  favorite  with  a  wide 
circle  of  friends  in  this  city  and  county.  She  was  born  in  Ellettsville,  Mon- 
roe county,  Indiana,  the  representative  of  an  excellent  and  well  established 
family  there,  her  parents  being  Harrison  Hugh  and  .\nne  fCopenhauer) 
Constable.  The  father,  a  sterling  Scotchman,  born  in  the  land  of  blue-bell 
and  heather,  came  to  America  when  a  young  man  and  for  many  years  suc- 
cessfully conducted  a  general  store  in  Ellettsville.  Indiana,  where  he  was  ver\' 
prominent  and  influential,  indeed  a  grand  old  man,  whom  to  know  was  to 
respect  and  admire.  He  was  benevolent  and  a  philanthropist,  never  refusing 
to  assist  and  indorse  a  worthy  cause,  and  the  many  little  charitable  deeds  to 
his  credit  won  the  hearts  of  scores  who  stood  in  need  of  help.  He  was  a 
great  church  worker  and  did  much  good  in  that  cause. 

Mary  Henry  Lewis,  daughter  of  Mr,  and  Mrs.  Henry  Clay  Lewis,  was 
born  August  26.  188 J.  received  a  good  education  and  became  a  ladv  of  cul- 


r-62  WEIK  S    HISTORY    OF 

tiire  and  excellent  characteristics.  She  married  Floyd  Newby,  of  Knights- 
town,  Indiana,  where  he  is  at  present  successfully  engaged  in  practicing  the 
law.  He  was  graduated  from  the  Indiana  State  University  law  school,  while 
Mrs.  Newby  holds  a  certificate  of  graduation  from  DePauw  University.  Two 
interesting  children  have  added  sunshine  to  their  home,  Lewis  Perry,  born 
Mav  4.  1908,  and  Robert  Clay,  born  August  10,  1909. 

Henry  Clav  Lewis  was  a  great  worker  in  the  Republican  party,  being 
one  of  the  most  prominent  advocates  of  that  political  faith  in  this  section  of 
the  state  and  his  efforts  were  attracting  state-wide  attention  and  no  doubt 
had  he  been  spared  he  would  have  been  called  to  high  and  worthy  positions 
as  a  public  servant  as  a  result  of  his  public  spirit,  his  genuine  worth  and  integ- 
rity. Fraternally  he  was  a  member  of  the  Knights  of  Pythias.  His  memory 
is  cherished  by  all  classes  in  Putnam  county,  for  he  was  truly  a  good  and  use- 
ful man. 


B.KSCO.M  O'HAIR. 


No  family  in  Putnam  county  is  so  closely  interwoven  with  the  history 
of  the  county  as  the  O'Hair  family,  consequently  none  more  deserving  of 
conspicuous  representation  in  a  work  of  the  province  of  the  one  at  hand. 
Amono-  the  first  settlers,  they  have  been  continuously  identified  with  its 
progress  and  development,  and  are  conspicuous  examples  of  the  best  citizen- 
ship, alwavs  ready  to  lend  a  helping  hand  in  furthering  the  county's  inter- 
ests in  anv  way  and  leading  such  lives  of  probity  and  uprightness  as  to  win 
and  retain  the  confidence  and  esteem  of  all  classes.  From  the  early  pioneer 
davs  they  have  been  active  in  the  life  of  the  county,  witnessing  its  wondrous 
development  from  the  primeval  forests  to  the  opulent  present,  from  the  day 
of  the  blazed  trail  and  the  ox  cart  to  the  present  fine  turnpike  highways  and 
the  automobile. 

One  of  the  best  known  members  of  this  well-established  old  family  is 
Bascom  O'Hair,  who  was  born  on  a  farm  six  miles  north  of  Greencastle.  on 
June  18.  1837,  and  he  has  found  it  to  his  interests  to  spend  most  of  his  long 
and  eminently  useful  life  in  his  native  locality.  His  father.  J.  E.  M.  O'Hair. 
was  a  native  of  Kentucky,  born  in  1804.  and  he  was  one  of  that  small  band 
of  pioneers  who  emigrated  to  this  section  of  the  Hoosier  state  in  the  epoch 
to  which  historians  alude  to  as  "early  days."  He  settled  six  miles  north 
of  the  present  citv  of  Greencastle.  penetrating  the  virgin  forest,  clearing 
a  place  for  his  cabin,  and  later  developing  a  fine  farm  on  which  he  lived  the 


PUTNAM    COUNTY,    INDIANA.  763 

remainder  of  his  life,  becoming  well-to-do  for  those  days,  and  he  was  in- 
fluential and  highly  honored  among  his  neighbors  for  his  many  admirable 
traits  of  character.  He  married  Elizabeth  Montgomery,  who  was  also  a  na- 
tive of  Kentucky,  and  this  union  resulted  in  the  birth  of  eleven  children, 
named  as  follows;  Asbury  is  living  in  Monroe  township;  J.  E.  Elsberry  and 
Greenberry  also  live  in  Monroe  township ;  J.  T.  and  Eliza  J.  are  deceased ; 
Bascom.  of  this  review;  Sarah  E.  is  living  in  Greencastle;  Robert  A.  lives  in 
Monroe  township ;  Ceylina  lives  in  Putnamville ;  Sylvester  lives  in  Monroe 
township;  Leroy  died  in  infancy.  After  the  death  of  his  first  wife,  the 
father  of  these  children  married  Parmelia  Lockridge,  by  whom  he  became 
the  father  of  two  children,  Robert  L..  the  well  known  president  of  the  Cen- 
tral National  Bank  of  Greencastle,  and  Afrs.  Maggie  Black,  of  Wellington, 
Kansas. 

J.  E.  ?il.  O'Hair,  after  a  long,  honorable  and  useful  career,  was  called  to 
his  reward  in  1890,  having  reached  the  remarkable  age  of  ninety-five  years. 

Bascom  O'Hair  spent  his  boyhood  days  on  the  home  farm,  where  he  as- 
sisted with  the  general  work  about  the  place  until  he  was  twenty-one  years  of 
age.  attending  the  district  schools  in  meantime.  He  then  bought  a  fami  in 
^Nfonroe  township  and  soon  began  dealing  in  real  estate,  for  which  he  seemed  to 
have  a  natural  likeness  and  ability.  In  i88j  he  went  to  Oklahoma  where  he 
resided  for  a  period  of  twenty  years.  He  bought  land  in  the  Cherokee  strip 
and  from  time  to  time  purchased  large  tracts  of  land  in  other  parts  of  that 
country,  then  new  and  abounding  in  all  kinds  of  opportunities,  all  of  which 
proved  to  be  profitable  investments.  ?Ie  was  very  successful  in  the  south- 
west. But  eight  years  ago  he  returned  to  Greencastle.  where  he  has  since 
resided.  He  has  large  property  interests  and  is  one  of  the  financially  solid 
and  substantial  men  of  Putnam  county,  and  one  of  the  most  influential  in 
business  circles.  He  is  a  director  of  the  Central  National  Bank  and  the 
Central  Trust  Company  of  Greencastle.  He  has  a  modern,  attractive  and 
costly  home,  elegantly  furnished,  which  is  known  to  the  many  friends  of  the 
family  as  a  place  of  hospitality  and  good  cheer.  'Sir.  O'Hair  also  has  exten- 
sive interests  in  Elorida.  owning  a  pretty  winter  bungalow  in  Tampa  and  an 
orange  grove  on  the  Alafia  river,  twelve  miles  east  Tampa.  Mr.  and  Mrs. 
O'Hair  spend  their  winters  in  the  south. 

Mr.  O'Hair  was  married  on  August  u.  1903.  to  Mrs.  Blanche  Good- 
wine,  daughter  ci  Harr\-  and  Hester  Brandt.  Her  parents  were  natives  of 
Ohio  and  known  as  people  of  integrity  and  sterling  worth.  Mrs.  O'Hair 
was  born  and  reared  in  Attica.  Indiana,  receiving  a  good  education,  and 
her   genial,    solicitous,    affable   and    courteous    demeanor    indicates    that    she 


764  weik's  history  of 

was  reared  in  the  midst  of  wholesome  environments.  Tliis  union  has  been 
without  issue.  Mrs.  O'Hair  is  an  accomplished,  talented  and  cultured 
woman.  She  is  a  skilled  wood  carver,  and  many  beautiful  specimens  of  her 
handicraft  adorns  the  walls  of  their  spacious  home  on  East  Washington 
street.  Painting-  is  another  of  her  accomplishments,  and  her  china  and  art 
draperies  and  stencil  work  are  rare  specimens  of  art  and  are  greatly  admired 
by  all  who  are  fortunate  enough  to  see  them.  She  also  has  literary  ability 
and  is  interested  in  church  and  club  work. 

Both  Mr.  and  Mrs.  O'Hair  are  members  of  the  College  Avenue  Metho- 
dist Episcopal  church,  and  fraternally,  Mr.  O'Hair  is  a  member  of  the  Bene- 
volent and  Protective  Order  of  Elks.     Politically  he  is  a  Republican. 

Personally  Mr.  O'Hair  is  a  wide-awake,  enterprising  man  of  the  times, 
fully  alive  to  the  dignities  and  responsibilities  of  citizenship,  and,  to  the  ex- 
tent of  his  ability,  contributes  to  the  material  prosperity  of  the  community 
and  to  the  social,  intellectual  and  mora!  advancement  of  the  populace.  Good 
naturefl,  easilv  approached,  straightforward  and  unassuming,  he  commands 
the  respect  of  all  with  whom  he  comes  into  contact,  and  his  friends  are  as 
great  as  the  number  of  his  acquaintances.  While  a  power  in  the  industrial 
circles  of  Greencastle,  he  is  universally  esteemed  in  all  the  relations  of  life, 
and  his  career  has  been  creditable  to  himself  and  an  honor  to  Putnam  county, 
so  long  the  abode  of  this  excellent  family,  the  untarnished  escutcheon  of 
whose  he  has  ever  sought  to  bear  aloft. 


HOX.  DELANO  E.  WILLIA^ISOX. 

Few  men  of  Putnam  county  and  this  section  of  Indiana  enjoyed  greater 
prestige  than  the  late  Hon.  Delano  Williamson,  of  Greencastle,  as  a  leading 
citizen,  able  attorney  and  as  a  public  official  against  whose  record  no  word 
of  suspicion  was  ever  uttered — who,  for  many  years,  was  an  important  factor 
in  the  histon,'  of  this  locality.  His  prominence  in  the  community  was  the 
direct  result  of  genuine  merit,  industry  and  integrity.  In  every  relation  of 
life,  whether  in  the  humble  sphere  of  private  citizenship  or  as  a  trusted  leader 
of  his  fellow  men,  his  many  excellences  of  character  and  the  able  and  impar- 
tial manner  in  which  he  discharged  his  every  duty  won  for  him  an  enviable 
reputation  as  an  enterprising  and  representative  self-made  man, — brilliant 
attornev  and  far-seeing  statesman,  whose  career  is  eminently  worthy  of  emu- 
lation by  the  youth  hesitating  at  the  parting  of  the  ways  and  whose  destinies 
are  vet  matters  for  future  vears  to  determine. 


PUTNAM    COUNTY,    INDIANA.  765 

Mr.  Williamson  was  born  in  Florence.  Boone  county,  Kentucky,  Au- 
gust 19.  1822,  the  son  of  Robert  and  Lydia  (Madden)  Williamson.  The 
father  was  a  descendant  of  Elliott  Williamson,  a  native  of  Ireland,  who 
emigrated  to  America  in  time  to  participate  in  the  struggle  of  the  colonies 
for  independence  and  fought  in  the  Continental  army  under  Washington,  and 
thus  conferred  upon  his  descendants  the  title  of  "Sons  and  Daughters  of  the 
Revolution."  which  is  one  of  the  ver\'  highest  titles,  if  not  the  highest,  that 
can  be  bestowed  upon  an  American.  On  his  mother's  side  his  ancestrj'  dates 
back  to  the  time  when  \\"illiam  Penn  came  to  America — to  the  family  of 
Hollingsworth.  who  accompanied  that  illustrious  Quaker  to  the  New 
\\'orld. 

When  Delano  E.  Williamson  was  eight  years  of  age  his  parents  moved 
to  Co-.-ingtun.  Kentucky,  and  in  1833  they  followed  the  tide  of  emigration 
westward  and  settled  in  Vermilion  county,  Illinois,  and  began  life  there  amid 
primiti\e  conditions.  When  Delano  E.  was  nineteen  years  of  age.  in  1841,  he 
came  to  Putnam  county,  Indiana,  with  the  intention  of  entering  Asbury  (now 
DePauw)  University,  but  after  remaining  in  Greencastle  about  two  weeks 
he  abandoned  the  idea  and  went  to  Bowling  Green,  Clay  county,  where  he 
accepted  a  position  as  deputy  county  clerk,  and  there  found  the  first  incentive 
to  follow  the  legal  profession.  His  education  up  to  this  time  had  been  such 
only  as  he  had  obtained  in  the  common  schools  of  Illinois.  In  March,  1842, 
he  married  Elizabeth  Elliott,  a  sister  of  the  county  clerk,  in  whose  office  he 
was  emplo}-ed.  Four  children  were  born  to  them,  viz :  Robert  E.,  of  Clover- 
dale,  Indiana;  Mrs.  Fl(irence  L.  Ricketts.  of  Springfield.  Illinois;  Mary,  who 
died  in  1874,  and  Charles  D.,  of  Indianapolis.  During  his  residence  in 
Bowling  Green,  w'hich  e.xtended  over  nearly  two  years,  he  devoted  his  leisure 
time  to  the  study  of  the  law-,  and  with  a  view  of  continuing  his  law  studies 
he  returned  to  Greencastle  and  entered  the  law  office  of  Eckles  &  Hanna  for 
that  pui"pose  and  in  due  time  applied  for  examination  for  a  license  to  prac- 
tice law  and  admission  to  the  bar,  honors  conferred  at  that  time  only  as  a 
reward  of  merit,  it  being  necessary  for  the  young  aspirant  to  climb  to  the 
coveted  distinction  by  a  greater  effort  than  is  required  at  present.  The  old- 
time  lawyers,  such  as  guarded  the  profession  from  intrusion  by  empirics  in 
the  far-away  days  of  the  forties,  regarded  their  prerogatives  as  semi-sacred. 
The  examining  committee  in  the  case  of  Mr.  Williamson  was  composed  of 
Gen.  Tilghman  H.  Howard,  Joseph  .\.  Wright  (afterwards  governor  of 
Indiana  and  minister  to  Gennany),  Henry  Secrest  and  Delano  R.  Eckles 
(afterwards  supreme  judge  of  Utah) — all  noted  for  their  great  abilities. 
This  committee  reported  favoral)ly  and  a  license  was  issued,  signed  by  Judge 


766  weik's  history  of 

Bryant,  of  the  circuit  court.  Tlie  admission,  however,  was  not  yet  complete. 
The  candidate  proceeded  to  Owen  county,  where  he  was  a  second  time 
examined  bv  Judge  David  E.  McDonald,  from  wliom  he  also  obtained  per- 
mission to  practice. 

[Mr.  Williamson  located  as  a  lawyer  first  in  Clay  county,  where  he  prac- 
ticed his  profession  with  a  reasonable  degree  of  success  until  1850,  when  he 
was  elected  to  the  lower  house  of  the  Legislature  from  Clay  county,  on  the 
Democratic  ticket,  by  six  hundred  majority,  over  two  competitors.  Among 
his  associates  in  the  house  were  Ashbel  P.  Willard,  afterwards  governor; 
John  P.  Usher,  afterwards  secretary  of  the  interior;  and  Daniel  D.  Pratt, 
afterwards     senator  of  the  United  States  from  Indiana. 

In  the  vear  1S53  Mr.  Williamson  removed  to  Greencastle  and  there 
made  his  home.  In  1S5S  he  was  again  nominated  as  a  Democrat  for  the 
Leo'islature,  but,  owing  to  a  division  in  the  party,  was  beaten  by  five  votes. 
Meanwhile  he  was  admitted  to  practice  in  the  supreme  court  of  the  state, 
and  traveling  through  the  adjoining  counties  he  became  well  and  favorably 
known,  not  only  as  an  advocate,  but  also  as  a  prominent  and  influential  citi- 
zen, and  in  the  practice  of  his  profession  he  was  eminently  successful  and 
becarhe  distinguished  for  his  legal  learning  and  mental  acumen,  easily  taking 
front  rank  among  the  ablest  lawyers  of  the  state. 

In  1859  Mr.  Williamson  formed  a  law  partnership  with  Hon.  Addison 
Dao-o-y,  which  continued  for  thirty  years  to  a  day.  securing  a  reputation  and 
practice  second  to  few  legal  firms  in  the  state,  the  partners  l>eing  well  bal- 
anced in  their  characteristics  and  talents. 

Down  to  i860  Mr.  Williamson  had  always  been  a  stanch  Democrat, 
and  in  that  year  he  took  a  very  active  part  in  the  campaign,  being  a  sup- 
porter of  Stephen  A.  Douglas  for  the  Presidency.  In  186 1,  immediately 
after  President  Lincoln's  call  for  troops  to  suppress  the  rebellion,  Mr.  Wil- 
liamson, never  flinching  in  his  devotion  to  the  Union,  became  an  active  sup- 
porter of  the  government  and  the  administration,  and  he  devoted  himself 
for  the  next  twelve  months  with  patriotic  zeal  to  the  promotion  of  the  war 
spirit  in  his  own  and  adjoining  counties.  He  pressed  his  loyalty  to  the  extent 
of  producing  a  rupture  between  himself  and  the  Democratic  party,  and  he 
was  excluded  from  its  councils  and  leadership.  In  June,  1862,  at  the  Union 
convention  of  the  state,  composed  of  the  Republican  party  and  the  L'nion 
Democrats,  he  received  the  unsolicited  nomination  for  attorney-general  of 
the  state.  Among  his  five  competitors  in  the  convention  were  Senator  Pratt 
and  Judo-e  Smith.  The  war  spirit  widened  the  breach  between  the  adherents 
and  the  opponents  of  the  government :  men  became  estranged,  and  party  feel- 


PLTXAM    COUXTV.    INDIANA.  7^7 

ing  ran  high  and  was  intensified  with  the  prosecution  of  the  war  and  the 
Emancipation  proclamation.  At  intervals  the  Democratic  party  in  Indiana 
gained  the  upper  hand,  but  the  Union  cause  held  on  to  final  triumph.  In 
1S64,  1866  and  1868  Mr.  Williamson  was  elected  attorney-general  of  the 
state,  ablv  serving  three  consecutive  terms,  and  in  1870  he  refused  a  fourth 
nomination.  Xo  better  evidence  of  his  professional  skill  and  unblemished 
reputation  as  a  man  of  honor  can  be  given  than  the  unqualified  support  of  his 
party  for  the  highest  legal  office  in  the  state  for  a  period  of  eight  years. 
In  1872  he  accompanied  Senator  ^lorton  in  his  great  canvass  through  the 
middle  and  southern  counties  of  Indiana,  participating  with  great  ability 
in  the  campaign.  In  1876  he  was  a  candidate  for  Congress  before  the  Re- 
publican nomi^nating  convention  at  Greencastle;  but.  owmg  to  local  divi- 
sions in  the  partv,  he  was  defeateil  for  the  nomination. 

Tanuary  3,  1861.  Mr.  Williamson  married  his  last  wife,  Carrie  Badger, 
of  Greencastle.'  daughter  of  Rev.  Oliver  P.  Badger,  a  distinguished  minister 
in  the  Christian  church.  Two  children  were  born  to  them:  Ida  B.,  wife  of 
O.  G.  Sercombe,  of  Louisville.  Kentucky,  and  Badger  Williamson,  who  re- 
sides in  Greencastle  with  his  mother,  and  wlm,  on  May  15.  1895,  was  mar- 
ried to  Eugenia  Pearle  Stoner.  The>-  were  married  by  Alexander  Camp- 
bell, founder  of  the  Christian  church.  Of  the  children  of  his  first  marriage, 
Robert  E..  the  eldest  son.  served  in  the  Fourth  Regiment,  Indiana  Volun- 
teers, participating  in  the  battle  of  Antietam  and  in  the  severe  winter  cam- 
paigns that  followed. 

Politically,  ^^Ir.  Williamson  continued  to  act  with  the  Republican  party 
until  the  year  1892.  Bv  that  time  the  issues  on  questions  of  revenue  and 
finance  had  been  clearlv 'announced.  On  these  he  had  always  held  the  prin- 
ciples of  the  Democratic  party.  During  the  war  epoch  and  the  period  of  re- 
construction he  espoused  the  principles  of  the  Republican  party  as  paramount 
to  all  questions  touching  the  tariff  and  the  financial  management  of  the  coun- 
try The  reconstruction  period  being  closed,  his  old-time  sympathies  with 
Democratic  doctrines  revived,  and  being  unable  to  influence  the  doctrines  and 
tendencies  of  the  Republican  party,  he  ceased  to  act  with  that  organization. 
He  was  eagerlv  welcomed  by'  his  old  political  associates  and  in  1894  was 
nominated  bv  the  Democratic  party  as  joint  representative  for  the  counties 
of  Putnam.  Clay  and  Montgomery.  He  made  a  gallant  canvass,  but,  owing 
to  the  political  revulsion  in  that  year,  was  not  elected. 

Before  this  time,  for  a  period  of  about  five  years,  Mr.  Williamson  had 
been  in  verv  ill  health.  It  appeared  at  times  that  his  erstwhile  vigorous  and 
active  constitution  was  giving  way  under  the  impact  of  disease  and  advanc- 


768  weik's  history  of 

ing  years,  but  he  made  a  splendid  rally,  and  in  1892  and  1893  he  resumed 
the  practice  of  law,  taking  in  with  him,  under  the  firm  name  of  Williamson 
&  Williamson,  his  promising  son.  Badger  Williamson,  upon  whom  the  more 
active  and  aggressive  part  of  the  practice  devolved  and  for  years  they  con- 
tinued to  do  a  large  business,  the  elder  Williamson,  the  senior  member  of 
the  Putnam  county  bar,  retaining  his  rare  tact  and  strength  of  intellect  up 
to  the  last,  and  after  an  earthly  pilgrimage  of  over  four  score  years  this 
distinguished  lawyer  and  citizen  was  called  to  his  reward  on  a  higher  plane 
of  action.  May  2.  1903,  from  his  home  in  Greencastle,  having  bravely  and 
heroically  approached  the  sunset  of  a  busy  and  distinguished  life  with  every 
grace  that  adorns  old  age.  Learned  in  the  law  and  in  literature,  familiar 
with  the  history  of  his  country,  in  sympathy  with  the  best  thought  of  his 
times,  watchful  of  events  and  the  trend  of  affairs,  urbane  and  companionable, 
he  rounded  up  a  life  of  usefulness  to  his  fellow  men,  all  classes  of  whom 
revere  his  memory. 

Religiously,  Mr.  Williamson  was  a  member  of  the  Christian  church, 
in  which  body  he  had  great  local  influence.  He  was  a  member  of  the  ila- 
sonic  fraternity,  attaining  the  Royal  Arch  degree.  Personally  he  was  a  man 
of  imposing  presence,  tall,  erect,  his  broad  shoulders  bearing  a  splendidly 
shaped  head — strong,  patrician  features,  cleancut,  expressive,  showing  depth 
of  thought,  strength  of  character  and  indomitable  will.  His  manners  were 
those  of  the  cultured,  genteel,  courteous,  well-bred  gentleman,  and  he  was 
a  noted  hgiu-e  in  any  assembly  of  distinguished  men.  His  success  in  life  was 
largely  due  to  a  steadfastness  of  purpose,  honesty,  fiiielity  to  right  prin- 
ciples, a  high  order  of  intelligence  and  a  remarkable  force  of  character 
which  inspired  at  once  the  confidence  and  esteem  of  his  fellow  men. 


ANDREW  AI.  LOCKRIDGE. 

Among  the  highly  honored,  influential  and  well  remembered  citizens  of 
Putnam  county  of  a  past  generation  who  well  deserve  definite  recognition  in  a 
work  of  the  province  assigned  to  the  one  at  hand  is  Andrew  'SI.  Lockrido-e,  for 
the  history  of  the  county  and  his  biography  are  very  much  one  and  the  same 
thing  and  for  much  of  its  growth  and  prosperity  it  is  indebted  to  him.  He 
was  long  one  of  its  enterprising  laborers  and  wise  counselors.  A  progressive 
business  man  in  the  broad  sense  of  the  term,  he  realized  the  needs  of  the  peo- 
ple and  with  clear  brain  and  strong  hand  supplied  the  demand  generouslv  and 


p;-  '-At*,.  4   1 


PCTXAM    COLXTV,    IXDIAXA.  769 

unsparingiy.  The  county  was  never  lionored  by  the  citizenship  of  a  man  more 
widely  or  fa\orably  known  in  western  Indiana,  and  none  stood  higher  in  the 
esteem  (jf  his  acipiaintances,  for  to  him  was  accorded  nntiiiah'fied  confidence 
and  regaril.  and  that  lie  was  deserving  of  the  same  no  (jne  w  ill  deny.  His 
long  and  useful  life  was  sjient  practically  within  the  borders  of  this  countv, 
with  whose  wiried  interests  he  was  acti\"el}"  and  successfullv  identified.  His 
well-directed  efiforts  in  the  practical  affairs  of  life,  his  capable  management 
of  his  own  business  interests  and  his  sound  judgment  brought  to  him  well 
earned  prosperity,  his  life  demonstrating  what  may  be  accomplished  by  the 
man  of  energ}-  and  ambition,  who  is  not  afraid  to  work  and  who  has  the  per- 
se\erance  to  continue  his  labors  whether  attended  by  favorable  results  or  in 
the  face  of  seemingly  discouraging  circumstances.  Thus  his  career  mav  be 
held  up  as  an  example  to  the  youth  of  the  land  who  hesitate  at  the  parting  of 
the  ways. 

Andrew  M.  Lockridge  was  born  March  30,  1814,  near  Mount  Sterling, 
Montgomer}-  county,  Kentucky,  and  there  he  grew  to  maturity,  assisting  with 
the  work  about  the  home  place  and  attending  such  schools  as  those  early  times 
afforded,  and  although  his  text-book  training  was  limited  he  always  kept 
abreast  of  the  times  by  home  reading  and  study.  Desiring  to  cast  his  lot  in 
a  new  country  where  land  was  cheaper  and  opportunities  greater,  in  1S35, 
he  brought  his  widowed  mother  to  Putnam  county,  Indiana,  reaching  their 
future  home  in  the  autumn  and  settled  on  a  farm  tifteen  miles  north  of  Green- 
castle,  which  place  is  yet  known  as  the  Lockridge  farm.  Here,  amid  primi- 
tive contlitions,  ]\Ir.  Lockridge,  then  a  young  man  of  vigor  and  ambition, 
went  to  work  and  in  tlue  course  of  time  had  an  excellent  start  and  developed 
a  fine  farm,  and,  being  a  man  of  excellent  judgment,  keen  foresight  and  inde- 
fatigable energy,  he  seldom  failed  in  carrying  to  successful  issue  whatexer 
he  undertook.  He  was  certainly  deserving  of  the  same,  for  he  was  trul\-  the 
architect  of  his  own  fortunes,  being  a  purel\-  self-made  man.  his  father,  Rob- 
ert Lockridge.  a  fine  Kentuck\"  gentleman  of  the  old  school,  having  died  when 
Andrew  M.  was  but  twehe  years  old.  The  lad  was  thus  earlv  in  life  thrown 
practically  upon  his  own  resources  and  soon  came  in  charge  of  the  care  and 
responsibility  of  the  family,  and  such  cares  in  the  then  frontier  of  the  midrlle 
West,  in  18J5.  meant  more  than  we  of  toda_\-  can  fully  appreciate.  However, 
this  was  excellent  as  well  as  hard  discipline  and  it  fostered  in  the  growing  bov 
such  traits  of  sterling  character  as  to  make  for  success.  He  was  ahva\s  a 
very  reserved  and  unpretentious  man.  physically  and  mentally  strong,  vet 
seemingly  unconscious  of  liis  strength  and  power.  Although  his  life  was  de- 
(  4'J ) 


■jjO  WEIK  S    HISTORY    OF 

voted  almost  exclusively  to  agricultural  and  stock-raising-  pursuits,  having  few 
equals  and  no  superiors  in  either  line  in  western  Indiana,  being  an  unusually 
good  judge  of  all  kinds  of  livestock  and  a  student  of  the  soil  and  all  phases 
of  progressive  farming,  vet  he  was  interested  in  many  and  varied  industries 
and  was  always  ready  to  assist  in  a  substantial  way  any  movement  promising 
good  to  thi.ise  cui'.cerned  and  the  general  pul^lic,  being  a  promoter  and  a  fin- 
ancier b\-  nature,  a  man  who  would  have  succeeded  in  any  environment  and 
at  any  line  of  endeavor.  He  was  generous,  giving  freely  of  his  means,  never  • 
withholding  from  any  needeil  good,  taking  a  delight  in  anything  which  he 
belie\ed  would  make  his  fellow  men  better,  and  sought  to  teach  his  associates 
by  frugalitv  and  economy  to  be  self-sustaining,  independent  and  useful  citi- 
zens. 

For  thirtv  years  this  extraordinary  man  was  vice-president  and  a  director 
of  the  First  National  Bank  of  Greencastle  and  much  of  its  prestige  was  due 
to  his  conservative  advice  in  its  management,  and  in  all  that  has  made  this 
city  beloved  at  home  and  respected  abroad  the  impress  of  this  truly  good  and 
honest  man  is  plainly  written.  By  nature  modest,  he  never  courted  applause 
and  despised  ostentation,  doing  what  he  did  for  his  community  through  other 
and  more  exalted  motives,  true  rectitude  being  one  of  the  fundamental  prin- 
ciples of  his  character  and  a  high  regard  for  the  sacredness  of  right.  He 
scorned  the  mean  compliance  of  recognized  dishonesty,  and  would  not  stoop 
to  the  disgraceful  tricks  of  trade;  he  was  known  as  a  man  of  honor  in  the  com- 
mercial world.  Another  distinctly  marked  trait  of  his  character  was  his  in- 
domitable energy — an  energy  that  rose  with  irresistible  force  in  the  presence 
of  accumulating  difficulties,  which  he  surmounted  or  pushed  aside,  ignoring 
the  things  that  would  have  retarded  if  not  completely  thwarted  others  of  less 
courageous  spirit.  Combined  with  this  trait  was  his  gift  of  great  practical 
common  sense,  which  made  him  a  safe  counselor  to  those  who  needed  wise 
advice.     His  life  and  character  were  an  open  book. 

In  iSsS  IMr.  Lockridge  joined  the  ^lethodist  church  in  Greencastle  and 
continued  true  and  faithful  in  his  duties  and  obligations  to  the  church.  He 
was  a  man  of  deep  religious  conviction  and  carried  his  religion  into  his  every- 
dav  life.  After  a  brief  illness,  this  good  and  useful  citizen  was  summoned 
bv  the  common  fate  of  all  to  close  his  earthly  accounts  antl  take  up  his  work 
on  a  higher  plane  of  action,  November  2,  1893. 

No  less  devoted  to  right  living  and  right  thinking  was  the  noble  life  com- 
panion of  Mr.  Lockridge,  known  in  her  maidenhood  as  Elizabeth  Farrow, 
whom  he  married  February  23,  1843.  She  was  the  daughter  of  Col.  A.  S. 
Farrow,  one  of  the  county's  leading  pioneer  citizens  whose  career  is  fully 


PUTNAM    COUNTY,    INDIANA.  771 

given  in  another  part  of  this  work.  She  was  reared  and  educated  in  this 
countv  and  had  hosts  of  friends  here,  and  she  lived  with  Mr.  Lockridge,  shar- 
ing his  jovs  and  sorrows,  for  a  period  of  nearly  forty-five  years,  passing  serene- 
Iv  away  on  February  4.  -1888,  leaving  behind  her  the  priceless  heritage  of  her 
prayers  and  the  memory  of  a  beautiful  Christian  life,  for  she  was  a  loving 
wife,  a  devoted  mother  and  faithful  friend,  her  whole  life  being  one  long 
sacrifice  of  self  to  the  welfare  and  happiness  of  those  she  loved.  Through  all 
her  long  illness  her  thoughts  were  for  others  rather  than  herself. 

:Mrs.  Lockridge,  like  her  husband,  lived  most  of  her  life  in  Putnam 
county,  having  been  born  near  Mt.  Sterling,.  Montgomerv-  county,  Kentucky, 
November  24.  1826,  and  was  therefore  at  the  time  of  her  death  sixty-one 
vears.  two  months  and  eleven  days  old.  She  was  the  seventh  child  of  a  fam- 
ilv  of  ten  children,  three  brothers  of  whom  preceded  her  to  the  land  of  spirits. 
When  she  was  four  years  of  age,  in  the  autumn  of  1830,  her  family  emigrated 
to  Putnam  county,  Indiana,  locating  nine  miles  north  of  Greencastle.  The 
countrv  was  new  and  sparsely  settled  and  the  advantages  of  school  and  church 
associations  were  meager,  but  in  the  little  log  school  house  of  that  day,  she, 
with  her  brothers  and  sisters,  obtained  a  fair  common  school  education.  When 
only  thirteen  years  oUl,  in  a  little  log  church  on  her  father's  farm,  she  pro- 
fessed the  religion  of  the  Christ  and  united  with  the  Methodist  church,  in 
which  faith  she  lived  with  unfaltering  trust,  without  a  cloud  to  dim  her  hope 
of  immortality,  until  the  moment  her  purified  spirit  passed  into  the  mystic 
bevond. 

To  Mr.  and  ]^Irs.  Andrew  M.  Lockridge  four  children  were  born,  the  first 
born,  Robert,  dying  in  infancy;  the  other  three  reached  maturity  and  have 
been  leading  and  influential  citizens  of  Putnam  county  since  they  came  into 
manhood's  estate,  evincing  in  all  the  relations  of  life  the  wholesome  home 
environment  in  which  they  were  reared ;  they  are  Simpson,  Alexander  H.  and 
Albert  O. 


DANIEL  ZARING. 


Few  families  of  Putnam  county  are  as  well  known  and  highly  esteemed 
as  the  Zarings,  who  were  among  the  early  settlers  of  Washington  township 
and  from  the  year  of  their  arrival  to  the  present  time  the  name  has  ever 
stood  for  honorable  manhood  and  progressive  citizenship.  Perhaps  the  best 
known  representatives  of  the  family,  certainly  one  of' the  most  enterprising 
and   successful,   was  the  late  Daniel   Zaring,   whose  parents   moved   to   this 


•jio  WEIK  S    HISTORY    OF 

couiitrv  in  1844.  originally  settling-  where  the  Mt.  Olive  church  now  stands, 
later  changing  their  residence  to  a  farm  south  of  the  village  of  Manhattan. 
Daniel  Zaring.  father  of  Daniel,  was  a  native  of  Xew  York,  but  in  early 
life  went  to  Pennsylvania,  where  he  grew  to  manhood.  From  the  latter  state 
he  went  to  Ohio  when  a  young  man  and  locating  near  Wooster,  where  he 
married  and  lived  until  the  coming  to  Indiana  in  the  year  mentioned  above. 
Daniel  Zaring,  Jr.,  was  born  December  30,  1839,  in  Ohio,  and  in  1844 
accompanied  his  parents  to  Putnam  county,  Indiana,  growing  to  maturity 
on  the  home  fann  in  Washington  township,  where  he  developed  those  sterl- 
ing traits  of  character  which  so  greatly  tended  to  his  success  in  after  life. 
He  was  reared  in  agricultural  pursuits,  assisted  in  the  cultivation  of  the 
family  homestead  until  attaining  his  majority,  when  he  married  and  entered 
upon  his  own  career,  choosing  for  his  wife  Lucinda  Lewis,  who  was  born 
December  24.  1841,  and  to  whom  he  was  united  in  the  bonds  of  wedlock  in 
Xovember,  i860.  ^Irs.  Zaring  was  a  native  of  Putnam  county  and  a  daugh- 
ter of  .A.bram  Lewis,  who  moved  to  this  county  from  North  Carolina  in  an 
earlv  dav  and  settled  east  of  Reeseville,  on  the  farm  adjacent  to  Walnut 
creek,  now  owned  by  Lycurgus  Stoner.  He  was  one  of  the  early  pioneers  of 
that  localitv  and  his  name  appears  as  a  juryman  at  the  first  term  of  court 
held  in  Putnam  county.  He  cleared  and  improved  a  good  farm,  lived  an 
exemplary  life  and  died  a  number  of  years  ago  at  an  advanced  age. 

After  their  marriage  Daniel  Zaring  and  wife  began  housekeeping  on 
a  farm  belonging  to  his  father,  but  some  years  later  he  removed  to  what 
is  known  as  the  Athey  farm,  where  the  first  term  of  court  was  held,  re- 
maining on  the  latter  place  for  about  five  years.  At  the  expiration  of  that 
period  he  moved  to  the  farm  on- Deer  creek  which  his  father  afterwards 
deeded  to  him,  the  improvement  at  the  time  he  took  possession  consisting  of 
an  old  house  and  about  thirty  acres  of  cleared  land.  With  his  characteristic 
ener,g\-  he  addressed  himself  to  the  task  of  further  developing  the  place  and 
it  was  not  long  until  he  had  one  of  the  finest  and  most  valuable  farms  in 
his  section  of  the  country.  Among  the  improvments  which  he  added  from 
time  to  time  was  the  large  and  comfortable  residence  erected  in  1870,  and 
which  is  still  one  of  the  best  edifices  of  the  kind  in  the  community,  also  a  fine 
barn  and  other  buildings,  which  greatly  enhanced  the  value  of  the  place  and 
made  it  one  of  the  most  desirable  homes  in  that  part  of  the  county. 

Mr.  Zaring"s  farm  originally  consisted  of  one  hundred  and  sixty  acres, 
but  bv  additional  purchases  it  was  afterwards  increased  to  three  hundred 
and  fiftv  acres,  about  two  hundred  being  bottom  land  of  great  fertility,  the 
old  farm  being  owned  by  his  son,  Lewis  Zaring.     For  several  years  he  and 


PUTNAM    COUNTY.    INDIANA.  'j'JZ 

his  son  Lewis  carried  on  farming  and  the  Hvestock  business  as  partners, 
making  a  specialty  of  high-grade  cattle.  Mr.  Zaring  was  always  an  enter- 
prising, wide-awake  man  and  manifested  a  lively  interest  in  his  business 
affairs  as  long  as  he  lived,  retaining  possession  of  his  farm  to  the  day  of  his 
death.  He  was  essentially  a  home  man.  great  lover  of  his  family  and  made 
every  other  consideration  subordinate  to  his  children's  interests,  taking  little 
part  in  politics  beyond  voting  the  Democratic  ticket  an-l  having  no  ambition 
whatever  for  official  preferment.  In  the  management  of  his  affairs  he  was 
prompt  and  methodical,  not  given  to  speculation,  but  satisfied  with  legitimate 
and  gradual  gains.  :Mr.  Zaring  died  on  the  20th  day  of  September.  1895.  at 
the  village  of  Manhattan,  his  wife  passing  to  her  reward  on  March  25,  1901. 
The  family  of  this  worthy  couple  consisted  of  four  children,  the  oldest 
being  Lewis  A.,  a  sketch  of  whom  appears  elsewhere.  Clinton  Thomas 
Zaring.  M.  D..  of  Greencastle.  one  of  the  leading  physicians  and  surgeons  of 
Putnam  county,  is  the  second  in  order  of  birth,  the  third  l>eing  Clara  ^Lay, 
who  died  unmarried  at  the  age  of  thirty-eight.  She  was  an  accomplished 
stenographer  and  for  a  number  of  years  held  important  positions  in  vari- 
ous offices  in  the  citv  of  Indianapolis.  Musa  D.,  the  youngest  of  the  family, 
became  the  wife  of  Ernest  Stoner.  of  Greencastle,  Indiana,  and  died  at 
}i[ar.hattan  two  vears  after  her  marriage. 


GOXS.\LVO  CORDOVA  SMYTHE. 

Gonsalvo  Cordova  Smythe.  A.  M..  M.  D..  was  born  on  a  farm  three 
miles  east  of  Greencastle.  Indiana.  October  31.  1836.  His  parents.  Ebenezer 
and  Eli-zabeth  (Sill)  Smythe.  were  natives  of  Kentucky  who  emigrated  to 
Indiana  soon  after  their  marriage  in  1827.  Doctor  Smythe  was  the  fifth 
child  in  the  family,  there  being  in  all  nine  children.  One  of  his  sisters. 
Hannah  Roxanna.'  was  the  wife  of  John  Clark  Ridpath.  the  historian. 
Ebenezer  Smvthe,  the  father,  though  a  poor  man.  was  especially  well  edu- 
cated for  the  times.  He  was  a  voracious  and  inordinate  reader  and  re- 
markably well  informed  as  to  the  facts  of  history  and  the  philosophy  of  lit- 
erature.' Although  the  mother's  early  advantages  were  meagre,  she  was 
nevertheless  a  woman  of  decided  natural  ability  and  loyally  joined  her  hus- 
band in  the  determination  to  provide  their  children  with  the  best  tacilities 
for  education  the  times  and  their  surroundings  afforded.  The  opportunities 
oft-ered    h.nvever.  were  at  first  onlv  those  of  the  regulation  district  schools 


774  WEIK  S    HISTORY    OF 

of  that  period  and  in  these  the  methods  employed  were  far  from  adequate 
in  producing  the  best  results.  Doctor  Smythe's  experience  in  the  backwoods 
school  was  somewhat  novel.  At  the  age  of  fifeen  he  became  impatient  at 
his  slow  progress  in  school  and  laid  the  fault  to  the  "class  system,"  which  he 
conceived  reallv  restrained  him.  He  therefore  asked  for  and  secured  from 
the  teacher  a  mitigation  of  the  rule  and  was  granted  the  privilege  of  study- 
ing and  mastering  his  lessons  in  his  own  way.  The  result  justified  the  wis- 
dom of  the  concession,  for  his  progress  from  this  time  forward  was  both  easy 
and  rapid.  ^leanwhile  there  were  alterations  of  labor.  Before  his  sixteenth 
vear  he  was  chopping  wood  for  fifty  cents  a  cord  and  later  employed  by  his 
father,  a  contractor  on  the  line  of  the  Terre  Haute  &  Indianapolis  railroad 
to  blast  rock,  a  work  in  which  he  was  very  successful  and  of  which  he  was 
inordinately  fond.  There  was  something  in  the  big  reports  made  by  the 
"giant"  powder  which  especially  pleased  him  and  he  continued  at  the  work 
on  his  own  account  on  the  lines  of  other  neighboring  railroads.  At  the  age 
of  seventeen  he  engaged  in  teaching  school,  thus  laying  up  a  little  money  for 
the  exigencies  of  the 'future.  Soon  afterward  he  made  up  his  mind  to  finish 
his  education  by  a  course  in  college  and  accordingly,  in  the  fall  of  1855,  he 
entered  the  sophomore  class  in  Asbury  University  at  Greencastle.  He  lived 
at  home  and  walked  in  to  college  ever}-  morning,  a  distance  of  three  miles. 
His  brother.  Ulvsses,  was  also  in  college  at  the  same  time.  As  a  student 
Doctor  Smythe  was  noted  for  his  clear  vision,  industry  and  close  reasoning 
powers.  He  was  very  proficient  in  mathematics,  with  a  decided  leaning  to- 
ward the  investigation  of  scientific  subjects.  The  physical  sciences  were 
especially  attractive  to  him.  In  1856  his  college  course  came  to  an  abrupt 
end  due  to  the  famous  rebellion,  during  the  administration  of  Doctor  Curry, 
president  of  Asbury  University.  Along  with  others.  Doctor  Smythe  left  and 
never  returned  to  the  institution.  Having  always  been  drawn  to  the  study 
of  medicine,  he  determined  now  to  prepare  himself  for  that  profession  and, 
to  that  end.  entered  the  ofiice  of  Dr.  William  C.  Hopwood.  a  physician  in 
the  village  of  Fillmore,  where  he  was  a  diligent  and  observing  student  for 
almost  three  years.  In  the  fall  of  1859  he  attended  his  first  course  of  lectures 
at  Rush  Medical  College  in  Chicago.  In  the  summer  of  i860  he  entered  upon 
the  practice  in  Fillmore  and  from  the  first  impressed  all  those  with  whom 
he  came  in  contact  with  his  skill  and  qualifications  for  the  profession  he  had 
chosen.  .\  few  months  before — February  28th — he  was  married  to  Mar- 
paret  A.  .A.llen,  a  young  lady  who  lived  in  the  neighborhood  and  who  had 
Ijeen  one  of  his  schoolmates  in  the  days  of  the  district  school. 

The  Civil  war  having  broken  out.  Doctor  Smythe  offered  his  services, 
which  were  accepted,  and  in  August,  1862,  he  was  duly  appointed  assistant 


ri'TXAM    COL'XTV.    IXDIAXA.  775 

surgeim  "t  the  Fi  irtN-thinl  RL-ginieiit.  Imliana  X'olunteers.  He  remained  in 
the  services  until  the  cL>se  of  the  war  in  i8h5.  l^eing  promoted  to  surgeon-  of 
the  regiment  and  finallv  surgeon  of  a  miHtary  division.  His  experience  as  an 
armv  surgeon  in  tlie  field  and  in  the  hospitals  was  of  incalculahle  benefit  and 
was  the  basis  of  his  subsequent  extended  reputation  as  a  surgeon.  After  re- 
turniiv;-  frrmi  tlie  armv,  Dnctur  Smythe  located  in  Greencastle  and  formed 
a  partnership  with  Dr.  Hamilton  E.  Ellis,  who  al^o  had  been  an  army  sur- 
gcn.     This  partnership  continued  till  the  death  of  Doctor  Ellis  in  1880. 

From  the  time  of  his  return  from  the  army  Doctor  Smythe  had  con- 
stantlv  risen  in  reputatinn  ma  mily  in  medical  circles  but  in  the  estimation 
of  the  L-er.er.d  public.  F;is  rise  in  usefulness  and  infiuence  was  effected  in  the 
face  of  nianv  and  serious  discouragements.  One  of  these  was  the  death  of 
his  wife.  Februarv  10.  1S70.  Soon  after  he  went  to  Xew  York  and  there 
cnmpleted  a  course  of  special  study  in  Long  Island  Hospital  ^ledical  Col- 
lege, graduating  therefrom  with  the  degree  of  Doctor  of  ]^Iedicine.  ad  eun- 
dem.  Returning  to  Greencastle,  his  sendees  were  more  than  ever  in  de- 
mand and  his  aljility  and  skill  as  one  of  the  leading  physicians  and  surgeons 
in  central  Indiana  were  everywhere  recognized.  In  January,  187 J.  he  was 
married  to  Tanie  Frances  Black,  of  Greencastle;  but  his  wife  soon  developed 
svmptoms  of  tuberculosis  and  was  carried  of¥  by  that  fatal  malady  Xovem- 
Ler  14,  1874.  In  1S76.  Febrtiary  17,  Doctor  Smythe  was  a  third  time  mar- 
ried. His  wife  was  Jennie,  the  daughter  of  :\IcCamey  Hartley.  Esq.,  who 
was  an  earlv  business  man  in  Greencastle,  and  also  filled  the  office  of  audi- 
tor of  Putnam  county.  Three  children  blessed  this  union.  Roxanna.  who 
died  lulv  8.  1887;  Winona,  who  died  August  13,  189'),  and  Arta.  who  is  now 
the  wife  of  Morton  Diall.  superintendent  of  the  Gas  and  Electric  Light  Com- 
panv  of  Lockport.  Xew  York. 

Doctor  Smvthe  was  a  frequent  contributor  to  the  leading  medical 
journals  and  maga.^ines  of  the  day.  Among  his  principal  C(.MnriI)utions  were 
"A  Ple-\  for  Practical  An-Uomy,"  an  article  which  v,as  largely  instrumental 
in  seciu-ing  the  pa--a;,e  of  a  law  bv  the  Legislature  of  Ind.iana  for  the  legal 
iHssection  of  human  liodies;  "The  Antipyretic  Treatment  of  Typhoid  Fever"; 
■'A  Dermoiij  L \ -t  in  the  Lung.'"  and  "'I'he  Treatment  of  Sciatica  by  the  Hy- 
perdemic  Injection  of  /\tropia".  a  p;q)er  which  was  translated  into  French, 
and  German,  and  then  unwittingly  retranslated  into  English  as  an  auth(3rity. 
In  1871)  Doctor  Smvthe  was  elected  to  a  chair  in  t'.ie  Central  College  of  Phy- 
sicians and  Surgeons  of  Indianapolis  and  assigneil  to  the  chair  of  the  prac- 
tice of  medicine  and  sanitary  science  and  at  once  demonstrated  his  ability 
as  an  instructor.     His  lectures  were  at  once  profound  and  popular.     During 


"/jn  WEIK  S    HISTORY    OF       " 

the  summer  of  1880  he  issued  his  first  medical  work,  entitled.  ■■Me(HcaI 
Heresies  Historically  Considered:  A  Series  of  Critical  Essays  on  the  Origin 
or  the  Evolution  of  Sectarian  Medicine''.  The  subject  was  of  such  nature  as 
to  involve  a  review  of  homeopathy  and  that  theory  of  medicine  has  rarelv  been 
more  ably  or  severely  handled  than  in  Doctor  Smythe's  masterly  treatise. 
Idle  book  recei\'ed  an  extensi\-e  notice  at  the  hands  of  medical  men  everv- 
where  and  excited  nijt  a  little  discussion  and  criticism. 

As  the  years  rollerl  by  Doctor  Smythe's  reputatii^n  as  a  phvsician  and 
surgeon  broadened  until  he  was  easily  one  of  the  leading  practitioners  in 
the  state.  As  a  surgeon  he  had  few  equals  and  some  of  the  operations  he 
l^erfornied  are  e\-en  yet  regarded  as  wonders  of  skill  and  precision.  But  the 
constant  and  unremitting  attention  to  his  patients  and  bis  anxietv  to  do  all 
in  bis  power  to  alleviate  suffering  humanity  began  to  tell  on  him.  He  denied' 
himself  the  luxury  of  vacations  and  applied  himself  to  his  tasks  with  such 
concentration  and  zeal  that  his  health  at  last  broke  under  the  strain,  and. 
after  a  brief  illness,  he  died  February  7,  1S97. 

In  every  respect  Doctor  Smythe  was  a  remarkable  man.  and  in  the  line 
of  his  profession  eminently  successful.  He  was  emphatically  a  man  of  ner\e 
whom  no  responsibility  could  appeal.  Under  all  circumstances  he  was  cool, 
prudent  and  self-confident.  His  judgment  never  forsook  him  and  his 
per.etration  was  rarely  at  fault.  He  was  in  e\ery  sense  a  physician,  a 
man  of  one  work,  ardently  devoted  to  the  duties  of  his  profession.  He  was 
generous  minded  and  liberal  of  view.  Although  apparently  brusque  in  man- 
ner, he  was  in  reality  tender  at  heart,  patient  and  sympathetic.  A  man  of 
innate  modesty,  he  rarely  ever  dwelt  upon  his  own  achievements.  A  stranger 
to  diplomacy,  he  could  not  flatter  or  deceive.  In  every  emergencv  he  was  a 
plain,  tolerant  and  unaffected  gentleman,  the  corner  stone  of  wdiose  religion 
was  relieving  the  distress  of  his  fellow  men. 


CAPT.  HEXRV  BASCOM  MARTIX. 

The  distinction  of  being  the  oldest  native  of  Cloverdale  township  now 
residing  therein  l>elongs  to  Capt.  Henry  B.  Martin,  an  honored  and  revered 
resident  of  the  attractive  little  town  of  Cloverdale.  Xot  only  has  his  pri\-ate 
life  been  one  of  probity  and  integrity,  but  he  has  also  a  military  record  of  which 
he  has  just  reason  to  be  proud,  having  gi\'en  to  his  country  several  vears  of 
effective  and  appreciated  ser\-ice  during  the  period  of  its  greatest  need.     He 


CAPT.  HENRY  B.  MARTIN 


PL■TXA^r    COUNTY,    IXDIAXA.  -'- 

is  now  living  in  honorable  retirement  at  Clnvenlale,  secure   in  the  in\e  and 
esteem  of  all  who  know  him.  and  his  friends  are  legion. 

Henrv  Basconi  Martin  was  horn  in  Cluverdale  township,  fntnam  county. 
Indiana.  Tulv  lO.  1833.  and  is  a  srm  of  Kiil)ert  and  Lucy  (Rdutte)  Martin. 
The  paternal  grandfather  was  William  Martin,  a  Methodist  preacher  who 
was  horn  and  reared  in  \'irginia.  his  birth  having  taken  place  during  the  war 
of  the  Revolution.  His  father.  John  >.[artin.  was  a  soldier  in  that  memor- 
able struggle  who  served  during  nearly  the  w  he  ile  period  of  the  war.  and  near 
its  close  sent  a  son.  also  named  John,  as  a  substitute,  the  latter  being  present 
at  the  siu-render  of  Cornwallis.  The  subject's  mother  was  a  daughter  of 
Genrge  and  Catherine  (Hendricks)  Routte.  This  family  came  from  \'ir- 
ginia  and  located  in  Kentucky.  Robert  Martin  was  a  native  of  Virginia  and 
in  his  voung  hovhood  the  family  removed  to  Bath  county,  Kentucky,  and  suli- 
se(|uently  he  there  met  and  married  Lucy  Routte.  He  and  his  wife  came  to 
Clovenlale  township.  Putnam  county.  Indiana,  about  1S25.  and  entered  a 
tract  of  government  land  two  miles  southwest  of  Cloverdale.  He  first  entered 
two  forty-acre  tracts,  the  patents  for  which  were  signed  by  President  John 
Quincv  Adams,  and  he  afterwards  acquired  more  land,  so  that  his  holdings 
amounted  to  two  h.undred  and  forty  acres.  He  remained  in  that  locality  until 
1853.  when  he  moved  to  the  state  of  L>wa.  where  he  remained  until  about 
1S77.  when,  his  wife  dying,  he  returned  to  Indiana,  locating  at  Greencastie. 
where  his  death  occurred  in  tSjy.  Robert  Martin  was  twice  married,  his 
first  wife  dving  in  1851.  In  about  1854  he  married  Mrs.  Xancy  Xosler. 
whose  death  occurred  in  1877  in  Iowa,  as  above  stated.  Wx.  Martin  was  the 
father  of  ten  children,  namely:  Sally,  who  died  in  infancy.  Catherine.  John  S.. 
George  R..  Henry  E..  William  S..  Alethe.  Byram.  Man-  and  Robert. 

Henrv  B.  :\[artin  remained  on  the  home  farm  near  Cloverdale  until  about 
eighteen  vears  old  and  in  the  meantime  .secured  a  fair  education  in  the  com- 
mon schools  of  the  locality,  the  school  facilities  of  that  day  being  somewhat 
meagre  as  compared  with  the  splendid  system  of  the  present  day.  Later  the 
subject  was  a  student  in  Cloverdale  Seminary,  but  the  major  part  of  his  edu- 
cition  was  receixed  outside  the  school  rooms,  as  after  he  had  quit  the  educa- 
tional institutions  mentioned  he  pursued  the  study  of  Latin.  Greek  and  higher 
mathematics,  including  surveying.  He  was  employed  as  an  assistant  in  the 
survey  of  the  Monon  railroail.  and  after  the  completion  of  that  work  he  went 
to  Ohio  and  used  the  transit  in  the  preliminary  survey  of  a  part  of  the  Cin- 
cinnati. Hamilton  &  Dayton  railroad.  In  the  spring  of  1854  Mr.  :\Iartin 
went  to  \\'ebster  countv  (now  Hamilton  county).  Iowa,  and  there  followed 
surveying  until  the  winter  of  1859-Cio.     Returning  to  Putnam  county,  Indi- 


jyS  weik's  history  of 

ana.  his  patriotic  spirit  was  soi  m  stirreil  by  the  sounds  of  the  oncoming-  con- 
flict in  the  Southland,  and  when  the  President's  call  for  volunteers  was  issued 
he  promptlv  responded,  becoming  a  meml)er  of  Company  A,  Second  Regiment 
Kentucky  Volunteer  Infantry.  Prior  to  this  he  had  organized  a  compan_\-  at 
Cloverdale.  but  the  state's  quota  had  become  filled  and  his  company  could  not 
be  accepted.  He  then  went  to  Cincinnati  with  a  few  of  his  men  and  there 
enlisted.  He  was  mustered  into  the  service  as  a  private,  but  was  afterwards 
commissioned  second  lieutenant,  the  company  to  which  he  belonged  being  as- 
signed to  the  Kentucky  regiment.  .Vbout  July  9.  i86t.  the  command  was  sent 
to  \\'est  Virginia,  and  four  days  later  they  were  engaged  in  the  battle  of 
Earboursville.  where  the  subject  was  severely  wounded  in  the  right  thigh. 
He  was  conveved  by  an  impro\ised  ambulance  and  boat  to  the  hospital  at 
Gallipolis.  where  he  nearly  died  from  the  wound.  The  hospital  was  first  lo- 
cated in  a  seminary,  and  was  then  moved  to  a  deserted  school  room,  where 
the  subject  lav  on  one  of  the  long  rlesks.  When  convalescent  he  was  sent 
home  on  sick  leave  and  for  some  time  went  about  on  crutches.  In  the  latter 
part  of  the  following  October  he  rejoined  his  regiment  along  the  Kanawha 
river  above  Charleston.  The  next  battle  in  which  the  Second  Regiment  par- 
ticipated was  the  great  struggle  at  Shiloh.  They  arrived  there  on  Sunday, 
as  a  part  of  Nelson's  division,  and  were  engaged  all  day  Alonday  until  the 
defeat  of  the  enemy.  Later  they  took  part  in  the  siege  of  Corinth  and  the 
manv  skirmishes  incident  to  that  campaign.  In  the  spring  of  1862,  before  the 
.battle  of  Shiloh.  Second  Lieutenant  Martin  became  a  first  lieutenant.  After 
the  siege  of  Corinth,  the  Second  Regiment  marched  with  the  army  through 
]\fississippi  and  Alabama,  under  the  command  of  General  Buell.  They  then 
marched  to  Louisville.  Kentucky,  and  chased  the  Confederate  General  Bragg 
awav  from  there  and  followed  him  to  -Perryville,  where  there  was  a  bloody 
fight.  The  regiment  then  went  to  Xashville.  where  they  remained  until  mid- 
winter. Then  followed  the  terrific  engagement  at  Stone  River,  where  the 
soldiers  endured  severe  privations,  being  compelled  to  sleep  in  the  open  air 
on  the  battlefield  and  for  forty-eight  hours  they  had  nothing  to  eat  but  a  few^ 
crackers.  The  armv  then  occupied  INIurfreesborough,  and  were  soon  after- 
wards engaged  in  the  battle  oi  Chickamauga.  wdiere  Lieutenant  Martin  was 
severelv  wounded,  his  wrist  bone  being  shattered  by  a  minie  ball.  Because 
of  this  wound  he  was  disabled  until  the  following  Xo\ember.  and  was  sta- 
tioned at  Bridgeport,  not  participating  with  his  regiment  in  the  protectii')n  of 
tl-.e  lines  of  communication.  He  then  started  with  Sherman  on  the  cele- 
brated march  to  Atlanta,  but  before  the  end  of  that  campaign  his  period  of 
service  expired.     After  the  battle  of  Stone  River,  the  stihject  had  been  pro- 


PUTXAM    COUXTV.    IXDIAXA.  779 

moted  to  ;i  captaincv  ami  commamleil  his  company  at  the  battle  ol  Chicka- 
maug-a.  After  beiny  mustered  out  at  Cincinnati.  Captain  Martin  was  ap- 
pointed a  captain  in  the  A'eteran  Reserve  Corps  and  was  located  at  Giesboro, 
near  the  city  of  Washington.  At  this  time  the  death  of  his  father-in-law 
made  it  necessary  for  him  to  return  to  his  home  at  Cloverdale.  The  county 
was  then  in  a  turmoil  and  the  family  needed  his  protection,  he  having  left 
a  wife  and  infant  son  when  he  entered  the  army. 

It  should  be  here  noted  that  while  residing  in  loua  in  the  winters  of 
iS;7-:S  and  iS^S-^i^  the  subject  was  a  member  of  the  state  troops,  having 
l)een  mustered  in  to  assist  in  protecting  the  northern  part  of  the  state  against 
a  threatened  massacre  of  the  Indians,  who  had  a  short  time  previously  com- 
mitted terrible  depredations  among  the  settlers  in  that  part  of  the  state.  The 
subject  was  chosen  captain  of  his  company  and  commanded  it  throughout  the 
campaign. 

After  his  return  from  the  army.  Captain  Martin  was  busily  employed 
at  farming,  the  practice  oi  law  and  surveying,  in  all  of  which  he  gave  evidence 
of  his  versatile  aljility.  Eventually  he  moved  to  Greencastle  in  order  to  give 
bis  chil.lren  superior  educational  ad\antages.  In  1892  Captain  IMartin  and 
bis  son  Charles  established  the  Greencastle  Democrat,  one  of  the  strong  and 
intluential  newspapers  of  Putnam  county.  About  1885  he  was  appointed  an 
examiner  oi  surveys  for  the  United  States  government,  his  duties  being  to 
examine  the  land  surveys  in  Oregon.  Washington  and  Idaho.  He  ser^-ed 
in  this  capacity  until  the  summer  of  1S89,  the  latter  part  of  his  service  being 
in  Xew  ^.lexicr.j.  where  he  was  engaged  in  examining  the  boundary  lines  of 
Indian  reservations.  During  a  part  of  this  time  he  was  alone  with  the  Indians, 
among  whrmi  were  the  bloodthirsty  Apaches.  In  1893  he  received  a  request 
from  the  commissioner  of  the  general  land  office  of  Washington  to  go  to 
Califonu'a  as  special  exanu'ner  of  the  Benson  fraudulent  land  surveys,  which 
he  accepted,  and  was  th.us  engaged,  and  in  general  government  surveys,  until 
1895  when  he  re-igned  on  account  of  ill  health.  The  appointment  came  to 
lu'm  wholiv  un-^olicited.  and  was  an  exceptional  honor,  as  the  Benson  fraudu- 
lent surveys  were  of  Xational  interest.  His  services  gave  eminent  satisfac- 
tion to  the  go\ernment  and  he  could  have  continued  in  the  office  indefinitely, 
liut  ill  health  compelled  him  to  resign.  Cajitain  Martin  continued  the  publi- 
cation of  the  Democrat  until  June.  1897.  when  it  was  sold  to  Hamrick  & 
A'ler.  after  which  the  Captain  went  to  San  Bernardino.  California,  and.  with 
the  assistance  of  his  sons  Ernest  and  Edwin  and  eldest  daughter  Winifred, 
established  a  Democratic  newspaper.  This  enterprise  was  successful,  but  the 
Captain  disposed  of  his  interests  four  years  later  and  returned  to  Cloverdale. 
where  he  is  now  residing. 


jSo  weik's  history  of 

While  residing  in  Iowa.  Captain  Martin  became  tlie  owner  of  one  thous- 
and acres  of  splench'd  farming  land,  but  this  was  afterwards  sold,  and  he  and 
his  wife  now  own  considerable  land  in  Putnam  county,  near  Cloverdale. 

On  the  2 1  St  of  October,  1858.  Captain  ]vlartin  was  united  in  marriage 
witli  Svdnev  \'ictoria  Ellen  Hart,  a  daughter  of  William  L.  Hart,  one  of  the 
earlv  and  well  known  settlers  of  Cloverdale  township.  To  this  union  have 
been  born  nine  children,  namely:  Xiles  H..  who  resides  on  a  fami  near  Clo\er- 
dale.  married  Margaret  Young:  Charles  Lee.  who  was  interested  with  his 
father  in  the  Greencastle  Democrat,  died  near  the  close  of  the  year  1895 :  Lucy 
died  at  the  age  of  two  vears  and  three  months :  William  died  in  infancy :  Wini- 
fred, who  has  traveled  extensively  in  Europe,  !\[exico  and  Hawaii,  is  suc- 
cessfullv  engaged  in  newspaper  work  at  San  Bernardino,  California;  Marga- 
rita is  the  wife  of  Alerton  Brimmer,  of  Rialto,  California,  and  they  have  one 
child.  Elizabeth  Ellen:  Ernest,  who  is  engaged  in  newspaper  work  in  San 
Bernardino.  California,  and  is  also  a  writer  for  the  Hearst  papers,  married 
Dorothv  Cooley.  the  daughter  of  a  prominent  citizen  there:  Edwin  is  a  printer 
and  resides  at  Merced.  California:  Henry  B.,  who  is.  the  publisher  and  editor 
of  the  Cloverdale  Graf^hic.  married  Anna  Steinbach.  and  they  have  one  son. 
Charles  Lee, 

Politicallv  Captain  [Martin  is  a  Democrat  and  has  always  taken  an  active 
interest  in  the  success  of  his  party.  LiiSji  he  was  elected  to  the  lower  house 
of  the  Legislature  and  rendered  effective  ser\ice  in  that  body.  Fraternally 
he  has  been  a  member  of  the  Masonic  order  for  forty-six  years  and  has  served 
a  number  of  terms  as  worshipful  master  of  his  lodge.  He  has  taken  a  num- 
ber of  degrees  above  those  of  the  blue  lodge,  including  those  of  Knight  Tem- 
plar, being  a  member  of  Greencastle  Commander}-,  Xo.  11.  Few  men  in  his 
section  of  the  county  are  as  widely  and  favorably  known  and  none  stand 
higher  than  does  he  in  the  confidence  and  esteem  of  the  public,  and  in  view 
of  his  active  and  eminently  creditable  career  and  the  influence  he  has  always 
exercised  on  the  right  side  of  every  moral  question,  it  is  proper  to  class  him 
with  the  representative  men  of  his  day  and  generation  in  the  community  hon- 
ored bv  his  citizenship. 


ALBERT  O.  LOCKRIDGE. 

It  is  the  progressive,  wideawake  man  of  affairs  that  makes  the  real  his- 
tory of  a  community  and  his  influence  as  a  potential  factor  of  the  body  politic 
is  difficult  to  estimate.     The  examples  such  men  furnish  of  patient  purpose 


PI/TXAAf    COL'XTV,    IXUIAXA.  jS  I 

and  steadfast  integritv  strongly  illustrate  what  is  in  the  power  of  each  to 
accomplish,  and  tliere  is  always  a  full  measure  of  satisfaction  in  achertising, 
even  in  a  casual  way.  to  their  achievements  in  advancing  the  interests  of 
their  fellowmen  and  in  giving  strength  and  solidit}'  to  the  institutions  which 
make  so  much  for  the  prosperity  of  the  community.  Such  a  man  is  Albert 
O.  Lockridge.  the  present  popular  pi")stmaster  of  ("ireencastle,  and  it  is  emin- 
ently proper  that  a  re\-iew  of  his  career  be  accorded  a  place  among  the  rep- 
resentative citizens  of  the  city  and  county  in  which  he  resides. 

Mr.  Lockridge  is  a  natiNe  of  Putnam  count}'.  ha\'ing  been  born  on  a 
farm  near  his  home  cit_\'.  Februar\"  i~,  1S51.  He  is  the  voungest  of  three 
sons  born  to  .Vmlrew  M.  and  Elizabeth  (Farrow)  Lockridge.  extended  men- 
tion of  whom  is  made  elsewhere  in  this  \-olume.  The  other  sinis,  Simi)son 
F.  and  Alexander  H..  are  also  given  notice  in  an(jther  part  o\  this  work. 

Albert  O.  Lockridge  was  reared  on  the  parental  acres  and  did  his  full 
share  of  the  routine  work  ^^i  the  fanii.  He  was  educated  in  the  public 
schools  of  Greencastle  and  at  Asbury  (now  DePauw)  L'ni\'ersity,  attending 
the  latter  institution  during  the  presidency  of  Bishop  Thomas  Bowman,  for 
whom  he  has  great  admiration.  ^Ir.  Lockridge  also  attended,  in  1872.  the 
Indianapolis  Commercial  College,  and  during  this  time  was  a  meml)er  of  the 
militarv  organizatiiin  known  as  the  Commercial  Guarrls.  which  was  often 
drilled  by  Gen.  Daniel  Mc.\ule\-  and  was  subject  to  government  call. 

Mr.  Lockridge  has  been  largely  interested  in  agricultural  pursuits  all 
his  life.  He  has  always  been  a  stuilent  of  scientific  farming  an<l  ranks  as 
one  of  the  best  informed  and  most  successful  farmers  and  stock  raisers  in 
Indiana.  For  the  past  twenty  years  he  has  lectured  before  farmers'  insti- 
tutes (^\er  Imliana.  ha\-ing  addressed  institutes  in  e\"ery  count}-  in  the  state, 
and  is  perhaps  the  best  known  and  most  influential  institute  worker  in  the 
state,  and  his  services  have  been  in  great  demand  of  recent  years  in  this 
connection. 

Mr.  Lockridge's  beautiful  farm,  "Hazyview".  comprising  two  hundred 
and  seventy-one  acres,  and  l}-ing  six  miles  northeast  of  Greencastle.  is  one 
of  the  model  farms  of  Putnam  county — imleed.  one  of  the  "show  places" 
o\  the  count}-,  and  is  a<lmired  b}'  all. 

Mr.  Lockridge  is  a  director  of  the  First  Xational  Bank  of  Greencastle. 
and  is  influential  iii  the  industrial  circles  of  the  communit}-.  In  1897  he  was 
appointed  b\-  Go\-.  J;inies  A.  ]\[ount  a  member  of  the  boarrl  of  trustees  oi  the 
Central  Hospital  for  the  Insane,  located  at  Indianapolis,  and  after  three 
vears  of  faithful  and  commendable  service  he  was  re-appointed  for  three 
\-ears  more,  making  six  years  of  Cfuitinuous  service.     Fie  was  anpoiiited  post- 


jS2  weik's  history  of 

master  of  Greencastle  by  President  Taft,  and  assumed  office  March  22,  1910. 
He  is  a  member  of  the  College  Avenue  Methodist  Episcopal  church,  being  a 
trustee  of  the  same.  He  is  especially  interested  in  Sunday  school  work  and 
frequently  visits  over  the  county,  addressing-  the  various  Sunday  school  or- 
ganizations in  behalf  of  association  work. 

Mr.  Lockridge  was  married  October  9,  1S7S,  to  Jessie  Francis  Birch, 
daughter  of  Alpheus  Birch,  deceased,  a  prominent  woolen  manufacturer  of 
Greencastle  for  many  years.  The  marriage  ceremony  was  solemnized  by 
Bishop  Isaac  \V.  Joyce.  Mrs.  Lockridge  was  born  at  Bloomington,  Illinois, 
January  6.  1858.  Her  grandfather,  Henry  Ewing  Cowgill.  was  a  very 
prominent  physician  and  influential  man  in  Putnam  county  a  decade  ago.  He 
was  commissioned  by  Gov.  Oliver  P.  Morton  during  the  most  severe  battles 
of  the  Civil  war  to  go  to  the  Southland  and  look  after  the  comforts  of  the 
Indiana  soldiers  at  the  front. 

Two  children  have  been  born  to  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Lockridge,  Dr.  Arthur 
Birch  Lockridge,  a  practicing  physician  of  Rockville,  Indiana,  and  a  gradu- 
ate of  the  Indiana  Medical  College.  The  daughter,  Elizabeth  Farrow  Lock- 
ridge, who  is  a  graduate  of  the  DePauw  School  of  Music,  is  now  teaching 
music  in  Kansas  City.  Missouri,  being  regarded  as  a  very  talented  musician. 

;Mrs.  Lockridge  is  also  a  member  of  the  College  Avenue  Methodist  Epis- 
copal church.  Her  home  is  a  model  of  cheerfulness,  refinement  and  hospi- 
tality and  she  and  Mr.  Lockridge  are  frequently  hosts  to  the  best  people  of 
the  county,  and  they  are  always  pleasant  and  are  kindly  disposed  to  the  less 
fortunate  with  whom  thev  come  in  contact. 


JOHN  BREWER  De^JOTTE,  A.  M.,  Pn.  D.,  M.  D. 

John  Brewer  DeMotte  was  born  in  the  village  of  W'aveland,  Indiana, 
August  21,  1848,  and  died  in  Greencastle,  Indiana,  September  i,  1907.  His 
father,  who  bore  the  same  name,  was  an  itinerant  Methodist  preacher  and 
he  in  turn  was  the  son  of  Rev.  Daniel  DeMotte,  one  of  the  early  pillars  of 
Indiana  Methodism.  His  mother  was  Emily  Franklin  Payne,  whose  mar- 
riage to  John  B.  DeMotte,  the  elder,  took  place  September  2-.  1S42.  Tlie 
mother  died  in  July.  185 1 ;  the  father,  November  30,  1901. 

John  D.  DeMotte  II,  the  subject  of  this  sketch,  attended  the  common 
schools  of  the  dav  and  in  whatever  village  or  town  he  happened  to  live,  for 
the  circuit  rider  of  that  period  hardly  ever  spent  a  second  season  in  the  same 


I'LTXAM    COL'XTV,    INDIANA.  jSj 

place.  MoN'ing  thus  from  place  to  placj.  the  boy  had  the  benetit  of  maiu' 
changes  in  instructors.  Being  a  \er_\-  absorbent  as  well  as  observant  lad, 
these  transitions  from  one  field  to  another  were  not  without  their  good  effect. 
As  a  pupil  in  school,  he  was  equally  apt  and  ambitious.  He  learned  readily 
and  readily  made  use  of  what  he  had  learned.  Therein  lay  the  success  of 
liis  training.  In  i8(.o  his  father  was  principal  of  the  Asbury  Female  Insti- 
tute,— a  girls'  school  in  Greencastle,  Indiana,  and  here  the  son  came  into 
contact  with  the  atmosphere  of  uni\ersity  life.  Meanwhile  the  war  came 
along  and.  though  he  was  scarcely  over  fifteen  years  old,  lie  volunteered  and 
was  mustered  in  as  private  in  Company  E.  One  Hundred  and  Eighteenth 
Regiment.  Indiana  \'olunteers.  Returning  after  the  expiration  of  his  army 
service,  he  soon  entered  Asbur_\'  University,  in  college  he  was  noted  for  his 
clearness  of  perception,  his  analytical  mind  and  industrious  habits.  Along  with 
his  studies,  he  found  time  to  teach  certain  branches  in  the  preparatory  classes. 
His  capacity  for  work  was  prodigious.  In  1874  he  was  graduated  from  the 
uni\-ersity  with  honors  and  the  degree  of  Bachelor  of  Arts.  The  ne.\t  vear 
he  joined  the  faculty  of  his  alma  mater  with  a  \icw  to  organizing  the  pre- 
paratory school.  After  remaining  m  charge  of  the  latter  department  for 
se\eral  years  he  was  promoted  to  the  chair  of  physics  in  the  College  of 
Liberal  Arts.  He  had  the  enthusiasm  for  in\'estigation  and  research  which 
all  the  great  savants  ha\e  had  w  ho  achie\ed  anything  of  value  in  the  world 
of  science. 

In  1887  Asbury  L'niversity — his  alma  mater — conferred  on  him  the  de- 
gree of  Doctor  of  Philosophy  and  six  years  later  the  Iowa  Central  College  of 
Physicians  and  Surgeons,  the  degree  of  Doctor  of  }iledicine.  An  earnest 
and  profound  student  of  electricity,  he  was  made  a  life  member  of  the  Frank- 
lin Institute  of  Philadelphia.  Pie  carried  on  a  large  amount  of  research 
work  in  Cornell.  Columbia.  Universiy  of  Pennsylvania,  Bonn  and  Heidelberg- 
Universities  in  Germany.  While  abroad  for  study  he  was  a  co-worker  with 
Henry  Hertz  at  Bonn  University,  the  discoverer  of  the  Herzeman  wave 
which  made  possible  the  discovery  of  the  X-ray. 

In  the  midst  of  his  busy  career  he  found  time  to  devote  to  music,  and  at 
one  time  organized  the  iMozart  Club  of  Greencastle,  an  amateur  orchestra  of 
fort}'  pieces  ani.1  a  chorus  of  one  hundred  \oices.  Pie  composed  the  music 
of  Shelley's  "The  Cloud."  He  found  diversion  in  chess  playing,  this  being 
his  only  game,  although  he  skated  and  swam  with  skill;  the  year  of  his  death 
he  won  a  game  of  chess  from  the  state  champion. 

In  January,  187S,  Professor  De]\Iotte  married  Lelia  Laura  Washburn, 
the  ceremony  being  performed  in  Boston,  Massachusetts,  by  the  Rev.  T.  W. 


JC4  WEIK  S    HISTORY    OF 

Walker,  formerly  district  superintendent  of  the  Greencastle  district  of  the 
Methodist  Episcopal  church,  who  was  studying  for  the  ministry  at  that  time. 
iliss  Washburn  was  a  woman  of  rare  talent,  culture  and  refinement,  and  the 
daughter  of  Gen.  H.  D.  Washburn,  who  was  a  noted  brigadier-general  in 
the  Union  army  during  the  Civil  war  and  later  was  elected  to  Congress  from 
the  fifth  congressional  district  of  Indiana,  serving  two  terms  under  Grant's 
administration,  and  still  later  appointed  to  the  position  of  surveyor-general 
of  the  state  of  Montana.  It  was  he  who  commanded  the  expedition  in  1870 
and  1871  which  discovered  and  opened  Yellowstone  Park,  Mount  Wash- 
burn and  the  Washburn  range  having  been  named  for  him.  Mrs.  DeMotte 
was  born  in  Newport,  September  13,  1855,  'i'^*^'  '''^''  Jeath  occurred  in  Indi- 
anapolis, February  25,  1910.  At  the  time  of  her  death  she  was  president  of 
the  Kappa  Alpha  Theta  Alumnae  Club,  regent  of  the  local  chapter  of  the 
Daughters  of  the  American  Revolution,  a  member  of  the  Woman's  Club, 
the  Tuesdav  Reading  Club,  the  Woman's  Christian  Temperance  Union, 
the  Woman's  Foreign  Missionary  Society  of  the  College  Avenue  (Green- 
castle)  Methodist  Episcopal  church  and  other  religious  organizations.  She 
was  tiftv-hve  vears  old  at  the  time  of  her  death  and  she  was  one  of  the  leaders 
of  the  club  and  social  life  of  Putnam  county.  Mrs.  DeMotte,  like  her  hus- 
band, was  highly  educated  and  she  was  always  of  great  assistance  to  him  in 
his  work.  She  was  graduated  from  DePauw  University  in  the  class  of  1877, 
and  it  was  while  in  school  here  that  she  formed  an  acquaintance  with  Air. 
DeMotte,  whom  she  later  married  while  an  art  student  in  Boston.  She  con- 
tinued her  studies  and  received  the  degree  of  Master  of  Arts  in  18S0.  She 
accompanied  Professor  DeMotte  on  his  travels  through  Europe  in  after 
years  and  gathered  a  large  collection  of  rare  pieces  of  foreign  furmture, 
tapestry  and  art,  which  were  destroyed  in  a  fire  which  burned  Elmwood.  then- 
beautiful  homestead,  several  years  ago.  Mrs.  DeMutte's  mother.  Mrs. 
Lorena  (Johnson)  Washburn,  lives  in  Greencastle,  and  the  former's  brother. 
Dr.  Aquilla  Washburn,  lives  in  Clinton. 

To  Professor  DeMotte  and  wife  two  sons  were  born,  both  of  whom  are 
living.  Tliev  are.  Lawrence  Washburn  DeMotte.  head  master  in  the  .Vrmy 
and  Xa\y  Preparatory  School  at  Washington,  D.  C.  and  John  Brewer  De- 
Motte. who  is  engaged  in  the  real  estate  business  at  Tacoma,  Washington. 

The  last  eighteen  years  of  Professor  DeMotte's  life  were  spent  on  the 
lecture  platform,  where  his  life  work  was  accomplished.  He  lectured  in 
nearlv  all  the  lecture  courses  east  of  the  Rocky  Mountains,  some  times  return- 
ing to  the  same  course  eight  or  nine  years  in  succession.  He  was  regarded 
bv  all  who  were  fortunate  enough  to  hear  him  as  a  \ery  able  lecturer,  enter- 


PUTNAM    COL'NTY.    INDIANA.  785 

taining.  forceful,  always  interesting  and  at  times  truly  eloquent.  Of  his 
abilities  in  this  line,  an  able  fellow  lecturer  makes  the  following  comment : 
"For  more  than  a  dozen  years  John  B.  DeMotte  was  easily  the  most  popular 
lyceum  lecturer  on  the  American  platform.  He  was. at  the  same  time  one  of 
the  most  useful  and  helpful  of  all  platform  speakers.  I  have  weighed  these 
words,  and  utter  them  with  deliberation,  and  I  repeat  with  emphasis  the 
statement  I  have  made  that  the  most  popular  American  platform  speaker 
of  this  opening  decide  of  the  twentieth  century  was  John  B.  DeMotte.  He 
manifested  such  an  intense  interest  in  his  work,  combined  with  an  untiring 
energy  and  strong  will  power  that  he  could  almost  bring  success  from  failure." 

Doctor  Hedley  writes :  "The  key  to  the  man  lies  largely  herein :  To 
encourage  others;  to  teach  and  guide  and  serve  and  bless  others,  was  his  high- 
est creed  and  his  chiefest  purpose.  It  was  his  mission.  Dr.  DeMotte's  life 
was  a  life  of  service." 

Following  is  a  list  of  his  lectures:  "The  Harp  of  the  Senses:  or  the 
Secret  of  Character  Building,"  "Python  Eggs  and  the  American  Boy,"  ".\ 
Plea  of  Posterity:  or  the  Problem  of  Heredity."  "The  Fever  of  Life."  Some 
of  his  addresses  were.  "Success  Means  Sacrifice,"  "Potential  Energy," 
"Youth,"  "Habit,"  "Tapping  on  the  Window  Pane."  "Point  of  View," 
".\  Recipe  for  Happiness."  He  was  the  author  of  "The  Secret  of  Character 
Building,"  published  by  S.  C.  Griggs  &  Company. 

He  was  a  member  of  the  Gentleman's  Clul^  of  Greencastle.  Indiana, 
the  Grand  .Army  of  the  Republic.  Franklin  Institute  and  the  Indiana  Horti- 
cultural Society. 

Professor  DeMotte  was  regarded  as  an  excellent  instructor  and  was 
popular  with  his  pupils.  Unlike  many  of  his  calling  who  become  pedantic, 
he  was  essentially  a  man  of  the  times,  broad  and  liberal  in  his  views  and 
had  the  courage  of  his  convictions  on  all  the  leading  public  questions  and 
issues  upon  which  men  and  parties  divide.  He  kept  in  touch  with  the  trend 
of  modem  thought  along  its  various  lines  and,  having  been  a  man  of  scholarly 
attainments  and  refined  tastes,  his  acquaintance  with  the  literature  of  the 
world  was  both  general  and  profound ;  while  his  familiarity  with  the  more 
practical  affairs  of  his  day  made  him  feel  at  ease  with  all  classes  and  condi- 
tions of  people  with  whom  he  came  in  contact. 
<50) 


HECKMAN       I 
BINDERY  INC.       | 

SEPT  98